Today, U.S. Representatives Larry Bucshon, M.D. (R-IN-08) and Don Davis (D-NC-01) issued the following statement after introducing the Accelerating a Circular Economy for Plastics and Recycling Innovation Act (H.R. 9676). This bipartisan legislation seeks to tackle plastic pollution and improve the sustainability of plastic packaging materials by modernizing the nation’s recycling infrastructure and increasing the use of recycled material:
“As a nation, we have been cleaning up our environment by encouraging greater numbers of Americans to recycle waste items instead of discarding them in landfills. Unfortunately, our nation’s recycling infrastructure is outdated and far too many materials don’t end up in recycling bins. The Accelerating a Circular Economy for Plastics and Recycling Innovation Act will help us do better by modernizing our recycling infrastructure to harness innovative technologies and recycle greater amounts of plastic waste that otherwise would end up in the landfill or in the environment and reuse them. My district is home to a number of plastic manufacturers that want to be a part of helping reduce plastic waste and encouraging greater use of recycled materials. This legislation is needed to enable them to be a part of the solution,” said Dr. Bucshon.
"Millions of recyclable products end up in landfills daily, including plastics used in agriculture and packaging for fruits and vegetables grown in our agricultural communities,” said Congressman Don Davis. “We must tackle the accumulation of plastic waste in our landfills and work towards creating cleaner, more sustainable communities. Our recycling infrastructure is outdated and lacks the necessary resources and investments to address recycling needs, especially in rural communities."
Kevin Kwilinski, CEO of Berry Global
"We would like to thank Representatives Bucshon and Davis for coming together in a bipartisan fashion to bolster plastic recycling and support jobs and the economy,” said Kevin Kwilinski, CEO of Berry Global, which operates nearly 100 facilities in the U.S. and supports more than 2,800 jobs in Indiana’s 8th Congressional District and more than 135 jobs in North Carolina’s 1st. “Berry supports the ‘Accelerating a Circular Economy for Plastics and Recycling Innovation Act’ because it would help modernize the nation’s fragmented recycling infrastructure and significantly increase use of recycled material in new products.”
Peter Vanacker, LyondellBasell CEO
“We applaud Representatives Larry Bucshon and Don Davis on the introduction of the Accelerating a Circular Economy for Plastics and Recycling Innovation Act and thank them for their hard work and bipartisan leadership on helping solve the plastic waste challenge. LYB is proud of our role in helping build a circular economy for plastics, and this measure lays the groundwork this country needs to meet the challenge of plastic waste before us. Thank you again to Representatives Bucshon and Davis, and we look forward to working with members of Congress on this important effort.”
BACKGROUND
Specifically, the Accelerating a Circular Economy for Plastics and Recycling Innovation Act will:
· Create a single national plastic recycling standard, which will help increase our nations’ recycling rates.
· Spur the use of greater recycled plastic materials by setting a minimum recycled content standard for plastic packaging.
· Study the impact of greenhouse gas emissions from product materials to better inform policymakers.
· Create a legal framework for new recycling technologies that will support innovation and continued investment.
According to the Recycling Partnership, only 21% of residential recyclables are actually being recycled. Today’s recycling infrastructure was created decades ago and is badly in need of modernization to address today’s recycling crisis.
Increasing the use of recycled plastic will help lower emissions and save energy. According to the Association of Plastic Recyclers, using recycled plastic will reduce energy consumption by at least 79% and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by at least 67%.
In 2019, Dr. Bucshon introduced the Realizing the Economic Opportunities and Values of Expanding Recycling (RECOVER) Act with Rep. Tony Cárdenas (D-CA-29). This legislation would have incentivized states, local municipalities, and tribal governments to invest in improving their recycling infrastructure, programs, and education efforts.
Berry Global, which operates nearly 100 facilities in the U.S. and supports more than 2,800 jobs in Indiana’s 8th Congressional District and more than 135 jobs in North Carolina’s 1st.
LyondellBasell has more than 300 employees in Indiana’s 8th Congressional District.
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