Key facts
- New York Democrats are divided on the role of chemical recycling in addressing plastic waste.
- The Packaging Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Act (PRRIA) aims to reduce single-use plastics and ban certain chemicals.
- Industry groups support alternative bills that include chemical recycling under the definition of 'recycling'.
- PRRIA has passed the Senate but stalled in the Assembly due to a lack of votes.
- Concerns exist about the environmental hazards, economic viability, and technological challenges of chemical recycling.
A contentious debate over the role and efficacy of chemical recycling is dividing Democrats in Albany, New York, and stalling legislative progress on reducing plastic waste. As lawmakers prepare for renewed battles over plastics legislation in 2027, the chemical industry is advocating for advanced recycling technologies to be part of the solution, while anti-plastics advocates argue these methods are a distraction and face significant economic and technological hurdles.
State Sen. Pete Harckham, a Democrat, is sponsoring the Packaging Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Act (PRRIA), which mandates ambitious reductions in single-use plastic packaging, shifts waste management costs to producers, and bans toxic chemicals like phthalates, bisphenols, and PFAS from plastic products. Industry groups, however, strongly oppose PRRIA, particularly its exclusion of chemical recycling processes from the definition of 'recycling.' They support alternative proposals, such as the Affordable Waste Reduction Act, which would allow these technologies to be classified as recycling. Ross Eisenberg of America's Plastic Makers argues that PRRIA would increase costs for consumers.
Chemical recycling, also known as advanced recycling, encompasses various non-mechanical processes that break down plastics into oils or gases, such as pyrolysis and gasification. The division among Democrats reflects a broader challenge in addressing plastic waste, which has become more costly and complicated since China ceased importing certain recyclable materials in 2017. PRRIA has passed the state Senate twice but has not received a vote in the Assembly, with Speaker Carl Heastie stating there are not enough votes for its passage.
Amid growing evidence of the public health risks associated with microplastics and PFAS, the industry's push for chemical recycling faces scrutiny. New York Attorney General Letitia James recently sued chemical giants 3M and DuPont over alleged knowledge of PFAS health hazards. Lobbying efforts surrounding PRRIA have been extensive, with the American Chemistry Council and its affiliates spending hundreds of thousands of dollars. State Assemblymember Deborah Glick, a sponsor of PRRIA, clarified that her bill does not ban advanced recycling but simply does not count it as 'recycling' under the law, leaving the door open for future improvements. Assemblymember Khaleel Anderson expressed a need for unbiased studies on the environmental impacts of these facilities.
Concerns about the real-world application of chemical recycling are amplified by reports of facility shutdowns. Braven, a chemical recycling facility in North Carolina that lawmakers visited, reportedly ceased operations. The complex nature of plastic waste, including various chemicals, dyes, and consumer contamination, poses significant challenges for these technologies. Furthermore, chemical recycling processes themselves can lead to high energy consumption, greenhouse gas emissions, and air and water pollution, according to a review in Nature Chemical Engineering.