Right now, plastics industry lobbyists are working with members of Congress to write a bill that would promote “chemical recycling” as a solution to plastic pollution. This is dangerous.
“Chemical recycling” is not a solution. “Chemical recycling” is a fancy way of saying “burning trash.” It’s a practice that harms communities, and our lawmakers must not be fooled into thinking this is the best path forward.
We all want solutions to the plastics pollution crisis. But we need strategies that actually help communities and reduce our dependence on plastics—not false solutions that make an already bad problem much worse.
“Chemical recycling” generally refers to technologies that seek to break down plastic into its chemical building blocks by burning it. The process of “chemical recycling” creates harmful air pollution, contaminated oil, and toxic ash.
Burning plastics moves the waste problem from the landfill to the air we breathe—and directly into our lungs. Among the pollutants released are heavy metals and highly toxic volatile organic compounds, such as benzene and formaldehyde. This toxic air pollution causes cancer, birth defects, and other serious health harms. Children are especially vulnerable.
The plastics industry is greenwashing us: by using the term “chemical recycling,” they’re trying to evade Clean Air Act rules while making us think they’re doing something good. Yet what they are doing is burning plastic and polluting our communities.
We can’t let this happen. It is critical to address the plastics crisis, but letting the plastics industry pour uncontrolled pollution into our air is a false solution that’s only going to harm communities more.
Learn more about Moms’ work on “advanced recycling.”
TELL CONGRESS: PROTECT OUR FAMILIES FROM PLASTIC INCINERATION POLLUTION