Advanced recycling could more than double US plastic recycling rates

A new report from the Progressive Policy Institute (PPI) finds that expanding advanced recycling can more than double the US plastic recycling rate from 9% to between 19-23%. Authored by Stuart Malec, PPI’s Vice President of Public Affairs, “The Waste Diversion Benefits of Expanding Advanced Recycling”, outlines how traditional mechanical recycling is limited due to its inability to recycle ‘flexible plastics’ such as shopping bags and plastic films or plastics contaminated by food or oil residue. Advanced recycling, which uses chemical processes like pyrolysis to break plastics down to the molecular level, can fill in the gap and convert plastic waste into raw materials that can be used to make new products.

“Scaling up advanced recycling efforts will lead to significant environmental and economic benefits,” said Stuart Malec. “Increasing the amount of  plastic waste that can be successfully recycled will not only benefit the planet, but will also collectively save communities across the country millions of dollars in their waste disposal budgets.”

Key findings from the report include:
- short-term deployment of advanced recycling could raise the nationwide plastic recycling rate from 9% to 19% while potentially reaching 23% in the long-term;
- local municipalities could save between 229.7 million-327.5 million dollars per year in avoided landfill tipping fees, defined as charges per ton to dispose of waste;
- States with historically low recycling rates can use existing oil refineries to implement advanced recycling technology, raising their landfill diversion rates.

While advanced recycling can curb dangerous environmental effects and benefit local economies, Stuart Malec argues that there needs to be a regulatory framework that strengthens the economic incentives to collect plastic waste.

“Clear policy is essential for this innovative technology to achieve its full potential in waste diversion and economic impact,” concluded Stuart Malec. “Without a clear policy framework, more and more plastic waste will continue ending up in landfills instead of being reused in the economy.”