Broad coalition pushes for ‘advanced recycling technology’ in plastic reduction bill

Group of business, community and trade organizations say omission of advance recycling would defeat purpose of legislation

Onerous and unfeasible. That’s how a broad coalition of business, community and trade organizations described legislation that was discussed last week in the Senate Environment Committee that would, among other things, ban advanced recycling.

In response, they are calling for the adoption of a common-sense Extended Producer Responsibility framework in New Jersey that includes the process of advanced recycling to achieve the committee’s goal of significantly increasing plastics recycling in New Jersey.

The coalition is comprised of some of the biggest and most impactful organizations in the state, including the Chamber of Commerce Southern New Jersey, Chemistry Council of New Jersey, Commerce and Industry Association of New Jersey, N.J. Business and Industry Association and the New Jersey Chamber of Commerce, released the following statement:

“As long-standing New Jersey community stakeholders who are committed to the Garden State, we believe that reasonable Extended Producer Responsibility legislation would be a critical step in securing a more sustainable and prosperous future for our state. However, the current bill is simply unworkable and will ultimately hurt New Jersey consumers and families.

“A critical element missing from this bill is the process of advanced recycling — which the legislation seeks to ban. That makes this bill unworkable, because to meet the mandated recycled content standards, the state must dramatically increase plastic recycling, which can only be done through Advanced Recycling. Society needs more solutions to address plastic waste, and a ban would disincentivize investment in technological innovations and efficiencies that can complement and enhance existing recycling methods.

“While New Jersey was the first state in the country to institute a statewide mandatory recycling law, we’ve fallen behind other states, particularly when it comes to plastic recycling. Nationally, only about 9% of plastics are ever recycled, with the other 91% ending up in landfills. That’s why 25 other states have now adopted advanced recycling technology, and it’s essential that any EPR legislation include this process.

“Advanced recycling also significantly decreases carbon emissions from plastics production and offsets demand for new crude oil, which would assist our state in reaching its ambitious net-zero emissions goals.

“Finally, any EPR legislation must involve equal input from New Jersey’s diverse stakeholder groups – the environmental community, employers, industry, and the public. Unfortunately, that deliberative process has been missing from the current bill being proposed.

“In constructing a common-sense EPR framework, New Jerseyans can look to the recent precedent established by Minnesota earlier this year. Their state legislature passed a bill that gained support from a diverse range of stakeholders spanning various industries, environmental groups, and community leaders. Minnesota’s law sets attainable goals on realistic timelines that encouraged buy-in and built goodwill among all its stakeholders.

“We look forward to working with New Jersey’s Legislature in crafting workable EPR legislation that includes innovative technology such as advanced recycling, which will in turn, build a more sustainable and prosperous future for our state.”