(Source: MIRS.news, Published 04/12/2022) A new term in the environmental policy world called: "advanced recycling," centers on rerouting used plastics from landfills and reconstructing them into new products. Those supporting this new process are asking for regulatory changes.
Tuesday afternoon, Sen. Aric Nesbitt (R-Lawton) introduced SB 954, following 18 other states – like Wisconsin and Illinois – in an endeavor to regulate post-use plastics as raw material for manufacturing and not solid waste.
"This is where we have an opportunity," said Prapti Muhuri of the American Chemistry Council at today's Senate Environmental Quality Committee meeting. "Instead of sending these valuable plastics to landfills or burning them for energy, which advanced recycling is not, these plastics can be converted into raw materials for new plastics and chemicals via these types of technologies – called loosely 'advanced recycling.'"
Muhuri illustrated how some plastic items are distinctly more challenging than others when it comes to everyday recycling management. Often, she explained, American markets are unequipped to absorb plastic pouches, tubes, lids and foams.
"When you factor in economics, market demand and then, of course, the recent restrictions from China in the last couple of years, that (has) had a tremendous impact," Muhuri said, describing that advanced recycling operations "are truly circular and environmentally friendly processes, which do not involve any combustion or burning of any material."
In December 2016, a study from the Rochester Institute of Technology in New York published that nearly 22 million pounds of plastic debris was entering the Great Lakes annually from the United States and Canada.
For Lake Michigan specifically, plastic water bottles being dumped into the water each year were approximately enough to fill 100 Olympic-sized pools.
Muhuri listed how Herbal Essences, a shampoo and conditioner provider, announced a partnership with the Eastman Chemical Company to offer five haircare collections served in bottles made 50% from recycled plastics. She also said Philadelphia Cream Cheese tubs in Europe are additionally created through advanced recycling.
On top of that, she said when an advanced recycler takes in used plastics, about 75% to 80% of "that actual material goes into the product."
"The remaining 15% can be any non-condensable gases or char, but the majority of the product can be going into new products," she said. "I think it's less about the poor quality and more about the market limitations. Right now, the U.S. recycles a little under 10%."
The American Chemistry Council – along with the Michigan Chemistry Council, DeVos-founded company Amway and the Dow Chemical Company, headquartered in Midland – submitted a letter describing how more than $7.7 billion in advanced recycling projects have either been announced or are operating.
Moreover, the institutions claim the aforementioned investments could potentially "divert at least 12.1 billion pounds of waste from landfills annually."
"Which company should I buy stock in that's going to build here in the state of Michigan?" asked Sen. Curtis Vanderwall (R-Ludington). "This would be an economic boom and I believe a company would want to come in, and hopefully we can discuss that further."
However, there is environmental push-back against the legislation, from groups like the Michigan Environmental Council, the Sierra Club, the Michigan Recycling Coalition and the Ecology Center.
"Defining these processes as a form of recycling is misleading and inaccurate. Pyrolysis and gasification require immense amounts of energy, at times more than they produce, and release the same toxic byproducts as traditional incineration, including dioxins and furans, mercury and other heavy metals…" said Chief Policy Officer Charlotte Jameson of the Michigan Environmental Council in her testimony.
Sen. Rosemary Bayer (D-Beverly Hills), minority vice chair of the committee, said pyrolysis and gasification – the used plastics at-hand – are still part of the solid waste management system, "and that system really is integrated."
SB 954 would have a direct impact on Part 115 of the state's Solid Waste Law. Bayer said "We should really continue to focus on the updates to 115, not just pull out one piece. It's not going to stand alone well at all."
"It needs the rest of the system, and the rest of the system can benefit from new technologies, as well," Bayer said.
In 2020, the House voted on a package to rewrite the law and provide communities decision-making authority for the sitting of new landfills. The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy (EGLE) was also allowed to ramp up inspections at solid waste facilities.
However, the package was not given any type of Senate vote before the session ended.
"I have reservations. I'm continuing to talk to workers, but it's something where I want to continue to move this technology along," Nesbitt said, about his bill.
