The Progressive Policy Institute (PPI) released a report finding that advanced recycling could more than double the U.S. plastic recycling rate, raising it from roughly 9% today to between 19% and 23% if expanded at existing oil refineries and new standalone facilities nationwide.
The report, titled “The Waste Diversion Benefits of Expanding Advanced Recycling,” says scaling advanced recycling infrastructure could significantly increase national recycling capacity, according to PPI.
In announcing the report, the institute’s vice president of public affairs and report author Stuart Malec said “clear policy is essential for this innovative technology to achieve its full potential in waste diversion and economic impact.”
Because advanced recycling diverts plastic waste away from landfills, the report estimates it could save U.S. municipalities between $230 million and $328 million annually in landfill tipping fees. It also highlights potential local savings, including roughly $3 million to $6 million per year for Los Angeles County, California, and up to $22 million annually for Harris County, Texas.
Advanced recycling uses chemical processes such as pyrolysis to break used plastics down to the molecular level so they can be remade into new products. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the process can handle materials that conventional mechanical recycling cannot, including flexible plastics such as shopping bags and films, as well as plastics contaminated by food or oil, allowing material that would otherwise be landfilled to be recovered.
The Progressive Policy Institute is a Washington, D.C.-based public policy think tank that promotes center-left economic and governance policies focused on innovation, economic growth, and modernization of government. The organization produces research and policy analysis on issues including technology, infrastructure, labor markets, and regulatory reform, and regularly publishes reports aimed at informing policymakers, business leaders, and the public.
