Several recycling, packaging, manufacturing and consumer product groups have created the Recycling Leadership Council, led by the Consumer Brands Association.
The council plans to work with Congress to encourage innovation in recycling and domestic manufacturing to better manage plastics, according to a statement.
“To reduce plastic waste, we must modernize our recycling system. The formation of the Recycling Leadership Council is a pivotal step toward transforming how America manages plastic waste,” said John Hewitt, senior vice president at the Consumer Brands Association. “Leaders across technology, automotive, consumer goods, toys, and other industries are working together to meaningfully address policies and practices that prohibit plastic recycling at scale.”
Although the press release did not provide further details on the initiative, in March 2024 the Consumer Brands Association published a blog on how federal policy could improve long-term recycling rates. In the post, the group noted the lack of consistent, reliable data on waste and recycling systems. The group also called for prioritizing federal standards and harmonization of recycling systems, drawing attention to the EPA’s own “America Recycles” report that found that the words “recycling” and “recycled” were defined 18 different ways by the states.
In the Jan. 15 statement, the RLC said increasing volumes of plastic waste accompany the increased public demand for plastic products. As such, the US must update recycling frameworks that do not recognize emerging technologies and that “lower consumer confidence in recycling labels and claims,” the group said in the statement.
“The RLC is united in support of policy frameworks that will unlock the investment and manufacturing innovation needed to modernize America’s aging recycling infrastructure to adequately handle the amount and types of plastic materials discarded today,” Hewitt said.
Current RLC membership includes:
- Consumer Brands Association
- Ag Container Recycling Council
- Alliance for Automotive Innovation
- American Chemistry Council
- American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers
- Closed Loop Partners
- Council for Responsible Nutrition
- Household & Commercial Products Association
- International Sleep Products Association
- Meat Institute
- National Lubricant Container Recycling Coalition
- North American Association of Food Equipment Manufacturers
- Retail Industry Leaders Association
- Vinyl Institute
