The leader of a major West Coast trash and recyclables company is prepared to bankroll a California ballot measure taking aim at single-use plastics.
In an opinion piece published in the San Francisco Chronicle, Recology President and CEO Michael Sangiacomo reflected on the ocean plastics problem and lack of markets for many recovered plastics. He also noted that the European Union (EU) is working to mandate recycled content in plastic bottles and ban certain single-use plastic products.
In the piece, published Dec. 24, he wrote that he sent a letter to the head of the American Chemistry Council (ACC) inviting the plastics industry to offer recycling solutions that are effective, scaleable and implemented in communities around the world. He said Recology would be a willing partner in the effort.
“That said, I do feel we are nearly out of time, as the planet’s oceans and wildlife are increasingly overrun by plastic waste,” Sangiacomo wrote. “If the plastics industry is unable to step forward with a set of policies and programs that reverses these unfortunate trends, Recology will work to place a comprehensive policy on the next statewide California ballot – building off the EU model. We are prepared to commit $1 million toward a signature-gathering effort to that end and will work with all who are willing to move this effort forward.”
Headquartered in San Francisco, Recology serves dozens of communities in California, Oregon and Washington with collection, recyclables sorting and marketing, composting, and landfilling services.
