Page 60 - Plastics News December 2022

IN THE NEWS

Plastics Industry Denounces 'Demagogic' Senate Bill

fuel the climate crisis. of this bill fail to recognize that plastic
is essential to society. Plastic keeps us
The legislation also would begin to
shift the US economy away from its safe, keeps us healthy, guarantees the
dependence on certain single-use stability, viability, and sustainability of
plastics, creating new nationwide tar- that which it protects and is vital to
gets for plastic source reduction and our daily lives.”
reuse in the packaging and food ser- One-two punch against US workers

The Protecting Communities vice sectors. It also would pause per- and environment
from Plastics Act legislation would mitting of new and expanded plastics The ACC also responded on Dec. 2
cripple US plastics manufacturing facilities while the EPA “makes much- with a press release headlined, “Mis-
and threaten a half-million jobs, needed regulatory updates to protect guided legislation would deliver a one-
says ACC. communities.” two punch against American workers
he Plastics Industry Association Disproportionate impact on low-in- and environment.”
T(PLASTICS) and American Chem- come communities ACC Vice President of Plastics Joshua
istry Council (ACC) reacted quickly Legislation co-sponsor US Sen. Jeff Baca said the legislation would cripple
and firmly to legislation targeting plas- Merkley (D-OR) said, “Plastic is bur- US plastic manufacturing and threaten
tic production that was introduced ied, burned, or borne out to sea, 500,000 jobs.
by US Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) and which means dangerous chemicals
three other legislators on Dec. 1. are seeping into our air, water, and “Plastic products are essential to a
lower carbon and more sustainable
The Protecting Communities from soil, threatening Americans’ health future: Wind turbines, solar panels,
Plastics Act legislation says that the everywhere, and disproportionately lightweight EVs, food packaging that
“plastic production crisis is fueling in communities of color and low-in- prevents waste, building insulation,
climate change and perpetuating en- come communities. With plastic par- and pipes for clean water are just a
vironmental injustice.” It claims that ticles ending up on the snowcaps of few of them,” he said.
petrochemical, plastic production, the Arctic and inside our own blood
and waste incineration facilities are streams, it’s clear we need strong leg- “The Protecting Communities from
disproportionately located in or near islation to get this plastics crisis under Plastics Act is a raw deal for America
that would stall the acceleration of a
Black, Brown, and low-wealth com- control.”
munities and release “harmful air and Matt Seaholm, PLASTICS President circular economy for plastics currently
water pollution” that cause increased and CEO responded to the legislation underway,” Baca said. “American jobs
incidences of serious health issues on Dec. 2. “I’m disappointed but not would be lost, billions of dollars of in-
among those people. surprised by the continued hyperbole vestments in new technology would
be jeopardized, and the climate crisis
The act seeks to “tackle the plastic contained in this legislation, which would worsen as a switch to materials
pollution crisis by cracking down on only causes divisiveness in the efforts with a higher carbon footprint ensues.
the plastic production process, build- to come to real solutions to the envi-
ing on key provisions from the “Break ronmental challenges we face. Solutions that won't shut down
Free From Plastic Pollution Act” to “We are happy to work with any US manufacturing
address the harmful environmental member of Congress to achieve so- “America’s plastic makers support
justice impacts of this growing sector, lutions but a press release and legis- solutions that won’t shut down do-
and moving our economy away from lation like this takes us in the wrong mestic manufacturing. We have asked
an overreliance on single-use plastic.” direction, will destroy an American Congress to introduce legislation in
It would establish stricter rules for industry, the communities they claim line with our 5 Actions for Sustainable
petrochemical plants to safeguard the to care about, and send manufactur- Change,” Baca said. “These actions
health of American communities and ing jobs overseas,” Seaholm said. “In would require all US plastic packag-
reduce greenhouse-gas emissions that their rush to demagogue, the authors ing to include at least 30% recycled

60 PLASTICS NEWS December 2022