Page 38 - Plastics News March 2019

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

US Industry coalition eyes $500M federal push for domestic recycling

coalition of plastics and other industry groups wants and working with allied groups, the coalition is only now
A Washington to play a bigger role in recycling. As part putting specific funding figures behind it and zeroing in
of that effort, the coalition is pushing $500 million in on legislative details. The proposed dollar amount could
new federal money to shore up local waste management change based on what the bill's Congressional sponsors
against challenges like China's ban on scrap imports.The want, but DeFife said the group is floating $500 million in
effort, which includes the Plastics Industry Association and federal matching funds over five years. The idea is that
the American Chemistry Council, is broader than plastic, local and state governments or private capital would have
with associations for glass packaging and the waste and to kick in funding as well to get the grants, potentially
recycling industries also signing on. And it's about more unlocking $1 billion. Dollars aside, DeFife said a major
than money. The coalition wants to shift Washington's goal is to build support in Washington for the idea that
thinking around recycling — to recognize local waste recycling's environmental and economic benefits make it
collection systems as a type of infrastructure that should a public utility like electricity and drinking water. "
get financial support just like roads or airports. Members
hope to introduce legislation in the next few weeks. UK’s Glastonbury Festival
BANS single-use plastic bottles

lastonbury Festival
Ghas banned the sale of
single-use plastic bottles
for the first time in a 'it's
now or never' campaign.
Single-use plastic bottles
will be barred from
Worthy Farm, Somerset,
to be replaced by taps
The industry proposal comes as both the Trump for festival-goers to fill up
administration and Congress, including the new Democratic their own drinking bottles.The festival normally sells
majority in the House, signal support for a large federal more than a million plastic bottles and organisers say
infrastructure program. That's seen as the most likely the change will 'make a real difference'. Both staff and
legislative vehicle for the industry proposal, although revellers will have to provide their own reusable bottles
it's far from clear a big infrastructure program will pass. in order to make use of taps with water 'of the same
Scott DeFife, vice president of government affairs at the quality as your taps at home'.. An announcement on
Plastics Industry Association, said the coalition argues that the music festival's website said: 'With more than one
much of the municipal recycling collection infrastructure million plastic bottles sold at Glastonbury in 2017, we
is several decades old and faces new challenges it wasn't feel that stopping their sale is the only way forward.'
designed to handle. He said with China and now other Free drinking water will be available from all bars
Asian nations banning scrap imports and forcing local across the site and the number of kiosks run by charity
governments to scale back the plastic materials they WaterAid will be tripled. Canned soft drinks and canned
accept for recycling — and with the plastics industry facing Life Water will still be available to buy and festival
growing public concern about waste and pollution — it's a attendees will still be able to bring plastic bottles
good time for an expanded role for Washington."We think on to the site. Regarded as a major event in British
the country needs a system upgrade on recycling," DeFife culture, Glastonbury Festival is a five-day festival of
said. "It could use a jolt of support. We think of our effort contemporary performing arts that takes place near
as a stimulus on recycling."While the plastics association Pilton, Somerset, England. This year the festival takes
has been talking about this approach since last spring place in Somerset from June 26 to 30.

Plastics News March 2019 38