Page 32 - Plastics News November 2020

Pennsylvania lawmakers consider advanced SA publishes regulatory framework for EPR
recycling legislation schemes
awmaker in Pennsylvania is working to further outh Aftrica's
Llegislation that is designed to help advanced SDepartment of
recycling of plastic scrap. Pennsylvania State Rep. E n v i r o n m e n t ,
Ryan E. Mackenzie introduced House Bill 1808 in August F o r e s t r y a n d
2019 that calls for changing the regulatory F i s h e r i e s h a s
classification of waste facilities to manufacturing p u b l i s h e d t h e
plants as a way to encourage investment in the r e g u l a t o r y
recycling industry. f r a m e w o r k f o r
HB 1808 would seek Extended Producer
to ensure postuse R e s p o n s i b i l i t y
plastics “are not (EPR) schemes as
misclassified as solid p a r t o f t h e
waste.” “Recycling government's effort
a n d r e c o v e r y t o c o n t r i b u t e
t e c h n o l o g i e s t o w a r d s t h e
r e p r e s e n t a n economic recovery
emerging market plan."These EPR
and provide the schemes are part of the Reconstruction and Economic
ability to remove Recovery Plan recently announced by the President as
plastics from the key contributors towards green economy initiatives,"
waste stream by the Minister of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries,
converting them Barbara Creecy, said. Addressing the virtual Plastic
i n t o v a l u a b l e Colloquium Feedback Session held recently The
feedstock for new President presented the plan, aimed at helping the
materials,” the economy recover from the effects of Coronavirus, in
legislation states. Parliament, last month. Its objectives are job creation,
“Treating postuse plastics as raw materials for primarily through aggressive infrastructure investment
'manufacturing' and not 'waste' will remove the barriers and mass employment programmes; reindustrialise the
of misclassifying this emerging industry and promote economy, focusing on growing small businesses, and
continued innovation and investment. “The current accelerating economic reforms to unlock investment
law does not clearly classify these new technologies as and growth. It is also aimed at fighting crime and
manufacturing and this legislation will provide corruption and improving the capability of the State.
regulatory certainty as the postuse plastics and The department also published the Plastics and
recycling industry grows. With China's recent rejection Packaging Extended Producer Responsibility notice to
of U.S. waste plastics, it is critically important that we provide for the post-consumer management of waste
advance policies and a regulatory framework that will plastic products. "The establishment of an EPR scheme
allow these technologies to flourish.” The legislation is informed by collaborative arrangements between the
passed in the state's House of Representatives in July industry; government; Small, Medium and Micro
and is now being considered by the state's Senate. The Enterprises (SMMEs) and waste pickers. This EPR
Pennsylvania Manufacturers' Association (PMA) has regulatory framework eliminates free riders in the
announced its support of HB 1808. “By classifying the system, the Minister said. Plastics and the plastic
new plants as manufacturing and not waste facilities, products industry contributed around R70 billion to
the legislation will encourage investment in an South Africa's economy in 2019. According to Plastics
industry that will help eliminate the ugly sight of SA, an estimated 60 000 people are employed in the
plastic wrappers, shopping bags and other plastic plastics industry. "Steps are being taken to finalise the
waste from our roads, streams and fields. Additionally, Plastic Sector Master Plan, together with other key
the Pennsylvania Chemical Industry Council also has stakeholders, as part of a social compact aimed at
expressed support for this bill and advancing supporting the long-term growth, development and
opportunities for pyrolysis in the state. sustainability of the plastics sector," Creecy said.

NOVEMBER 2020 32 Plastics News