John,

Have you heard of "chemical recycling"? It's being promoted as a key way to confront the plastic pollution crisis by converting plastic waste to fuel and new plastics.

It sounds almost too good to be true -- and it is. So-called "chemical recycling" is really a term invented by the oil, gas and petrochemical industries to hide where plastic is actually going: the incinerator.

Chemical recycling is not a solution to the plastic waste crisis. It's not really even recycling. Here's what you need to know:

The word "recycling" conjures an image of sustainability: taking material that was once used for one thing, and repurposing it into something new. But that's not what happens at "chemical recycling" plants. As little as 1% of the plastic material sent to these plants is actually recycled into new products.1

If it's not really being recycled, what happens to all this plastic instead? Plastic sent to chemical recycling facilities doesn't get reused -- it's almost always tossed into an incinerator and burned for energy and fuel.

Even if some of the plastic processed with chemical recycling is turned into raw material for more plastic products, the environmental cost is immense. Chemical recycling is not only less efficient and effective than traditional recycling; it can actually be 10 to 100 times worse for the environment than creating brand-new non-recycled plastic.2

Chemical recycling processes emit toxic chemicals into the air, including chemicals known to cause cancer, reproductive harm, birth defects and other health problems. When plastic is burned at chemical recycling facilities, it can release nearly 100 different types of dangerous air pollutants as well as hazardous solid waste, including some known carcinogens.3

And the health impacts don't end at the chemical recycling plant. The fuel that is produced from chemical recycling produces even more toxins when it's burned.

"Chemical recycling" won't help us solve the pollution crisis -- but there are real solutions to plastic waste.

We can't recycle our way out of this one. And so-called "chemical recycling" -- which barely recycles any plastic at all -- certainly won't put a dent in the flood of plastic waste that is threatening our health and our planet.

But at PIRG, we're building a movement that supports real solutions for managing plastic waste: curbs on plastics production, bans on single-use plastics, and policies that reduce plastic consumption and promote a more sustainable economy.

With your support, John, we're already making big strides. 1 in 3 Americans now live in a state with at least one ban on some kind of wasteful single-use plastic.4

Together, we can make even more progress to push back against the false industry narrative about "chemical recycling" and make a more sustainable, healthier future possible.

Thank you,

Faye Park
President

P.S. All of our work to confront the plastic pollution crisis is made possible by supporters like you. Donate today to help keep these important campaigns going strong.

1. "New report shines light on the problems with 'chemical recycling'," U.S. PIRG, January 26, 2023.
2. "New report shines light on the problems with 'chemical recycling'," U.S. PIRG, January 26, 2023.
3. Matt Casale, Celeste Meiffren-Swango and James Horrox, ""Chemical recycling": What you need to know," U.S. PIRG, March 15, 2023.
4. "Reducing plastic waste in the states," U.S. PIRG, July 26, 2022.

Your donation will power our dedicated staff of organizers, policy experts and attorneys who drive all of our campaigns in the public interest, from banning toxic pesticides and moving us beyond plastic, to saving our antibiotics and being your consumer watchdog, to protecting our environment and our democracy. None of our work would be possible without the support of people just like you.

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