Tell Congress No Poison Pill Policy Riders That Unleash Chemical Recycling
The majority in the U.S. House has put forth a federal funding bill that includes a poison pill policy rider to boost harmful chemical recycling and plastic pyrolysis (burning). This bad bill would require the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to quickly outline a plan to label any fuel made from waste plastic as biofuel under the federal renewable fuel standard. This policy would eliminate opportunities for public input in the regulatory process while significantly boosting the toxic chemical recycling industry across the country.
Riders are provisions tacked onto legislation, especially funding bills, that have little or nothing to do with the main purpose of the bill. These riders often aim to bypass the regular legislative process and can be used to defund or undermine environmental health protections without open debate or scrutiny. They are a common tactic used by industries and their allies to push through controversial policies that would otherwise face strong public opposition and would never pass on their own. The poison pill rider concerning chemical recycling is one such example, attempting to define certain plastic-to-fuel processes as "recycling" to allow for federal funding and favorable regulatory treatment, despite their significant environmental and health risks.
Chemical Recycling is NOT Recycling: It's often a misleading term for plastic-to-fuel incineration or other energy-intensive processes that create toxic byproducts.
Environmental and Health Risks: These processes release hazardous air pollutants, greenhouse gases, and toxic waste, disproportionately impacting vulnerable communities.
Undermines a True Circular Economy: Investing in chemical recycling diverts resources and attention from proven, sustainable solutions like source reduction, reuse, and mechanical recycling.
Financial Waste: This technology is often economically unproven and requires significant taxpayer-funded subsidies, taking money away from more effective and safer waste management strategies.
Public Opposition: People are becoming increasingly aware of the dangers of chemical recycling and frequently oppose its expansion.
Demand Transparency and Accountability: Call on your representatives to vote against any poison pill riders that would fund or incentivize chemical recycling, and instead advocate for policies that prioritize public health and a healthy environment.
Chemical recycling and plastic pyrolysis have devastating impacts on our environmental and public health, and we are seeing recognition of that through the development of significant opposition across the country. This poison pill rider is the wrong way to legislate and represents an industry attempt to avoid protective regulations and gain taxpayer-funded subsidies. Please take action today to tell your congressional representatives to demand no poison pill riders in federal funding bills.
