For Immediate Release
Media Contact: Taylor.McFarland@sierraclub.org
Today the Assembly Environment and Solid Waste released A5803(McKeon). The bill exempts plastic material processed at advanced plastic processing facilities from State laws regulating solid waste disposal and recycling. The Sierra Club, Environment NJ, Clean Water Action, Surfrider Foundation and others opposed the bill.
“The Sierra Club does not support advanced plastic processing facilities. This method of chemical conversion and plastic to fuel is not a recycling process. It does not present a viable or sustainable solution to plastic waste, it has a very high carbon foot print and is economically unfeasible. This plastic to fuel process is not the solution to tackle our plastic waste problem. Instead, it will deter the state from moving towards zero waste strategies,” said Taylor McFarland, Acting Director of the Sierra Club- NJ Chapter.
The Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives made an assessment on failed, proposed and existing waste to burn facilities under the guise of advanced recycling. The report found that of the 37 plastic “chemical recycling” facilities proposed since the early 2000’s, only 3 are currently operational and none are successfully recovering plastic to produce new plastic. These facilities include Agilyx in Oregon, New Hope Energy in Texas, and Brightmark in Indiana. Almost all of the plastic in these operations is being transformed back into contaminated fossil fuel and burned. Brightmark is also looking for possible locations in NJ.
“The pollutants generated from these facilities include carbon monoxide, harmful dioxins, Volatile Organic Compounds, and Particulate Matter (PM). Just some of the side effects of these pollutants include cancer, affects to immune and reproductive systems, asthma, and respiratory illnesses. These advanced plastic processing facilities are also a threat to Environmental Justice communities who are already overburdened with pollution,” said McFarland.
New Jersey took one huge step forward in signing the most comprehensive plastic ban in the nation. We need to continue that momentum by supporting legislation like the recycled content bill S2515(Smith) and Assemblywoman Huttle’s bottle bill.
“This legislation will not help reduce our plastic waste problem and will consequently prevent the state from protecting EJ communities and achieving its goal of reducing GHG emissions,” said McFarland.