For Immediate Release
Media Contact: Anjuli.Ramos@sierraclub.org
The Assembly Appropriations Committee released bill S2515(Smith)/A4676(Quijano). The legislation would establish post consumer recycled content requirements for rigid plastic containers, glass containers, paper and plastic carryout bags, and plastic trash bags; prohibits sale of polystyrene loose fill packaging. There were several last minute amendments that were added to the legislation that Sierra Club- NJ believes would weaken it.
These amendments include reducing the initial Post Consumer Recycled Content (PCR) for rigid plastic containers from 25% to 10% but increase the tri-annual requirement from 5% to 10% after the first five years of the bill’s implementation. Another amendment weakens the PCR requirement from 50% to 30% for hot fill process plastics. Anjuli Ramos, Director of the Sierra Club, New Jersey Chapter, released the following statement:
“Plastic pollution is a huge problem in our state and this legislation is a major step forward in dealing with this issue. The main objective of the plastic content recycling bill is to reduce the production of virgin plastic, increase the use of recycled content and ultimately reduce the carbon footprint of packaging. The Sierra Club, New Jersey Chapter applauds the sponsors and supporters of this piece of legislation that will help tackle our plastic waste problem in the state.
“Despite our support for the bill, we are, however, concerned with several new amendments that we believe would weaken it. We are particularly concerned about the amendment reducing the Post Recycled Content (PCR) requirement from 50% to 30% for the plastics hot fill process . The hot fill process of typically increasing the temperature of the food product up to 200 degrees Fahrenheit does not seem to have a negative effect on the plastic packaging even with a 50% PCR content. According to a plastic industry report, the use of recycled polyethylene terephthalate (rPET) in hot-fill packages has no significant adverse impact on the bottle performance until the blend exceeds 50%. Above 50% the aesthetics of the package will deteriorate, however, even at 100% rPET use, the performance of the package used in this study was still acceptable. Thus, aesthetics will drive the acceptable rPET levels when above 50% rPET content. We see no problem in the PCR requirement being 50%. The new 30% requirement, however, is not where the industry and the technology are at. As a cutting edge State when it comes to technology and environmental regulation, we should be ahead of the game, not behind. It is a missed opportunity.
“Even though the bill has been weakened, the overall goal of reducing plastic for the state still holds true. We thank Chairman Burzichelli and members of the Appropriations Committee for releasing this legislation. It is a step in the right direction when it comes to protecting our environment. It’s important that the legislature now works to get it posted for a floor vote and passed before the end of the session”