ISRI announces position on chemical recycling

ISRI says significant investments are currently being made in researching nonmechanical processes to convert end-of-life plastics back into recycled resin, resin precursors and petrochemical intermediates and fuels. This position addresses when ISRI considers such nonmechanical processes to be recycling and when they are not. The organization’s policy is as follows:  

• nonmechanical processes that convert plastics at the end of life into recycled resins and monomers are recycling as they produce materials to be consumed instead of virgin materials as feedstock in the manufacture of material products and not in the production of energy or fuels;  

• nonmechanical processes that convert plastics at the end of life into petrochemical products that are fuels or used to make fuels do not meet ISRI’s above definition of plastics recycling and cannot be considered recycling; 

• ISRI does not support the label of “advanced recycling” for nonmechanical recycling, as doing so creates a totally inappropriate and untruthful distinction between mechanical and nonmechanical recycling processes;  

• ISRI fully supports recognition of the distinction between recycling, inclusive of both mechanical and nonmechanical recycling and solid waste management; and,  

• ISRI does not support any policy in which nonmechanical recycling is considered manufacturing and mechanical recycling are not.