NERC states preference for mechanical recycling

The Brattleboro, Vermont-based Northeast Recycling Council (NERC) has adopted a policy position on chemical recycling that was developed by a subcommittee of its Chemical Recycling Committee.

NERC, whose members are drawn from 11 northeastern states, says the purpose of the policy statement is to articulate guiding principles for environmentally responsible chemical recycling of plastics, which it notes also is referred to as molecular or advanced recycling.

NERC's Chemical Recycling Committee was established to better understand these processes and their environmental impacts to make informed policy decisions.

In line with its mission of moving toward a more circular and sustainable economy, NERC says mechanical recycling currently is the preferred method of plastic waste processing, as it creates fewer environmental impacts than other currently available chemical recycling processes.

“Using plastic to produce fuel or energy or other end products to be used for fuel is not considered a form of recycling," the organization adds, noting plastic is "one of the least recycled material categories" despite the existence of recycling processes.

“Producing virgin plastic from fossil fuels is an extractive process that has compounding negative environmental and social impacts," NERC says.

In part because of this environmental footprint, NERC says chemical recycling can be considered for plastics that can’t be feasibly eliminated, replaced, redesigned or mechanically recycled.

NERC also lists as preconditions for acceptable chemical recycling as when there is an equal or net benefit to human health and the environment with chemical recycling compared with other waste management processes or if it is less environmentally harmful and less energy intensive than virgin production of plastics.

“Recycled material must be verified through transparent third-party certification and mass balance accounting through the chain of custody that reflects the source material and true composition of the product,” NERC says of chemical recycling.