Wisconsin legislature passes bill that could stimulate pyrolysis and gasification of nonrecyclable plastics

The Wisconsin legislature passed AB 789, a bill that exempts pyrolysis and gasification facilities from certain laws relating to solid waste facilities, March 20, 2018. The legislation was sponsored by Rep. Paul Tittl and by Sen. Robert Cowles. It awaits the signature of Gov. Scott Walker.

Solid waste facilities in the state must obtain an operating license from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR). Most of these facilities also must undergo a preconstruction or pre-expansion site inspection, obtain DNR approval of a plan of operation, comply with certain performance standards and provide proof of financial responsibility for the closure of the facility and the postclosure, long-term care of the facility.

This bill defines a pyrolysis facility as “a facility where postuse plastics are heated until decomposed and then converted into other materials such as liquid fuel,” while a gasification facility is defined as “a facility where postuse plastics and certain other materials are heated and ultimately converted only into fuel or other chemical feedstock.”

“With yesterday’s passage, Wisconsin becomes the second state (after Florida) to unanimously adopt legislation that removes regulatory barriers to implementing these innovative technologies in their states," says Craig Cookson, senior director of recycling and energy recovery for the Plastics Division of the American Chemistry Council (ACC), Washington, in a written statement.

“This new legislation will make Wisconsin a welcoming environment for innovative new manufacturing that converts postuse nonrecycled plastics into fuels, chemicals or feedstocks for new plastics,” he says.

Cookson continues, “We’re pleased to see legislation that attracts new innovative businesses and supports the creation of new jobs by treating postuse plastics as valuable raw materials for ‘manufacturing’ and not as ‘waste.’ In addition, AB 789 ensures that facilities which convert postuse plastics into liquid fuels, chemicals, waxes and lubricants are correctly regulated as manufacturing and not mischaracterized as solid waste management facilities."

He says converting Wisconsin’s nonrecycled plastics into energy could provide enough fuel to power more than 151,000 cars annually, according to estimates. "Experts also determined that converting nonrecycled plastics in Wisconsin and northern Illinois into petrochemical feedstocks and fuels could support 17 facilities and generate $163 million in economic output each year," Cookson adds. 

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