US partnership to boost sustainable management of plastics

United States – The plastics division of the American Chemistry Council (ACC) has formed a new partnership with the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) aimed at promoting sustainable materials management for plastics.

The two bodies will work together to lower disposal rates by tracking and promotion of activities that enable source reduction, reuse, recycling and prevention.

They will also look to enhance stakeholders’ capacity to implement sustainable materials management through technical assistance.

‘We are excited to work with EPA to advance the adoption of sustainable materials management among plastics makers, brand owners, retailers, policy-makers and others,’ comments ACC’s vice president of plastics Steve Russell. ‘By relying on a full evaluation of a material’s life cycle, sustainable materials management can help us make more informed choices that conserve resources and reduce overall environmental impacts.’

Through this partnership, the EPA joins the Wrap Recycling Action Program (WRAP) campaign – a public-private partnership with the goal of increasing plastic wrap and bag recycling through public education and the sharing of tools and best practices.

‘More than 18 000 stores across the United States collect plastic film for recycling, but many consumers are not aware of this opportunity,’ it is pointed out.