Updated: Biden administration proposes single-use plastic restrictions

A mid-July post from the White House on the topic of plastic pollution includes a new goal to phase out federal procurement of single-use plastics from food service operations, events and packaging by 2027, and from all federal operations by 2035. It was accompanied by a strategy document, "Mobilizing Federal Action on Plastic Pollution: Progress, Principles and Priorities."

“Meeting the new goal by selecting reusable, compostable, and highly recyclable products in lieu of single-use plastics in food service will further agencies’ obligations under [an] executive order," the White House statement continues.

While using less overall plastic could be the favored choice of some policy advocates, the Biden administration also writes, “Innovation in materials and services can help ensure that products are compatible with waste management systems and have minimal impacts on human health and the environment. Actions include participating in the development of standards to promote recyclability and reuse, innovation in materials management, and additional research and development of materials that will create a more circular economy.”

Rather than a complete ban, the statement says in reference to steps that might follow, “These include efforts to optimize the collection of plastic, enhance plastic recycling and other measures to prevent plastic waste from entering the environment.”

The Washington-based nongovernmental organization (NGO) Oceana, which cites as its mission to campaign to “stop plastic pollution at the source—by working to pass local, state and national policies that reduce the production and use of unnecessary single-use plastic,” praises the initiative as a “reason to celebrate.”

“We applaud the Biden administration for committing to phase out single-use plastics," Oceana Campaign Director Christy Leavitt says. "The U.S. government is the world’s largest purchaser of goods and services, and its purchasing decisions can have a global impact. We look forward to the successful and swift implementation of this effort to eliminate single-use plastics across the government and move to refillable and reusable products.”

The Plastics Industry Association (Plastics), also based in Washington, has expressed disappointment in aspects of the statement while encouraging further plastic recycling measures.

“We are disappointed in today’s White House announcement, which arbitrarily singles out plastic under the false pretense of a lower environmental impact,” Plastics President and CEO Matt Seaholm says. “The Plastics Industry Association and its member companies are dedicated to keeping plastic waste out of the environment, and we continue to collaborate with policymakers at all levels of government to achieve this goal.

“Instead of targeting plastics, we support investing in improving our country’s recycling infrastructure and are pleased to see this priority included in the White House’s strategy. Furthermore, we support well-crafted extended producer responsibility (EPR) policies and reasonable nationally recognized recycled content requirements.

“Our industry is ready to come to the table and work with the administration and Congress to keep plastic waste out of the environment. Instead of implementing arbitrary bans that don’t address our environmental challenges, we need to collaborate on sound policies that will truly help us achieve circularity.”

Ross Eisenberg, president of America’s Plastic Makers, a division of the Washington-based American Chemistry Council, says U.S. plastic makers share the goal of preventing plastic pollution by creating circular systems for plastic with the White House.

"These words are backed by the billions of dollars plastic makers have invested to scale up a circular economy to help keep plastics from entering the environment, conserve natural resources through greater reuse and recycling and further shrink the environmental footprint of manufacturing," he adds.

"A collaborative public-private approach that includes all technologies as possible solutions as well as clear federal standards and definitions can help make the United States a leader in this field" is the best way to achieve circularity in plastics. 

"We have highlighted opportunities for EPA [Environmental Protection Agency] and other agencies to engage stakeholders and learn more about industry innovations and investments, including with advanced recycling, bio-plastics, enhanced plastic management and ACC’s “5 Actions for Sustainable Change” policy framework. This engagement becomes even more important across agencies to develop consistent, actionable outcomes."

However, Eisenberg cautions the administration against "prescribing alternative materials [that] could work against its climate objectives as plastic often has a lower life cycle GHG footprint compared to paper, metal and alternative materials." He cites a recent General Services Administration (GSA) ruling that recognizes that the “industry is pivoting” by designing products to be recycled and improving the recycling infrastructure.

The Recycled Materials Association is among the organizations that have voiced support for the White House strategy document.

ReMA issued a statement that reads, "The recycled materials industry supports the Biden-Harris administration’s pursuit of ways to reduce plastic pollution by supporting the use of reusable, compostable and highly recyclable products rather than disposable single-use plastic.

"Recycled materials are the key to reducing environmental impacts while meeting the needs of manufacturers, businesses and consumers around the globe."

The association says the recycled materials industry is constantly innovating and developing new technologies to expand the materials it can process and to improve processing efficiency.

"ReMA encourages producers to design products with recycling in mind," the group says. "As the administration looks to promote standards for recyclability, we look forward to joining their efforts."

Also voicing its support of the strategy document is the Association of Plastic Recyclers (APR), Washington, which refers to it as a "significant step as it represents the first comprehensive, governmentwide strategy to target plastic pollution."

The association also says it was pleased the report recognizes plastics recycling as a crucial part of the "holistic approach" needed to achieve a circular economy for plastic.

"Importantly, the report identifies several key actions that are long-standing APR priorities as proven and necessary steps to improve plastics recycling," the APR's statement continues. "Specifically, the report emphasizes the importance of both the supply of high-quality recyclable plastic packaging with design standards and specifications and the demand for postconsumer material with minimum postconsumer recycled content requirements. Further, the report notes opportunities to define economic incentives to maximize the value of recycled material."

The APR concludes by saying it looks forward to continuing to participate in the dialogue around state and federal policies to improve packaging design, boost collection, enhance processing and ensure new products are made from recycled material, adding, "A strong recycling supply chain is vital for minimizing waste and strengthening sustainability.” 

*This article was updated to include comments from the ACC, ReMA and APR.