U.S. Recyclers to INC-5: We Need Reduction, Not False Solutions

BUSAN, South Korea, 30 November, 2024 – As mission-driven recyclers, we witness daily the overwhelming influx of plastic packaging inundating our facilities. Recycling alone cannot address the sheer volume and complexity of plastics produced, leaving the majority to pollute the environment, harm ecosystems, and threaten human health. Unchecked growth of plastic production fuels this crisis, overwhelming existing recycling systems and perpetuating a cycle of waste and harm.

With only hours left at INC-5, the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee’s fifth session to develop a Global Plastics Treaty, we strongly urge governments to prioritize ambitious measures to tackle this crisis. A comprehensive solution necessitates a significant reduction in plastic production and a systemic shift towards non-toxic reuse and refill systems.

Furthermore, we express deep concern over the inclusion of so-called “advanced recycling,” which repackages dirty old 20th-century petrochemical processes under the guise of recycling. These processes are often energy-intensive, emit hazardous pollutants, and divert attention and resources from genuine recycling efforts. Recognizing them as recycling not only misleads the public but also undermines the integrity of recycling systems.

We call for clear, stringent definitions of recycling that exclude such methods, ensuring that innovation and resources are directed towards reduction, non-toxic reuse, and supporting existing recycling infrastructures. This approach is not only environmentally imperative but also economically prudent, preventing the continuous and unfeasible cycle of rebuilding and reinventing recycling systems only to perpetuate global dependence on plastics.

“We cannot accept a treaty that mislabels burning plastics as recycling or turns a blind eye to the unchecked growth in plastic production. Recycling, while essential, cannot bear the weight of solving the plastics crisis alone. The Global Plastics Treaty must prioritize reduction and reuse at its core, or it will fail the planet and future generations.”

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Contact Information

Katie Drews, National Director AMBR

+16126003202

katied@eurekarecycling.org

The above is a press statement  from the Alliance for Mission-Based Recycling. Eureka Recycling is a Founding Member of AMBR and Eureka’s C0-President, Katie Drews, is representing AMBR at the Global Plastics Treaty.