The clamor to ban plastics of one type or another to save the global environment remains unabated and the word "circularity" claims to offer a real solution. Microplastics are another problem and myriad claims of its impact on all life on this earth are a daily concern. So, we the people want our Congress and the governments to create new laws, taxes, restrictions and diktats.
The USA was once renowned for its ability to come up with pragmatic solutions without depending on governments and the Congress. Alas, even the brilliant plastics industry is begging Congress to provide direction instead of using its own talent to come up with pragmatic solutions. We tend to forget simple ways to mitigate the plastics issue.
Having spent five decades in environmental management, including 30 years in solid waste business, I suggest the following response to resolve the plastics problem:
1. The resin-making companies could create a plastics extended producer responsibility (PEPR) organization to respond with practical ways to collect all plastics (bottles, rigid and flexible containers, all sorts of film plastics, industrial plastics, etc.). It is not practical to impose EPR on thousands of packaging firms; that creates more noise than real solutions.
2. The local governments and solid waste collection and disposal companies would be responsible for the collection program. The plastics fraction — from materials recovery facilities — would be compacted into secure bales. PEPR would arrange for the payment and transportation the bales to specific locations where the resins are manufactured.
3. PEPR would decide how the plastics are separated for repurposing the plastics and also select what fraction of the plastics could be used for advanced recycling. PEPR would also determine what fraction of the plastics are best used as fuel for energy production.
4. PEPR would raise the price of resins sold. We, the people or consumers, will pay a higher price for goods we demand, purchase and discard.
5. We avoid government taxes, grants, zoning problems, etc. Remember any tax is our money passing through government hands and not something government is giving away for free. PEPR would make the business decision and not the governments.
6. In the Aug. 18 issue of Plastics News, there was an apt cartoon that spoke well for one of the nagging problems: We want plastics recycling, but not in my backyard.
7. Resin makers have vast facilities, and it would make sense to use a fraction of their landholdings for final processing of all plastics for reuse, remanufacturing, repurposing and energy recovery. The zoning issue would be resolved.
In this world, simple solutions work and complex solutions cost more and have a greater tendency to fail. So, let us work to avoid government intrusion as much as possible.
N.C. Vasuki is a certified environmental engineer, former CEO of the Delaware Solid Waste Authority, past president of the International Solid Waste Association and past president of the Solid Waste Association of North America.