Public Policy

Washington state legislators are seriously debating EPR and recycling legislation, with groups representing recycling and packaging companies lining up behind a version that would quickly move to a producer responsibility program.

A judge has ruled against the Plastics Industry Association in its legal battle with California Attorney General Rob Bonta, ordering the association to turn over records in his probe of industry recycling practices.

The head of the House Energy and Commerce Committee used a recent hearing to question EPA decision-making on regulating one type of advanced recycling technology.

Environmental groups in New Jersey want their state to follow California, and sue the plastics industry over alleged deceptive practices in hyping the potential of recycling.

President-elect Donald Trump's nominee to head the Environmental Protection Agency was told by a leading Senate Democrat to study the science linking microplastics to health problems and to look at how chemical recycling was being oversold as a solution to plastic waste.

A new coalition of cities and local governments from around the world wants the plastics treaty to include strong rules for extended producer responsibility and to address human health impacts of plastic pollution.

Disputes over production cuts and chemical toxicity were the public face of the last round of plastics treaty talks in Busan, South Korea. But some observers point to signs of agreement in other areas.

Faced with the possibility that the talks would collapse, negotiators decided to try to salvage them and schedule another, potentially last round, in 2025.

As global plastics treaty talks enter their final hours, the European Union joins other countries in vow to push for a meaningful agreement addressing plastics production limits, chemicals of concern and problematic products.