ACC: Plastic Recycling Could Create Economic Windfall

SEATTLE (Scrap Monster): An economic analysis reveals that redirecting just half of America's plastic waste from landfills to recycling facilities could create more than 173,000 jobs and generate nearly $49 billion in annual economic output.

The American Chemistry Council (ACC) released findings today showing the transformative potential of expanding both mechanical and advanced recycling infrastructure across the United States. The analysis demonstrates how processing 20 million metric tons of currently landfilled plastics annually could reshape the nation's manufacturing landscape.

Economic impact breakdown

The study projects significant economic benefits across multiple sectors:

173,200 total jobs supported nationwide, including 43,300 direct positions at recycling facilities.

$12.8 billion in annual payroll across direct, indirect, and induced spending effects.

$48.7 billion in total economic output, with $16.4 billion generated directly by recycling operations.

Industry leaders emphasize that achieving these economic benefits requires coordinated policy action. Ross Eisenberg, president of America's Plastic Makers, which is comprised of the American Chemistry Council's Plastics Division and its member companies, told PlasticsToday that in order to achieve a 50% diversion rate from landfills, industry supports modernizing federal regulations.

This includes passing bipartisan legislation to create consistent national recycling standards and implementing smart, well-designed extended producer responsibility (EPR) programs to fund infrastructure and ensure accountability.

"These actions would expand access to both mechanical and advanced recycling technologies, helping recover a broader range of plastics and meet growing demand for recycled content from brands and consumers," he explained. "Together, these policies can unlock billions in private investment, close infrastructure gaps that limit recycling today, and keep more plastic out of landfills, creating tens of thousands of US jobs and strengthening domestic manufacturing in the process."

The economic benefits extend far beyond job creation, according to industry leaders, who view recycling expansion as a strategic manufacturing advantage. This infrastructure investment could fundamentally reshape how America approaches plastic waste management.

"Strengthening our recycling infrastructure is a win for US manufacturing and helps keep more used plastics out of landfills and in the economy," Eisenberg emphasized. "This report shows that modernizing and expanding plastics recycling can strengthen domestic supply chains, create thousands of skilled jobs, and provide the high-quality recycled materials that brands and manufacturers want to add to their products."

He also explained that many factors influence the total level of investment needed. These include the size, technology, and location of recycling facilities.

"While the analysis does not attempt to quantify the exact amount required to reach a 50% diversion rate, ACC estimates there have been about $10.5 billion in announced investments in recycling infrastructure since 2017," he noted. "These investments have the potential to process roughly 7.5 million metric tons of plastic annually in the United States, laying important groundwork for continued expansion of both mechanical and advanced recycling capabilities."

Courtesy: www.plasticstoday.com