U.S. Plastic Recycling Gets Boost from New Council Initiative

SEATTLE (Scrap Monster): The Recycling Leadership Council (RLC) has launched its Taking Action to Reduce Plastic Waste initiative, uniting stakeholders from the recycling, manufacturing, packaging, and consumer products sectors to modernize the U.S. recycling system and curb plastic waste. The coalition, led by the Consumer Brands Association, began work last week in Washington, D.C., signalling an effort to advance policy reform.

According to the RLC, the initiative seeks to expand circularity, strengthen transparency and consumer confidence, and enable existing and emerging recycling technologies to work together. The council plans to engage with Congress in 2026 to support recycling innovation, strengthen American manufacturing, and improve how plastics are managed throughout their lifecycle.

A priority is upgrading outdated recycling infrastructure to better process complex plastic materials. John Hewitt, Senior Vice President at the Consumer Brands Association, called the council a pivotal step toward transforming how plastic waste management is approached.

The RLC highlighted plastics’ role in food preservation, medical devices, electronics protection, and transportation efficiency. Plastic demand continues to strain recycling systems. Members cited outdated policy frameworks as barriers that fail to reflect new technologies and weaken confidence in recycling labels.

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