
The American Chemistry Council (ACC) suggested Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that greater collaboration could improve the Draft National Strategy and lead to a more effective approach to eliminating plastic pollution. Additionally, they identified certain sections of the draft that may have unintended consequences, which can affect American consumers and the environment negatively.
The development of a circular economy of plastics could make the United States a leader in this field. To achieve this goal, the EPA should acknowledge the potential of advanced recycling, which could greatly expand the range of plastics that can be recycled in the U.S.
The National Strategy requires recognizing the various recycling technologies and schemes available for plastic materials to achieve circularity in order to achieve the goal of using more recycled content and meeting the required standards. ACC has suggested ways for the EPA to connect with stakeholders and gain knowledge about industry advancements and investments, such as the use of advanced recycling, improved plastic management, and bioplastics, along with their policy known as 5 Actions for Sustainable Change.
According to ACC, the Draft National Strategy does not align with Congress' direction and intention, which is a matter of concern. Moreover, they are concerned that certain aspects of strategy might hinder the progress toward a circular economy and result in increased carbon emissions in the United States.
They have also mentioned that the agency's proposal for material substitution does not take into account the potential environmental impact of such alternatives. Adopting this approach without scientific analysis could lead to higher resource consumption, greenhouse gas emissions, and waste disposal in landfills.
According to Procurement Resource, in order to prevent plastic pollution, EPA is suggested to focus on several aspects. Firstly, they should collaborate to expand the range of plastic recycling. Secondly, they should adopt innovative technologies to achieve circularity.





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