Dive Brief:

• A report from Beyond Plastics and the International Pollutants Elimination Network says chemical recycling is not a solution to plastic pollution, and that chemical recycling companies have misled investors and the public about their projects’ efficacy while downplaying environmental concerns.
• The report released Tuesday is critical of the 11 chemical recycling facilities built so far in the United States, saying they process “insignificant” amounts of plastic while contributing to environmental pollution, particularly for residents of environmental justice communities.
• The report offers numerous recommendations for curbing or eliminating chemical recycling’s role in waste prevention strategies. It calls for placing a national moratorium on new plants, ending incentives such as subsidies and tax breaks, and prohibiting chemical recycling from counting toward recycling targets in public policies such as extended producer responsibility programs.