{"id":2235,"date":"2026-10-16T23:29:42","date_gmt":"2026-10-16T23:29:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/webmediamall.com\/index.php\/2026\/10\/16\/unicorn778-plastic-industry-bookkeeping-plans-hide-chemical-recycling-harms-critics-say-peluang-terburuk-saat-bermain-slot-online\/"},"modified":"2026-10-16T23:29:42","modified_gmt":"2026-10-16T23:29:42","slug":"unicorn778-plastic-industry-bookkeeping-plans-hide-chemical-recycling-harms-critics-say-peluang-terburuk-saat-bermain-slot-online","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/webmediamall.com\/index.php\/2026\/10\/16\/unicorn778-plastic-industry-bookkeeping-plans-hide-chemical-recycling-harms-critics-say-peluang-terburuk-saat-bermain-slot-online\/","title":{"rendered":"UNICORN778 Plastic industry bookkeeping plans hide chemical recycling harms, critics say Peluang Terburuk Saat Bermain Slot Online"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><\/p>\n<div id=\"post-332808\">&#13;<\/p>\n<div class=\"bulletpoints-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"bulletpoints\">\n<ul>\n<li><em>As scientists and dozens of nations call for major reductions in plastic production, the plastics industry continues to push pyrolysis \u2014 dubbed chemical or advanced recycling \u2014 as a primary solution to the global plastic waste crisis.<\/em><\/li>\n<li><em>Critics say pyrolysis is not a viable solution, but rather an attempt by the industry to rebrand incineration as an environmentally sound recycling process. Pyrolysis uses high temperatures and pressure to convert waste into molecular building blocks which can then be used to make small amounts of recycled plastic.<\/em><\/li>\n<li><em>Pyrolysis facilities, analysts say, emit a toxic cocktail of harmful pollutants, while also using large amounts of energy and storing considerable amounts of hazardous chemicals onsite, putting local communities at risk. The facilities also create very little, if any, recycled plastic.<\/em><\/li>\n<li><em>But the industry hopes to use what little new plastic pyrolysis facilities do make to count toward recycling credits that can then be applied to new plastic products containing minimal recycled content. NGOs want transparency and strong industry regulation to protect health and the environment.<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<p><button class=\"content-expander\"><span>See All Key Ideas<\/span><\/button><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>&#13;<\/p>\n<p>Plastic pollution has rapidly escalated into a global environmental crisis that threatens <a href=\"https:\/\/news.mongabay.com\/2023\/10\/microplastics-pose-risk-to-ocean-plankton-climate-other-key-earth-systems\/\" data-wpel-link=\"internal\">ecosystem function<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/environment\/2023\/mar\/29\/plastics-cause-wide-ranging-health-issues-from-cancer-to-birth-defects-landmark-study-finds\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external\">human health<\/a> at an epic scale. Solutions are urgently needed, but while scientists, conservationists and more than 75 nations have <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cambridge.org\/core\/journals\/cambridge-prisms-plastics\/collections\/act-boldly-or-fail-academic-perspectives-at-a-pivotal-moment-in-global-plastics-treaty-negotiations\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external\">called for binding limits on fossil fuel-driven plastic production<\/a>, the plastics industry is opposed to all limits and is instead pushing a collection of technologies known as \u2018chemical recycling.\u2019<\/p>\n<p>Critics say the industry is utilizing deceptive accounting practices and marketing jargon to rebrand polluting plastic incineration disposal methods.<\/p>\n<p>To date, chemical recycling facilities have created a relatively <a href=\"https:\/\/www.beyondplastics.org\/fact-sheets\/chemical-recycling\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external\">miniscule amount of recycled plastic<\/a>, according to industry critics. But consumer product labels claiming \u201c20% recycled plastic\u201d have become an increasingly common sight on single-use plastic items.<\/p>\n<p>Reading such labels, consumers might logically assume that the product contains 20% recycled material, but that might not be the case. In addition, that potentially misleading label could be greenwashing <a href=\"https:\/\/news.mongabay.com\/2022\/03\/chemical-recycling-green-plastics-solution-makes-more-pollution-report\/\" data-wpel-link=\"internal\">environmentally damaging plastic incineration<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h2>Chemical recycling: Cutting-edge solution or sleight of hand?<\/h2>\n<p>Chemical recycling, also dubbed \u2018advanced recycling\u2019 by the industry, uses chemicals, intense heat and\/or pressure to break down plastic waste into its molecular building blocks. This contrasts with traditional <a href=\"https:\/\/plasticseurope.org\/sustainability\/circularity\/recycling\/mechanical-recycling\/\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external\">\u2018mechanical\u2019 recycling methods<\/a> which shred plastic waste into tiny flakes that can be melted and re-molded into new products.<\/p>\n<p>The most common form of chemical recycling, called \u2018pyrolysis,\u2019 uses high temperatures and pressure to convert waste plastic into an oil, which can be further processed into a variety of chemicals, some of which can be used to create new plastics.<\/p>\n<p>Policymakers in the <a href=\"https:\/\/theintercept.com\/2023\/10\/31\/plastics-pollution-advanced-recycling\/\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external\">U.S.<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.euwid-recycling.com\/news\/business\/lyondellbasell-to-receive-eur40m-in-eu-funding-for-chemical-recycling-plant-080124\/\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external\">Europe<\/a> have spent tens of millions subsidizing pyrolysis facilities. But <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nrdc.org\/resources\/chemical-recycling\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external\">experts warn<\/a> that it\u2019s not an effective solution to the plastic pollution crisis and is fraught with environmental and public health issues.<\/p>\n<p>For starters, pyrolysis can\u2019t directly produce new plastic. Instead, it outputs pyrolysis oil, which must be further processed using energy-intensive means to produce the chemical ingredients of plastic. As a result, turning plastic waste into new plastics via pyrolysis <a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1021\/acssuschemeng.2c05497\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external\">releases more greenhouse gases than producing virgin plastic<\/a> from crude oil, a study published in 2023 found.<\/p>\n<p>Pyrolysis oil derived from plastic waste is also <a href=\"https:\/\/zerowasteeurope.eu\/library\/leaky-loop-recycling-a-technical-correction-on-the-quality-of-pyrolysis-oil-made-from-plastic-waste\/\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external\">contaminated with chemical additives, heavy metals and other substances<\/a>, so it typically needs to be diluted with virgin petroleum first, before being made into products.<\/p>\n<p>Mechanical plastic recycling methods also face challenges: Recycling reduces the material quality, so to achieve desired properties, such as strength and durability, recycled plastic is often mixed with virgin plastic.<\/p>\n<p>The difference between chemical recycling and mechanical recycling is that the latter can produce products containing up to 100% recycled plastic, whereas very little of the waste plastic fed into the pyrolysis process can actually become new plastic, with estimates <a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1021\/acssuschemeng.2c05497\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external\">ranging from 0.1% to 6%<\/a>.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_332810\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-332810\" src=\"https:\/\/imgs.mongabay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2026\/10\/15224645\/2_Plastic_production_pyrolysis_oil_naphtha_BASF.jpg\" alt=\"To produce new plastic products, pyrolysis oil must be mixed with naphtha, a chemical derived from fossil fuels, and then fed into a steam cracker, which heats the mixture to around 840\u00b0C (1544\u00b0F) to produce the chemical precursors for plastic manufacture.\" width=\"1536\" height=\"1024\" srcset=\"https:\/\/imgs.mongabay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2026\/10\/15224645\/2_Plastic_production_pyrolysis_oil_naphtha_BASF.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/imgs.mongabay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2026\/10\/15224645\/2_Plastic_production_pyrolysis_oil_naphtha_BASF-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/imgs.mongabay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2026\/10\/15224645\/2_Plastic_production_pyrolysis_oil_naphtha_BASF-1200x800.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/imgs.mongabay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2026\/10\/15224645\/2_Plastic_production_pyrolysis_oil_naphtha_BASF-350x233.jpg 350w, https:\/\/imgs.mongabay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2026\/10\/15224645\/2_Plastic_production_pyrolysis_oil_naphtha_BASF-610x407.jpg 610w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1536px) 100vw, 1536px\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">To produce new plastic products, pyrolysis oil must be mixed with naphtha, a chemical derived from fossil fuels, and then fed into a steam cracker, which heats the mixture to around 840\u00b0C (1544\u00b0F) to produce the chemical precursors for plastic manufacture. Image by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/basf\/\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external\">BASF<\/a> via (<a href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-nd\/2.0\/\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external\">CC BY-NC-ND 2.0<\/a>).<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2>The need for transparent, traceable recycling supply chains<\/h2>\n<p>For decades, plastic recycling companies have used well-established \u2018<a href=\"https:\/\/isealalliance.org\/what-we-do\/systems-effectiveness\/traceability\/chain-custody-models-and-definitions-guidance\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external\">chain-of-custody<\/a>\u2019 methods to ensure that their final product contains a known quantity of recycled material. One approach involves physically tracking materials through the entire supply chain, creating end products that all contain the same proportion of recycled content.<\/p>\n<p>However, the availability and price of recycled and virgin plastic feedstocks vary over time, so it\u2019s not always possible to produce consistent outputs. That\u2019s where the bookkeeping approach known as \u2018mass balance rolling average accounting\u2019 comes in. This method tracks inputs and outputs to calculate the average amount of recycled content created over a set period.<\/p>\n<p>Such methods are used in many industries \u2014 such as Fairtrade chocolate, tea and sugar \u2014 and are approved for plastic products making a recycled content claim by the U.S. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ftc.gov\/\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external\">Federal Trade Commission<\/a>. But industry is lobbying regulators to accept more opaque and potentially <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nrdc.org\/bio\/renee-sharp\/plastics-industrys-latest-deception-mass-balance\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external\">deceptive accounting methods<\/a>. That, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nrdc.org\/bio\/renee-sharp\/plastics-industrys-latest-deception-mass-balance\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external\">according to critics<\/a>, is because more transparent chain of custody methods aren\u2019t suitable for chemical recycling technologies like pyrolysis, which can\u2019t physically track inputs and connect them with recycled outputs.<\/p>\n<h2>Creative accounting would rebrand \u2018fuel\u2019 as recycled content<\/h2>\n<p>The industry is advocating for non-proportional or <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nrdc.org\/bio\/renee-sharp\/plastics-industrys-latest-deception-mass-balance\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external\">\u2018free\u2019 allocation mass balance accounting<\/a>. It would allow plastic waste that is burned to fuel the pyrolysis process, as well as fuels generated from pyrolysis oil (which will later be burned), to be counted toward recycling credits that can be applied to virgin plastic that can then be labeled as recycled.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cCompanies are literally taking plastic, turning it into fuel, claiming this is recycling even though it is not, and then assigning their recycling credits to virgin plastic, and marketing the virgin plastic as recycled, which is both misleading and just plain nuts,\u201d says Ren\u00e9e Sharp, director of plastics and petrochemical advocacy at the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nrdc.org\/\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external\">Natural Resources Defense Council<\/a>, who spoke to Mongabay via video call.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_332811\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-332811\" src=\"https:\/\/imgs.mongabay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2026\/10\/15224649\/3_Plastic_mass_balance_accounting_arbyreed.jpg\" alt=\"The simplest and most transparent form of mass balance accounting involves calculating the average amount of recycled content in a line of products over a set period of time. Using this method, recycled content claims on the label would accurately reflect the proportion of recycled content across an entire batch of products.\" width=\"1536\" height=\"1024\" srcset=\"https:\/\/imgs.mongabay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2026\/10\/15224649\/3_Plastic_mass_balance_accounting_arbyreed.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/imgs.mongabay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2026\/10\/15224649\/3_Plastic_mass_balance_accounting_arbyreed-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/imgs.mongabay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2026\/10\/15224649\/3_Plastic_mass_balance_accounting_arbyreed-1200x800.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/imgs.mongabay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2026\/10\/15224649\/3_Plastic_mass_balance_accounting_arbyreed-350x233.jpg 350w, https:\/\/imgs.mongabay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2026\/10\/15224649\/3_Plastic_mass_balance_accounting_arbyreed-610x407.jpg 610w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1536px) 100vw, 1536px\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The simplest and most transparent form of mass balance accounting involves calculating the average amount of recycled content in a line of products over a set period of time. Using this method, recycled content claims on the label would accurately reflect the proportion of recycled content across an entire batch of products. Image by arbyreed via <a href=\"https:\/\/flic.kr\/p\/2ircYrU\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external\">Flickr<\/a> (<a href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-sa\/2.0\/\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external\">CC BY-NC-SA 2.0<\/a>).<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Counting fuel products as recycled violates policy and legal definitions of recycling in the <a href=\"https:\/\/eur-lex.europa.eu\/legal-content\/EN\/TXT\/?uri=CELEX%3A02008L0098-20251016\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external\">European Union<\/a>, U.S. state of <a href=\"https:\/\/calrecycle.ca.gov\/packaging\/packaging-epr\/\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external\">California<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.csagroup.org\/store\/product\/2431275\/\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external\">Canada<\/a>. But advocates claim this accounting method \u2014 which isn\u2019t used in any other industry \u2014 is necessary to make pyrolysis scalable, marketable and financially viable.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe American Chemistry Council supports both proportional and non-proportional allocation when combined within a rigorous, independently certified mass balance system,\u201d says Adam Peer, senior director of plastics sustainability at the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.americanchemistry.com\/\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external\">American Chemistry Council<\/a>, who responded to Mongabay\u2019s questions via email. \u201cWith clear rules, transparent claims, and independent third-party certification, mass balance is the only practical way to increase the amount of sustainable material used across the economy, leveraging existing infrastructure.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.plasticsindustry.org\/\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external\">Plastics Industry Association<\/a> did not respond to Mongabay\u2019s request for comment by the time of publication.<\/p>\n<p>Experts warn that these new accounting methods lack transparency, risk undermining confidence in recycling, and distract policymakers from real solutions to plastic pollution. Critics also say such methods put mechanical recycling \u2014 which is associated with fewer health and environmental concerns \u2014 at a disadvantage. \u201cYou\u2019re creating a very uneven playing field for mechanical recycling that can\u2019t make those same kind of credit transfers,\u201d Sharp said.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_332812\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-332812\" src=\"https:\/\/imgs.mongabay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2026\/10\/15224652\/4_Traditional_mechanical_plastic_recycling_shredding_UNEP.jpg\" alt=\"Traditional \u2018mechanical\u2019 recycling methods involve shredding plastic waste into tiny flakes to be melted and remolded into new plastic products. These processes can only be used to produce recycled plastics and have fewer health and environmental issues than chemical recycling.\" width=\"1536\" height=\"1024\" srcset=\"https:\/\/imgs.mongabay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2026\/10\/15224652\/4_Traditional_mechanical_plastic_recycling_shredding_UNEP.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/imgs.mongabay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2026\/10\/15224652\/4_Traditional_mechanical_plastic_recycling_shredding_UNEP-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/imgs.mongabay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2026\/10\/15224652\/4_Traditional_mechanical_plastic_recycling_shredding_UNEP-1200x800.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/imgs.mongabay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2026\/10\/15224652\/4_Traditional_mechanical_plastic_recycling_shredding_UNEP-350x233.jpg 350w, https:\/\/imgs.mongabay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2026\/10\/15224652\/4_Traditional_mechanical_plastic_recycling_shredding_UNEP-610x407.jpg 610w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1536px) 100vw, 1536px\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Traditional \u2018mechanical\u2019 recycling methods involve shredding plastic waste into tiny flakes to be melted and remolded into new plastic products. These processes can only be used to produce recycled plastics and have fewer health and environmental issues than chemical recycling. Image by UNEP via <a href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/unep\/52922683388\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external\">Flickr<\/a> (<a href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-sa\/2.0\/\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external\">CC BY-NC-SA 2.0<\/a>).<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2>A toxic track record<\/h2>\n<p>In the U.S., pyrolysis is legally classified as incineration under the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.epa.gov\/laws-regulations\/summary-clean-air-act\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external\">Clean Air Act<\/a>, which places strict limits on toxic emissions from waste incineration facilities because their emissions pose public health risks. To get around these rules, companies claim pyrolysis makes new plastic (something it does minimally), and are pushing state agencies for Clean Air Act exemptions intended for recycling processes, thus attempting to avoid the stronger restrictions imposed on incineration as a means of waste disposal.<\/p>\n<p>In March 2026, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency under President Donald Trump\u2019s administration proposed a <a href=\"https:\/\/earth911.com\/business-policy\/the-epa-is-changing-the-rules-for-plastic-recycling-plants\/\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external\">new rule<\/a> exempting pyrolysis units from Clean Air Act regulations.<\/p>\n<p>That change would effectively deregulate pyrolysis facilities by removing the only federal standards that currently apply, and allowing them to emit a cocktail of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.beyondplastics.org\/publications\/chemical-recycling\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external\">harmful and toxic pollutants<\/a>, including benzene and dioxins \u2014 both potent carcinogens \u2014 putting neighboring communities at risk. Environmental groups, including the NGO Beyond Plastics, are <a href=\"https:\/\/www.beyondplastics.org\/actions\/regulate-pyrolysis\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external\">opposing the EPA\u2019s plan<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Chemical recycling facilities also <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nrdc.org\/resources\/chemical-recycling\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external\">use and store large quantities of hazardous chemicals<\/a>, including flammable, corrosive and\/or explosive substances, such as sulfuric acid and butane, putting the facilities at risk for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.beyondplastics.org\/news-stories\/indian-plastics-manufacturer-seeks-first-u-s-operation-in-lockport-2des3\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external\">spills, fires and explosions<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>These chemicals and waste also need to be transported to and from chemical recycling facilities by road or rail, sometimes traveling thousands of miles overland, potentially endangering unaware communities along transportation routes.<\/p>\n<h2>Closures shine light on pyrolysis failure<\/h2>\n<p>The 2025 <a href=\"https:\/\/insideclimatenews.org\/news\/10072026\/nc-plastic-recycling-plant-shutters-after-mishandling-hazardous-waste\/\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external\">closure of the Braven Environmental pyrolysis facility<\/a> in the U.S. state of North Carolina offers insights into pyrolysis industry operations and failings. Public records reveal that this facility <a href=\"https:\/\/www.beyondplastics.org\/press-releases\/braven-chemical-recycling-north-carolina-closed\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external\">repeatedly mishandled hazardous waste<\/a>, and has multiple unresolved violations with the State Department of Environmental Quality. It\u2019s unclear what contamination may be left onsite, or what the company\u2019s monitoring and clean-up obligations will be, leaving locals guessing about long-term implications.<\/p>\n<p>Likewise, the <a href=\"https:\/\/cen.acs.org\/business\/freepoint-eco-systems-shuts-down-plastics-pyrolysis-plant\/104\/web\/2026\/06\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external\">Freepoint Eco-Systems pyrolysis plant<\/a> announced the <a href=\"https:\/\/earthworks.org\/blog\/freepoint-plastics-incinerator-still-polluting-while-shutting-down\/\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external\">suspension of operations<\/a> in June 2026. It received multiple notices from regulators in the U.S. state of Ohio for air pollution emissions violations and failure to meet required recycling output thresholds.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHow these facilities are operating in reality indicates a dangerous track record of spills, violations, not following the law and their permits, which presents greater health risks to communities than the best-case scenarios assumed by [regulatory] agencies,\u201d said Veena Singla, an environmental health researcher affiliated with the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ucsf.edu\/\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external\">University of California, San Francisco<\/a>, who spoke to Mongabay via video call.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_332813\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-332813\" src=\"https:\/\/imgs.mongabay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2026\/10\/15224655\/5_East_Palestine_Ohio_train_derailment_NTSB.jpeg\" alt=\"In February 2023, a freight train carrying hazardous waste derailed in East Palestine, Ohio. The crash and the resulting fire released harmful chemicals into the surrounding environment, including hydrogen chloride, vinyl chloride, benzene residue and butyl acrylate. Movement of hazardous waste and chemicals to advanced recycling facilities pose similar risks.\" width=\"1536\" height=\"1024\" srcset=\"https:\/\/imgs.mongabay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2026\/10\/15224655\/5_East_Palestine_Ohio_train_derailment_NTSB.jpeg 1536w, https:\/\/imgs.mongabay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2026\/10\/15224655\/5_East_Palestine_Ohio_train_derailment_NTSB-768x512.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/imgs.mongabay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2026\/10\/15224655\/5_East_Palestine_Ohio_train_derailment_NTSB-1200x800.jpeg 1200w, https:\/\/imgs.mongabay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2026\/10\/15224655\/5_East_Palestine_Ohio_train_derailment_NTSB-350x233.jpeg 350w, https:\/\/imgs.mongabay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2026\/10\/15224655\/5_East_Palestine_Ohio_train_derailment_NTSB-610x407.jpeg 610w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1536px) 100vw, 1536px\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">In February 2023, a freight train carrying hazardous waste derailed in East Palestine, Ohio. The crash and the resulting fire released harmful chemicals into the surrounding environment, including hydrogen chloride, vinyl chloride, benzene residue and butyl acrylate. Movement of hazardous waste and chemicals to advanced recycling facilities pose similar risks. Image by the U.S. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ntsb.gov\/news\/press-releases\/Pages\/NR20230214.aspx\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external\">National Transportation Safety Board<\/a>.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>As is often the case with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wastedive.com\/news\/majority-of-us-incinerators-located-in-marginalized-communities-report-r\/555375\/\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external\">polluting U.S. incinerators<\/a>, chemical recycling facilities are predominantly sited in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.eli.org\/sites\/default\/files\/files-general\/Panel%204%20-%20More%20Recycling%20Lies%20-%20What%20the%20Plastics%20Industry%20Isn%27t%20Telling%20You%20About%20Chemical%20Recycling%20%28Issue%20Brief%2C%20NRDC%29.pdf\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external\">low-income areas and communities of color<\/a>, who bear the burden of the associated pollution and health impacts.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe pattern of plastic pollution disproportionately affecting marginalized communities continues with chemical recycling,\u201d Singla said. She analyzed EPA data and her yet to be published findings show that chemical recycling facilities are located where the proportion of Black residents within a three-mile radius is twice the U.S. average.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s a pattern of environmental injustice,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n<p>If the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nrdc.org\/bio\/rachel-fullmer\/trump-epa-proposes-toxic-loophole-plastics-incineration\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external\">EPA rule to reclassify plastic incinerators<\/a>, including chemical recycling facilities, is finalized, pyrolysis plants will no longer be federally required to limit hazardous air pollution, and communities nearby will lose legal protections afforded by the Clean Air Act against the harmful emissions they produce.<\/p>\n<p>The public comment period for the EPA rule change has closed, and a final decision could be published at any time.<\/p>\n<h2>Experts call for strong \u2018mass balance accounting\u2019 regulation<\/h2>\n<p>In the U.S., there are currently no federal regulations on the use of mass balance accounting methods for recycled plastic. Several states <a href=\"https:\/\/cdphe.colorado.gov\/hm\/epr-program\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external\">recently implemented<\/a>, or are <a href=\"https:\/\/calmatters.digitaldemocracy.org\/bills\/ca_202520260ab2253\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external\">currently developing<\/a> policies in this area. European legislation on plastic recycling is more advanced, but policymakers continue grappling with how to regulate chemical recycling.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/zerowasteeurope.eu\/\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external\">Zero Waste Europe<\/a> (ZWE), a European network of local and national NGOs, is <a href=\"https:\/\/zerowasteeurope.eu\/2023\/03\/chemical-recycling-does-not-need-flexible-mass-balance-to-scale-up-heres-why\/\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external\">calling for<\/a> a level playing field for recycled content claims: If an accounting method can\u2019t be used by mechanical recyclers \u2014 non-proportional allocation, for example \u2014 then it shouldn\u2019t be allowed for chemical recyclers, the group says.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cZero Waste Europe supports the highest level of transparency and traceability,\u201d said Lauriane Veillard, ZWE\u2019s chemical recycling and plastic-to-fuels policy officer, who spoke to Mongabay via email. \u201cWe consider non-proportional allocation an unfair practice as it impacts the [reported] recycling yield of the technology \u2026 while in reality no changes [have occurred] in the system.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>In 2026, the European Commission <a href=\"https:\/\/environment.ec.europa.eu\/publications\/implementing-decision-calculation-verification-and-reporting-data-recycled-plastic-content-single_en\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external\">approved the use of mass balance accounting methods<\/a> for recycled content in plastic beverage bottles under the <a href=\"https:\/\/environment.ec.europa.eu\/topics\/plastics\/single-use-plastics_en\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external\">EU Directive on Single-Use Plastics<\/a>, but ruled that fuels could not count toward recycled content claims, in line with the definition of recycling outlined in the 2008 <a href=\"https:\/\/environment.ec.europa.eu\/topics\/waste-and-recycling\/waste-framework-directive_en\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external\">Waste Framework Directive<\/a>. This ruling offers a regulatory precedent for other legislative bodies globally, Veillard said.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_332814\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-332814\" src=\"https:\/\/imgs.mongabay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2026\/10\/15224658\/6_Plastic_chemical_recycling_Alabama_Extension.jpg\" alt=\"Policymakers in the U.S. and the EU are currently grappling with how to regulate the chemical recycling industry\u2019s new accounting methods, which critics view as deceptive. Environmental NGOs on both sides of the Atlantic are pushing for the highest standards of transparency and traceability to ensure recycling targets are met and consumers are not misled.\" width=\"1536\" height=\"1024\" srcset=\"https:\/\/imgs.mongabay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2026\/10\/15224658\/6_Plastic_chemical_recycling_Alabama_Extension.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/imgs.mongabay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2026\/10\/15224658\/6_Plastic_chemical_recycling_Alabama_Extension-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/imgs.mongabay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2026\/10\/15224658\/6_Plastic_chemical_recycling_Alabama_Extension-1200x800.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/imgs.mongabay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2026\/10\/15224658\/6_Plastic_chemical_recycling_Alabama_Extension-350x233.jpg 350w, https:\/\/imgs.mongabay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2026\/10\/15224658\/6_Plastic_chemical_recycling_Alabama_Extension-610x407.jpg 610w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1536px) 100vw, 1536px\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Policymakers in the U.S. and the EU are currently grappling with how to regulate the chemical recycling industry\u2019s new accounting methods, which critics view as deceptive. Environmental NGOs on both sides of the Atlantic are pushing for the highest standards of transparency and traceability to ensure recycling targets are met and consumers are not misled. Image by Alabama Extension via <a href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/alabama_extension\/50167548201\/\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external\">Flickr<\/a> (<a href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/publicdomain\/zero\/1.0\/deed.en\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external\">free to use<\/a>).<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>As other nations struggle to legislate mass balance accounting for plastic recycling, the NRDC has <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nrdc.org\/bio\/renee-sharp\/plastics-industrys-latest-deception-mass-balance\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external\">urged<\/a> governments to enforce the highest transparency standards. \u201cIf some form of mass balance [accounting] is going to be allowed, it needs to be the fairest and least deceptive form,\u201d said NRDC\u2019s Sharp, but \u201cwhat the industry really wants is the most deceptive and the most problematic forms.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>If industry lobbyists have their way, critics warn that misleading mass balance accounting methods could soon be greenwashing a largely unregulated and polluting industry that produces fuel and chemicals, and very little recycled plastic. And consumers will need to question the recycled content claims adorning plastic product labels.<\/p>\n<p>The chemical complexity of plastic products, along with their persistence and toxicity, has made end of life disposal extremely challenging, and no recycling solution to date has come close to living up to those challenges. Though the industry is resistant, experts argue that limits on plastic production \u2014 especially single-use plastics \u2014 and bans on the worst toxic ingredients are more viable paths to protecting public and planetary health.<\/p>\n<p><em><strong>Banner image:<\/strong> As the world grapples with the growing plastic pollution crisis, new accounting methods pushed by the chemical recycling industry could undermine national and international recycling targets and distract from real policy solutions, critics say. Image by UNEP via <a href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/unep\/52921649432\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external\">Flickr<\/a> (<a href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-sa\/2.0\/\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external\">CC BY-NC-SA 2.0<\/a>).<\/em><\/p>\n<p><strong>Citation:<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Uekert, T., Singh, A., DesVeaux, J. S., Ghosh, T., Bhatt, A., Yadav, G., \u2026 Carpenter, A. C. (2023). Technical, economic, and environmental comparison of closed-loop recycling technologies for common plastics. <em>ACS Sustainable Chemistry &amp; Engineering<\/em>, <em>11<\/em>(3), 965-978. doi:<a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1021\/acssuschemeng.2c05497\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external\">10.1021\/acssuschemeng.2c05497<\/a><\/p>\n<p><b>FEEDBACK: <a href=\"https:\/\/form.jotform.com\/70284580836159\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external\">Use this form<\/a> to send a message to the author of this post. If you want to post a public comment, you can do that at the bottom of the page.<\/b><\/p>\n<div id=\"single-article-footer\">\n<div id=\"cite-article\" class=\"align-left banner bg-brand-color crossref-doi outlined ph--16 pv--16\">\n<h2>Cite this article<\/h2>\n<p><span class=\"crossref-doi\">Claire Asher (2026). Plastic industry bookkeeping plans hide chemical recycling harms, critics say. Mongabay Conservation news. DOI: <a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.66709\/news-332808\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"external\">https:\/\/doi.org\/10.66709\/news-332808<\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"container in-column about-editor-translator gap--40 pv--80\">\n<div class=\"container grid--3 repeat gap--40\">\n<div class=\"in-row gap--16\">\n<div class=\"author-avatar\">\n                    <img alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/975100c711ed9f4e4736fd7fa588cb07b44dc86ff3a043a9113559110473e565?s=32&amp;d=identicon&amp;r=g\" srcset=\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/975100c711ed9f4e4736fd7fa588cb07b44dc86ff3a043a9113559110473e565?s=64&amp;d=identicon&amp;r=g 2x\" class=\"avatar avatar-32 photo\" height=\"32\" width=\"32\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\"\/>        <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>&#13;<br \/>\n                            <span class=\"article-comments\"><a href=\"\" data-wpel-link=\"internal\"\/><\/span>&#13;<br \/>\n&#13;<br \/>\n                            &#13;<br \/>\n        &#13;\n                        <\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&#13; As scientists and dozens of nations call for major reductions in plastic production, the&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2236,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[12,4798,4453,2694,4801,4799,1780,14,9,846,1119,4800,11,13,10,2],"class_list":["post-2235","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-unicorn778","tag-bermain","tag-bookkeeping","tag-chemical","tag-critics","tag-harms","tag-hide","tag-industry","tag-online","tag-peluang","tag-plans","tag-plastic","tag-recycling","tag-saat","tag-slot","tag-terburuk","tag-unicorn778"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/webmediamall.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2235","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/webmediamall.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/webmediamall.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/webmediamall.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/webmediamall.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2235"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/webmediamall.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2235\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/webmediamall.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2236"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/webmediamall.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2235"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/webmediamall.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2235"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/webmediamall.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2235"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}