WASHINGTON (April 19, 2021) – The American Chemistry Council applauds Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt for signing SB 448 into law. This legislation provides a modernized regulatory framework for advanced recycling technologies in the state, which will help reduce plastic waste, enhance operational certainty and enable greater adoption of advanced recycling.
“Advanced recycling provides a solution to one of our planet’s most pressing environmental challenges: plastic waste in our environment,” said Joshua Baca, ACC’s vice president of plastics. “These innovative technologies will complement mechanical recycling by allowing us to convert more post-use plastics into new products. Legislation like SB 448 will also help Oklahoma attract new recycling businesses and support job creation.”
Oklahoma is the 11th state to pass advanced recycling legislation since 2017. It joins Florida, Wisconsin, Georgia, Iowa, Tennessee, Texas, Illinois, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Virginia in recognizing that post-use plastics are not waste but a valuable material for manufacturing.
“We’re pleased to see support for these technologies continue across the United States. We thank Senator Zack Taylor and Representative Brad Boles for sponsoring SB 448 and Governor Stitt for signing it into law,” added Baca.
A leading supporter of SB 448 was the Environmental Federation of Oklahoma (EFO), a non-profit organization providing Oklahoma companies a voice in the formulation and implementation of state and federal environmental laws, regulations, and policies. “This bill fit perfectly with our organization’s goal of ensuring that a balance is reached between protecting Oklahoma's natural resources and responsible economic growth,” said EFO President Bud Ground. “Achieving this goal will lead to an enhanced environment and an improved quality of life for the citizens of Oklahoma.”
Signing SB 448 into law moves Oklahoma closer to enjoying the economic and environmental benefits of advanced recycling manufacturing. For example, converting just 25% of the recoverable plastics in the state into new products using advanced recycling could generate nearly $152 million in estimated economic output annually. Additionally, this law will help create new local demand for recycling programs and recycling centers that will turn post-use plastics currently destined for landfills into valuable new materials.
SB 448 helps move Oklahoma toward a circular economy, in which products are designed so that their lifecycle leads back to becoming raw material for new products. Advancing a circular economy will help bring about cleaner air and waterways, less pollution and waste, and a healthier planet.