WASHINGTON (June 30, 2021) – The American Chemistry Council congratulates Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards on signing SB 97 into law. This bipartisan legislation - which passed unanimously - will modernize the State’s regulation of advanced recycling technology, an innovative solution which helps reduce plastic waste.
“We thank Senator Eddie Lambert and Representative Jean-Paul Coussan for sponsoring SB 97, as well as Governor John Bel Edwards for signing it,” said Joshua Baca, ACC’s vice president of plastics. “The State of Louisiana has taken an important step to help eliminate plastic waste and protect the environment for future generations.”
The law will help bolster local demand for recycling programs and centers, reduce the amount of plastic waste in Louisiana’s waterways and create new jobs within the state. It also paves the way for more investment in facilities that transform hard-to-recycle plastics into new high-value materials and products.
“By signing SB 97 into law, Louisiana has shown itself to be a leader in the fight to end plastic waste and create a more sustainable, circular economy,” said Greg Bowser, president of the Louisiana Chemical Association (LCA), who helped spearhead the initiative in Louisiana. “Advanced recycling is a highly innovative industry with a tremendous opportunity for growth, and we are proud of our State for taking this important step.”
Advanced recycling technologies enable recyclers to reuse hard-to-recycle materials that otherwise would go to waste, reducing the demand for new resources. When used in partnership with mechanical recycling, Louisiana will be better positioned to increase its recycling rate and contribute to the U.S. national recycling goal of 50% by 2030.
Louisiana is the 14th state to pass similar legislation in the United States since 2017—and the fifth state this year. Louisiana joins Arkansas, Florida, Wisconsin, Georgia, Iowa, Tennessee, Texas, Illinois, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Oklahoma, and Arizona in passing a regulatory framework for advanced recycling.
