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Paper industry faces pressure over lobbying against advanced plastic recycling
The conservative group Consumer Action for a Strong Economy (CASE) is pressuring six major paper companies to curb lobbying efforts against advanced plastic recycling. In letters sent to International Paper, Pratt Industries, Kimberly-Clark, Packaging Corporation of America, Smurfit Westrock, and Procter & Gamble, CASE urged the firms to ensure their representatives on the American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) board do not oppose recycling innovation.
This tension follows a vote by the House Energy and Commerce Committee, which passed a bill (H.R. 7502) by a 28-19 margin to send to the House floor. The legislation would officially classify advanced recycling—which uses heat or chemicals to break down plastic—as a recycling process. While the AF&PA opposes the bill, sponsor Representative Nick Langworthy argued the legislation expands rather than undermines traditional recycling systems.
EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin has noted that while fewer than 10 advanced recycling plants currently operate in the U.S., approximately 90 more are prepared for construction. Zeldin stated that unclear federal regulations are a primary obstacle and suggested the industry could potentially create over 173,000 jobs.
Entities
American Forest & Paper Association · Consumer Action for a Strong Economy · Environmental Protection Agency · Lee Zeldin · Nick Langworthy
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 3 SOURCES] The advanced recycling industry could add more than 173,000 jobs. offthepress.com · dailycallernewsfoundation.org · dailycaller.com
- [● 3 SOURCES] Fewer than 10 advanced recycling plants currently operate in the United States. offthepress.com · dailycallernewsfoundation.org · dailycaller.com
- [● 3 SOURCES] Nearly 90 advanced recycling plants are ready to be built in the United States. offthepress.com · dailycallernewsfoundation.org · dailycaller.com
- [● 3 SOURCES] CASE sent letters to six major paper companies urging them to stop the American Forest & Paper Association from opposing advanced recycling. offthepress.com · dailycallernewsfoundation.org · dailycaller.com
- [● 3 SOURCES] The committee voted 28 to 19 to send a bill to the House floor that would classify advanced recycling as recycling. offthepress.com · dailycallernewsfoundation.org · dailycaller.com
- [● 3 SOURCES] The AF&PA opposes the legislation that would count advanced recycling as recycling. offthepress.com · dailycallernewsfoundation.org · dailycaller.com