Arizona Becomes 12th State to Pass Advanced Plastic Recycling Law

The American Chemistry Council (ACC) announced that Arizona has become the 12th state to pass legislation that will enable wider use of advanced recycling technologies to curb plastic waste.

Joshua Baca, ACC’s vice‑president of plastics, said, “The American Chemistry Council is pleased to see the adoption of advanced recycling legislation. Recognition of advanced recycling’s benefits is gaining momentum at the state level: Arizona is the 12th state since 2017, and the third in less than a month to adopt similar legislation. It joins Florida, Wisconsin, Georgia, Iowa, Tennessee, Texas, Illinois, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Oklahoma in encouraging the growth of advanced recycling by helping ensure these technologies have a predictable and transparent regulatory framework for operation.”

Baca added that signing SB 1156 into law positions Arizona as a leader in ending plastic waste in our environment. “Advanced recycling allows us to recycle greater amounts of plastics using innovative technologies. Working in tandem with mechanical recycling, advanced recycling will help us be more effective in reducing plastic waste and creating a more circular economy.”

The new law will also attract recycling businesses and support job creation. Converting just 25% of Arizona’s recoverable plastics into new products through advanced recycling could generate nearly $164 million in annual economic output. It will also stimulate local demand for recycling programs and facilities that turn post‑use plastics destined for landfills into valuable new materials.

According to Baca, SB 1156 is one of several regulatory requirements that advanced recycling facilities must meet. A recent Good Company report found that air emissions from advanced recycling are comparable to or lower than those from common community facilities such as hospitals, college campuses, food processing plants, and auto manufacturing plants. Facilities must also meet strict emission standards set by federal, state, and local agencies to operate.

“We thank Representative Javan Mesnard for sponsoring this important piece of legislation and Governor Doug Ducey for signing it into law and look forward to seeing additional states pass similar legislation this year.”