Plastics Industry Association: Infrastructure push should include plastics materials, recycling

William R. Carteaux, president and CEO of the Washington-based Plastics Industry Association (PLASTICS)  has issued the following statement after the president’s State of the Union address Jan. 30, 2018, which called for Congress to approve a $1.5 trillion infrastructure plan:

“Plastic materials and products should be allowed to compete on a level playing field for the improvement projects that will eventually form the president’s infrastructure plan. Plastic materials can perform as well or better than more traditional materials and often at a fraction of the cost to the American taxpayer.

“Furthermore, we urge policymakers not to overlook the nation’s recycling facilities when it comes to what needs upgrading. This push to rebuild our nation’s infrastructure presents a unique opportunity to increase the amount of plastic our country recycles and to facilitate growth in the market. A national effort to upgrade these facilities would both support business and employment growth in recycled plastics while simultaneously reducing waste.

“Finally, our industry shares the president’s support for strong, mutually beneficial trade agreements. The North American plastics industry has been in lockstep when it comes to enhancing the benefits of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), and we look forward to working with the administration and the Congress to ensure that this and other trade agreements are as strong as they can possibly be.”

PLASTICS, formerly SPI, supports the entire plastics supply chain, representing nearly 1 million workers in the $418 billion U.S. industry. Since 1937, PLASTICS says it has been working to make its members and the industry more globally competitive while advancing recycling and sustainability.