Last month, for the first time, U.S. plastic resin producers publicly committed to measurable targets toward complete recovery and recycling of plastic packaging. The American Chemistry Council’s (ACC; www.americanchemistry.com) Plastics Division, which includes 15 of the leading resin manufacturers, announced the following ambitious goals: 1) 100% of plastics packaging is recyclable or recoverable by 2030; and 2) 100% of plastics packaging is re-used, recycled or recovered by 2040.
To reach these ambitious goals, the division outlined the following six focal areas in its announcement: 1) design of new products for greater efficiency, recycling and reuse; 2) new technologies and systems development for collecting, sorting, recycling and recovering materials; 3) simplification for more consumers to participate in recycling and recovery programs; 4) expansion of the types of plastics collected and repurposed; 5) product alignment with key end-markets; and 6) increased awareness that used plastics are valuable resources.
A global issue
A study reported in July of last year in Science Advances (www.advances.sciencemag.org/content/3/7/e1700782.full) states that as of 2015, only around 9% of plastic waste had been recycled and 79% was accumulated in landfills or the natural environment. Plastic debris has been found in all of the oceans, and an estimated 4 to 12 million metric tons of this debris entered the marine environment in 2010 alone.
In its current June issue, National Geographic magazine (www.nationalgeographic.com/magazine/2018/06/plastic-planet-waste-pollution-trash-crisis) brings awareness to the environmental impact of plastics, and in particular to the marine environment. The striking images in the article emphasize the findings of the report. ACC’s vice president of plastics, Steve Russell, commented on the article, saying “Marine litter is a serious global problem, and we appreciate National Geographic’s thoughtful and compelling coverage.”
And this month, sustainability and recycling will be a focal topic at the Polyethylene-Polypropylene Chain Global Technology & Business Forum (www.ihsmarkit.com) in Düsseldorf, Germany. While demands for plastics are growing, so are consumer expectations for sustainability. According to Nick Vafiadis, vice president of plastics for IHS Markit (the host of the forum), “The issue of sustainability is perhaps the most critical influencer for the plastics industry as a whole, both today and in the future.”
Supporting technologies
Developing and existing technologies are poised to support the move toward a circular economy. For example, in April, Agilyx (www.agilyx.com) began polystyrene recycling operations, said to be the world’s first commercial-scale closed-loop chemical recycling process. And numerous companies, such as Vadxx (www.vadxx.com) and Greenmantra (www.greenmantra.com), are working on creating value from waste plastics.* The goals announced by the ACC Plastics Division and the worldwide efforts to move away from a linear economy with disposal as an end result, to a circular economy with reuse and recycling, are welcome initiatives that can ultimately benefit us all. ■
November 9-11, 2026Irving Convention Center | Dallas, TX
Explore this topic and more — live at Clean Americas. Join environmental, health, safety, and emergency response professionals tackling the industry's most urgent hazards. View Conference Program →
When a major incident strikes, the people stepping into Incident Command aren't always the ones who trained for it. Engineers, operators, trades supervisors, and compliance specialists may suddenly find themselves filling Command and General Staff roles — not because they volunteered, but because the situation demands it. Panelists will share practical strategies for leading without positional authority, tools and frameworks that help personnel rapidly orient to ICS roles, and approaches for closing the gap between day-to-day job functions and emergency command readiness before the next incident makes it urgent.
Speaking
Scott Andrews (Trans Mountain Canada Inc., Manager Emergency Management)
Kelly Codlin , MSPH, CIH (Marathon Petroleum Company, Emergency Preparedness Director)
Nick Hickson (Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service (TEEX), Hazmat Training Manager)
Josh Dubach MSc, CEM (Onterris, Senior Response Management Consultant)
This session will examine produced water as the largest waste stream in the oil and gas industry and one of its most pressing emerging challenges. It will address the growing volumes of produced water, the increasing regulatory and public scrutiny of constituents such as PFAS, salts, and Naturally Occurring Radioactive Material (NORM), and the operational implications for management, treatment, reuse, and disposal. The discussion will also explore how operators, regulators, and communities are redefining approaches to produced water management in response to environmental, technical, and stakeholder pressures.
Speaking
Steve Pepper, Ph.D., (Onterris, Director of Response Management)
Charles Maguire (Railroad Commission of Texas, Advisor, Oil and Gas Division)
Prof. Shane Walker Ph.D. (Texas Produced Water Consortium, Director)
Ray Cheatham (Onterris, Energy Sector Leader)
This session will present a detailed case study of a large-scale lithium-ion battery fire response that extended over 12 months. Attendees will explore the hazards associated with thermal runaway events, the operational challenges of suppressing lithium battery fires, and the response strategies that proved effective in this prolonged incident. The
Drawing on insights from U.S. EPA Region 9 wildfire response efforts, the session will also highlight tactics such as hazard characterization, air monitoring and evaluation, and household hazardous waste collection and disposal. Participants will leave with a stronger understanding of the complexities involved in large-scale battery fire incidents and the critical factors to consider when planning and executing an effective response.
Speaking
Robert W. May PG (Clean Harbors, Senior Vice President, Branch Services and Sales)
Crosley Welch (Missouri Department of Natural Resources, State On-Scene Coordinator)
Samuel Cheek , CSP, RRPT (U.S. EPA, Region 6, Federal On-Scene Coordinator)
Christopher Myers (U.S. EPA, Region 9, Federal On-Scene Coordinator)
This session introduces use of remote sensing technologies to detect, characterize and monitor spills across marine and coastal environments. Discussion will highlight how tools can integrate into modern spill response workflows to improve safety and support data-driven decision making.
Speaking
James Hanzalik (Clean Gulf Associates, Vice-President)
Gordon Staples (MDA Space Ltd., Senior Radar Applications Scientist)
Grant Coolbaugh (Applied Research Associates / Ohmsett, Mechanical Engineer)
Speaking
Allyson Purcell MEP, CEM (ConocoPhillips, CMER Director)
Michael Delio (Maxum Petroleum, EHS & SECURITY MGR)
This session provides a practical, ground‑level introduction to the essential steps required after a battery undergoes a thermal event. We’ll break down how to assess site conditions, stabilize and prepare damaged cells or packs, select appropriate containment and packaging methods, and navigate the regulatory landscape that governs transport and disposal. The lecture emphasizes real‑world decision‑making, safety considerations, and compliance requirements, giving participants a clear framework they can apply immediately in field operations or emergency response planning.
Speaking
Mark Steadman (The Battery Network, Program Manager)
Environment, Health, Safety & Security
Embracing a circular economy
| By Dorothy Lozowski
Last month, for the first time, U.S. plastic resin producers publicly committed to measurable targets toward complete recovery and recycling of plastic packaging. The American Chemistry Council’s (ACC; www.americanchemistry.com) Plastics Division, which includes 15 of the leading resin manufacturers, announced the following ambitious goals: 1) 100% of plastics packaging is recyclable or recoverable by 2030; and 2) 100% of plastics packaging is re-used, recycled or recovered by 2040.
To reach these ambitious goals, the division outlined the following six focal areas in its announcement: 1) design of new products for greater efficiency, recycling and reuse; 2) new technologies and systems development for collecting, sorting, recycling and recovering materials; 3) simplification for more consumers to participate in recycling and recovery programs; 4) expansion of the types of plastics collected and repurposed; 5) product alignment with key end-markets; and 6) increased awareness that used plastics are valuable resources.
A global issue
A study reported in July of last year in Science Advances (www.advances.sciencemag.org/content/3/7/e1700782.full) states that as of 2015, only around 9% of plastic waste had been recycled and 79% was accumulated in landfills or the natural environment. Plastic debris has been found in all of the oceans, and an estimated 4 to 12 million metric tons of this debris entered the marine environment in 2010 alone.
In its current June issue, National Geographic magazine (www.nationalgeographic.com/magazine/2018/06/plastic-planet-waste-pollution-trash-crisis) brings awareness to the environmental impact of plastics, and in particular to the marine environment. The striking images in the article emphasize the findings of the report. ACC’s vice president of plastics, Steve Russell, commented on the article, saying “Marine litter is a serious global problem, and we appreciate National Geographic’s thoughtful and compelling coverage.”
And this month, sustainability and recycling will be a focal topic at the Polyethylene-Polypropylene Chain Global Technology & Business Forum (www.ihsmarkit.com) in Düsseldorf, Germany. While demands for plastics are growing, so are consumer expectations for sustainability. According to Nick Vafiadis, vice president of plastics for IHS Markit (the host of the forum), “The issue of sustainability is perhaps the most critical influencer for the plastics industry as a whole, both today and in the future.”
Supporting technologies
Developing and existing technologies are poised to support the move toward a circular economy. For example, in April, Agilyx (www.agilyx.com) began polystyrene recycling operations, said to be the world’s first commercial-scale closed-loop chemical recycling process. And numerous companies, such as Vadxx (www.vadxx.com) and Greenmantra (www.greenmantra.com), are working on creating value from waste plastics.* The goals announced by the ACC Plastics Division and the worldwide efforts to move away from a linear economy with disposal as an end result, to a circular economy with reuse and recycling, are welcome initiatives that can ultimately benefit us all. ■
*For more, see our report on “Advanced Polymer Recycling” (Chem. Eng., March 2014; www.chemengonline.com/advanced-polymer-recycling).
Featured Conference
When a major incident strikes, the people stepping into Incident Command aren't always the ones who trained for it. Engineers, operators, trades supervisors, and compliance specialists may suddenly find themselves filling Command and General Staff roles — not because they volunteered, but because the situation demands it. Panelists will share practical strategies for leading without positional authority, tools and frameworks that help personnel rapidly orient to ICS roles, and approaches for closing the gap between day-to-day job functions and emergency command readiness before the next incident makes it urgent.
This session will examine produced water as the largest waste stream in the oil and gas industry and one of its most pressing emerging challenges. It will address the growing volumes of produced water, the increasing regulatory and public scrutiny of constituents such as PFAS, salts, and Naturally Occurring Radioactive Material (NORM), and the operational implications for management, treatment, reuse, and disposal. The discussion will also explore how operators, regulators, and communities are redefining approaches to produced water management in response to environmental, technical, and stakeholder pressures.
This session will present a detailed case study of a large-scale lithium-ion battery fire response that extended over 12 months. Attendees will explore the hazards associated with thermal runaway events, the operational challenges of suppressing lithium battery fires, and the response strategies that proved effective in this prolonged incident. The
Drawing on insights from U.S. EPA Region 9 wildfire response efforts, the session will also highlight tactics such as hazard characterization, air monitoring and evaluation, and household hazardous waste collection and disposal. Participants will leave with a stronger understanding of the complexities involved in large-scale battery fire incidents and the critical factors to consider when planning and executing an effective response.
This session introduces use of remote sensing technologies to detect, characterize and monitor spills across marine and coastal environments. Discussion will highlight how tools can integrate into modern spill response workflows to improve safety and support data-driven decision making.
This session provides a practical, ground‑level introduction to the essential steps required after a battery undergoes a thermal event. We’ll break down how to assess site conditions, stabilize and prepare damaged cells or packs, select appropriate containment and packaging methods, and navigate the regulatory landscape that governs transport and disposal. The lecture emphasizes real‑world decision‑making, safety considerations, and compliance requirements, giving participants a clear framework they can apply immediately in field operations or emergency response planning.