"'Chemical recycling ‘is a farce,’ said [Senator] Pete Harckham, Senate sponsor of the Packaging Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Act. ‘These [facilities] are an environmental hazard. They don't do what they say.’” - “Controversial plastic recycling technology divides Albany Democrats” by Mona Zhang for POLITICO, July 23, 2026

🚨ALERT: The Braven "chemical recycling" facility appears shut down after environmental violations in North Carolina, underscoring "chemical recycling"’s persistent failures. From 2021 to 2025, it generated 400+ tons of hazardous waste that it shipped to at least four different states for disposal. Previous reporting documented operational problems and hazardous waste management issues, including the accumulation of hundreds of containers of hazardous waste, violations of hazardous waste storage rules, and questions about Braven’s ability to safely manage its toxic byproducts. Beyond Plastics urges policymakers at all levels to stop treating pyrolysis and “chemical recycling” as credible solutions and instead focus on ✅ reducing plastic production, ✅ reducing toxic chemicals used to make plastic, ✅ funding waste reduction and reuse programs, ✅ and committing to protecting public health and the environment.

Please make an urgent phone call today to urge your state Assemblymember to vote YES on The Packaging Reduction & Recycling Infrastructure Act (A1749-a). This critical bill would reduce plastic pollution; cut single-use packaging waste by 30% over 12 years...