Advancements in Recycling: 2023 Recap

by Casey Mazza January 24, 2024

Recycling innovations 2023 reshaped the sustainable packaging industry, from new federal funding for local recycling infrastructure to breakthroughs that turn waste plastic into usable chemicals. At EcoPackables, recycled plastic remains central to how we build our recycled poly mailers and ocean-bound polymailers, extending the useful life of plastic that would otherwise end up in landfills or waterways.

These materials aren't curbside recyclable the way our recycled Kraft paper mailers are, but they're accepted at the same store drop-off bins used for other thin-film plastics like grocery bags. Every polymailer we produce from recycled content reduces demand for virgin plastic production.

Below, we break down the legislation, technology, and industry milestones that defined the past year in recycling - and what they mean for the future of sustainable packaging.

Key Takeaways

Congress introduced the Recycling Infrastructure and Accessibility Act of 2023, proposing $30 million per year in EPA grants from 2023 to 2027 to expand recycling access in underserved communities.
The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funds three EPA programs: the Solid Waste Infrastructure for Recycling Grant Program, the Recycling Education and Outreach Grant Program, and new battery collection and labeling guidelines.
The EPA's Recycling Infrastructure and Market Opportunities Map lets facility planners visualize where recycled materials are available, supporting smarter network expansion.
The United Nations formally declared plastic pollution a global emergency in 2023, calling for a coordinated international roadmap to cut plastic waste.
The EPA proposed retiring the traditional chasing arrows recycling symbol on many plastics, citing widespread consumer confusion about what's actually recyclable.
Researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Madison developed a new chemical process that converts low-value waste plastic into high-value industrial chemicals.
EcoPackables continues to manufacture recycled poly mailers, recycled Kraft mailers, and ocean-bound polymailers using recycled and post-consumer content.

Recycling Innovations 2023: Legislation and Federal Funding

A wave of federal action defined recycling innovations 2023, with lawmakers and regulators pushing to close the gap between how much material Americans want to recycle and how much infrastructure actually exists to process it.

The Recycling Infrastructure and Accessibility Act

The Recycling Infrastructure and Accessibility Act of 2023 would authorize the EPA to appropriate $30 million annually from 2023 through 2027 for a pilot grant program focused on improving recycling accessibility in underserved communities. Grants may go to states, local governments, Indian tribes, or public-private partnerships that need funding to build out collection and processing capacity.

The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law

The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law introduced three new waste prevention, reuse, and recycling programs administered by the EPA:

The Solid Waste Infrastructure for Recycling Grant Program, which funds upgrades to municipal recycling systems.
The Recycling Education and Outreach Grant Program, which supports consumer education on proper recycling behavior.
Battery Collection Best Practices and voluntary battery labeling guidelines, addressing the growing fire and contamination risks batteries pose in the recycling stream.

Mapping the Recycling Market

The EPA's Recycling Infrastructure and Market Opportunities Map visualizes where recycled material is available across the country, giving facility developers a data-driven way to decide where to expand processing capacity and build a more efficient, widespread recycling network.

Global Momentum: The UN Plastic Pollution Emergency

In 2023, the United Nations declared plastic pollution a global emergency, emphasizing the need for a coordinated roadmap and drastic action to combat the environmental impact of plastic waste. The declaration added international pressure on manufacturers and packaging brands to shift toward recycled and reusable materials rather than virgin plastic.

Rethinking the Recycling Symbol

The EPA is weighing whether to discontinue the ubiquitous "chasing arrows" plastic recycling symbol, as reported by CBS News. The symbol currently appears on most plastic packaging regardless of whether local facilities actually accept that material, and regulators believe a clearer labeling system would reduce contamination and consumer confusion at the curb.

Recycling Technology Breakthroughs

Low-value waste plastic can now be converted into high-value chemicals through a new process developed by University of Wisconsin-Madison researchers. The platform technology adapts pyrolysis oils from waste plastics into usable industrial chemicals, offering a path toward chemical recycling methods that are more economically viable at scale than traditional mechanical recycling alone.

What This Means for Sustainable Packaging

Every one of these developments points in the same direction: more funding, more infrastructure, and more accountability around what "recyclable" actually means. For brands choosing packaging, that makes material selection more important than ever. Recycled plastic content in our sustainable mailers collection extends the life of existing plastic rather than pulling more virgin material into circulation, while our recycled Kraft paper options give curbside-recyclable alternatives for brands that want to avoid film plastics altogether.

If you're evaluating which recycled material fits your product and fulfillment needs, our team can walk through the tradeoffs and put together a custom packaging quote based on your order volume and shipping requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Recycling Infrastructure and Accessibility Act of 2023?

The Recycling Infrastructure and Accessibility Act of 2023 is a U.S. Senate bill that would direct the Environmental Protection Agency to award $30 million annually from 2023 to 2027 through a pilot grant program, helping states, local governments, Indian tribes, and public-private partnerships expand recycling access in underserved communities.

How does the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law fund recycling in the U.S.?

The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law created three EPA programs: the Solid Waste Infrastructure for Recycling Grant Program, the Recycling Education and Outreach Grant Program, and new Battery Collection Best Practices and voluntary battery labeling guidelines, all aimed at expanding waste prevention, reuse, and recycling infrastructure nationwide.

Why did the United Nations declare plastic pollution an emergency?

The United Nations declared plastic pollution a global emergency in 2023 because plastic waste costs the world hundreds of billions of dollars annually in environmental and economic damage, prompting a call for a coordinated international roadmap and drastic action to curb production and improve recycling infrastructure.

Is the EPA getting rid of the recycling symbol?

The EPA has proposed discontinuing use of the traditional chasing arrows recycling symbol on many plastic products, since the symbol often misleads consumers into believing an item is recyclable in their local program when most curbside facilities do not actually accept it.

What did University of Wisconsin-Madison researchers discover about recycling waste plastic?

Researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Madison developed a new pyrolysis-based process that converts low-value waste plastic into high-value industrial chemicals, creating a platform technology that could make chemical recycling more economically viable at scale.

How does EcoPackables use recycled plastic in its packaging?

EcoPackables uses recycled plastic to manufacture recycled poly mailers, recycled ocean-bound polymailers, and recycled self-seal poly bags. These aren't accepted in curbside recycling the way our recycled Kraft paper mailers are, but they can be recycled at store drop-off locations alongside other thin-film plastics such as grocery bags.

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