Beyond Traditional Recycling: Exploring Advanced Recycling’s Role in Achieving a Sustainable Plastics Economy

Dr. Rachel Meidl's Joins AMI Event and Discusses Advanced Recycling

Last week, Recycling Science Council (RSC) member Dr. Rachel Meidl spoke at the AMI’s Annual Chemical Recycling conference, an event which brought together technology operators, developers, investors and thought leader on advanced recycling.  Dr. Meidl spoke on approaches for evaluating sustainability and circularity for all phases of the plastics lifecycle, emphasizing the need for a systems-level approach to balance environmental, economic, and social impacts.

 Specifically, she encouraged stakeholders to consider the challenges related to the resilience of plastic materials from production to disposal. She highlighted the importance of recycling processes that encompass the entire plastics supply chain, practices that can minimize environmental impact while balancing economic and social interests.

The discussion then focused on how advanced recycling technologies can complement traditional mechanical recycling, expanding the range of materials that can be effectively recovered and repurposed. Dr. Meidl stressed that effective policy frameworks must be grounded in science and demonstrate their flexibility to evolve with technological advancements.

Finally, she emphasized the need for policies to keep pace with technologies and innovation, coupled with a call for transparency and strategic partnerships to drive progress toward a sustainable plastics economy. Dr. Meidl's presentation provided an insightful framework for understanding and evaluating advanced recycling and its potential to significantly contribute to responsible and sustainable plastics management.