Advanced Recycling: Identifying Recycled Material & Recycled Plastics

New Recycling Requirements

HB 3060 was passed in the 88^th Texas Legislature, 2023, which amended and revised the Texas Health and Safety Code (THSC) Chapter 361 to:

• Define an “Advanced recycling facility”;
• Classify four authorized recycling methods as advanced recycling technologies performed at an advanced recycling facility;
• Exclude additional recycling methods (depolymerization and solvolysis) from the definition of solid waste and from solid waste management requirements;
• Revise language to allow conversion of "post-use polymers" and "recoverable feedstocks" into valuable raw materials or valuable intermediate or final products;
• Exclude several fuels and oils from list of acceptable final products;
• Introduce mass balance attribution for the purpose of identifying "recycled material" and "recycled plastics";
• Require TCEQ to identify in rule third party certification systems for mass balance attribution of recycled material to a recycled product; and
• Require TCEQ to add by rule mass balance certified recycled materials for recycled product eligibility.

Advanced Recycling Facilities

THSC 361.003 defined a new type of manufacturing facility. According to the code, an Advanced Recycling Facility is:

• A manufacturing facility that receives, stores, and converts post-use polymers and recoverable feedstocks using advanced recycling technologies and processes including pyrolysis, gasification, solvolysis, and depolymerization.

An advanced recycling facility is not, however, a solid waste facility, final disposal facility, waste-to-energy facility, or incinerator.

Authorized recycling methods for plastics

• Pyrolysis
• Gasification
• Solvolysis
• Depolymerization

Mass Balance Attribution

Mass balance attribution is a materials accounting system that allows manufacturers to attribute recycled materials and recycled plastics to a recycled product. 

Third-Party Mass Balance Attribution Certification

Third-party mass balance attribution certification systems provide legitimacy to claims of recycled material content by having the third-party review, track, and certify inputs of recycled materials into manufacturing processes.

Through certification of recycled material content, a manufacturer would be able to claim that content toward meeting the standards for classification as a recycled product.

Identified Third-party Certification Systems in Texas

Third-party certification systems identified for mass balance attribution are listed below.

If you wish to add your company or organization and certification name to the list of certified third-party mass balance attribution systems, please contact us at Recycle@tceq.texas.gov.