Ross Marchand discusses recycling policy on Powering America Podcast

Ross Marchand of the Taxpayers Protection Alliance used a recent Powering America Podcast episode to argue that recycling policy is being held back by state and federal rules. He said the Recycled Materials Attribution Act could create a national framework for recycled-content reporting and help unlock jobs, manufacturing growth and higher recycling rates. Why it matters: - Marchand framed recycling rules as an economic issue, not just an environmental one. - He said fewer barriers could expand recycled materials markets, support domestic manufacturing and create new jobs. - The policy fight could shape how companies label and market recycled-content products across state lines. What happened: - Ross Marchand, executive director of the Taxpayers Protection Alliance, appeared on a recent episode of the Powering America Podcast. - The conversation focused on advanced recycling technologies, barriers to higher recycling rates and the Recycled Materials Attribution Act. - The episode also covered how advanced recycling could affect domestic manufacturing and economic opportunity. - The full episode is available on The Powering America Podcast if needed for context. The details: - Marchand said government regulations are limiting growth in the recycling sector. - He argued that if recycling rates were allowed to increase, plastics recycling alone could create 200,000 new jobs and $50 billion in annual economic opportunity. - Marchand blamed redundant state labeling rules and federal regulations for restricting advanced recycling technologies. - He said recycling markets rely on accurate and timely information about recycled content. - Marchand criticized California proposals he said would make it harder for companies to tell consumers when a product is recycled and what percentage of the product is recycled. - He said those requirements would force manufacturers into granular, time-intensive and onerous traceability obligations. - Marchand described the result as an unworkable mandate. - Supporters of the Recycled Materials Attribution Act say the bill would create more consistency in how recycled content is measured and communicated to consumers. - Marchand said the legislation would establish a national framework and stop individual states from setting requirements that affect businesses nationwide. Between the lines: - The debate is really about control over recycling standards. - Marchand’s view is that federal preemption would reduce compliance friction and make recycled-content markets easier to scale. - Opponents of stricter state rules would likely see California as setting a model that could spread beyond one state. What’s next: - The Recycled Materials Attribution Act will remain a key policy proposal for recycling and manufacturing stakeholders. - States and federal policymakers are likely to keep battling over recycled-content labeling and traceability rules. - Advanced recycling advocates are expected to keep tying policy changes to jobs, investment and domestic production growth. - The podcast episode is likely to be used as part of that broader policy argument.