ECHA report calls for REACH requirements for chemically recycled materials

HELSINKI—A recent report commissioned by the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) has called for further studying of chemical recycling processes for waste rubber and plastics as well as the relevant regulatory issues for each technology to ensure "toxic-free" recycled materials.

In a Nov. 11 statement, the ECHA said the report had found that regulatory issues in chemical recycling are currently not discussed in scientific papers.

The agency stated that the opportunities and challenges posed by REACH and other chemicals, waste and product safety legislation were "specific to each chemical recycling technology."

As a result, the report recommended that the regulatory issues are studied on a case-by-case basis, separately for each type of chemical recycling technology.

In addition, the report suggested that investigations should be carried out at chemical recycling plants, as there is little knowledge about the abilities of different processes to eliminate substances of concern.

Noting that chemical recycling technologies differ in their potential, the report suggested that specific technologies should be evaluated case-by-case to avoid "false generalizations."

Furthermore, the report called for "substantial effort between and inside organizations" to enhance digital technologies to improve the traceability of substances of concern in recycling.

"It is important to understand how the different chemical recycling techniques can reduce the presence of substances of concern in recycled materials to achieve toxic-free cycles under the circular economy," said Erwin Annys, head of ECHA's support and enforcement unit.

"We also want to understand to what extent this will result in new REACH registrations," he concluded.