Rules for Chemicals Made from Plastic Waste-Based Feedstocks under the Toxic Substances Control Act

Rule Summary

EPA is proposing rules under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) for 18 chemicals made from plastic waste-derived feedstocks that would ensure they are free from unsafe contaminants before they can be used to make transportation fuels. The proposed Significant New Use Rules (SNURs) would require notification to and review by EPA before these fuels could be made using plastic waste-derived feedstocks that contain impurities like per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), heavy metals, dioxins, bisphenols and flame retardants. These substances are known to cause cancer and harm the reproductive system, among other health effects. The proposed rules follow the Agency’s commitment in the draft National Strategy to Prevent Plastic Pollution to ensure that feedstocks made from plastic waste do not contain impurities and are part of EPA’s overall efforts to reduce plastic pollution. 

The Federal Register notice and EPA’s risk assessment of the 18 chemicals subject to the proposed SNURs are available under docket EPA-HQ-OPPT-2023-0245 at www.regulations.gov. EPA also made available a “Risk Summary and Characterization” of the 18 new chemicals to better explain the risk assessment by clarifying how EPA developed the hazard and exposure assessments and better characterize the risks found.

Read the Federal Register notice and submit a public comment by August 19, 2023.