Environmental groups back Martinez's proposal, cite chemical recycling failures

Representatives of local environmental organizations told the committee they support Council Member Martinez’s Proposition A and urged greater public oversight of recycling programs. Beth Martin said the prior Houston Recycling Collaboration MOU backed advanced or chemical recycling that environmental advocates oppose because it can pollute and—she said—“the program never delivered on its promises.”

"Houston recycling collaboration to recycle plastics through an advanced recycling process, also known as chemical recycling," Martin said, describing the prior MOU and arguing decisions of that scale should come before council. Malik Aiki, representing Air Alliance Houston, tied waste-management transparency to air quality, citing a recent metal-recycling fire and asserting that tracked plastics were not going to the facilities they were advertised to use: "Noxious smoke filled with particulate matter pouring into communities for hours." Aiki said several tracked loads ended up at unpermitted facilities or landfills and that the program appears to have quietly shuttered.

Speakers urged amendment language and possible targeted rules for MOUs or restrictions on chemical recycling; Martinez said he would accept recommended edits and work with legal staff to refine the ordinance.