Ask Cleveland Mayor Bibb to Reject Plastic Greenwashing

Mayor Bibb

A teal watery background interuppted by a plastic bag. Text: Tell Mayor Bibb: Reject Plastic Greenwashing!

Justin Bibb, the mayor of Cleveland, has long championed climate solutions in Northeast Ohio. Now we need the mayor to take a stand against a troubling threat to Lake Erie, our community health, and our climate.

An alarming number of plastic-burning pyrolysis and gasification facilities have
been proposed across Ohio, already the #1 producer of plastic in the U.S. These
glorified incinerators super-heat plastic, emitting greenhouse gases and toxic
chemicals and misleadingly claim the process is “advanced recycling.” Turning
plastic into fuel is NOT recycling, it is yet another toxic air quality threat to our
communities greenwashing.

That’s why we’re calling on the mayor to sign on to our resolution that rejects pyrolysis and plastic burning as a false solution to the plastics crisis.

Urge Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb to lead the push against proposed pyrolysis facilities in Ohio that would harm our water, environment,and health.

To: Mayor Bibb
From: [Your Name]

Dear Mayor Bibb,

As mayor, you’ve prioritized Lake Erie and climate justice in Cleveland and worked to lower energy costs, create new jobs, and reduce climate pollution.

I am writing to call on you to lead against one of the latest threats to a safe and livable climate in Northeast Ohio – plastic incineration, a.k.a. Pyrolysis, a.k.a. ‘advanced recycling.

Pyrolysis facilities super-heat plastic – derived from fossil fuels – to create fuels and chemicals that can lead to even more greenhouse gas emissions, worsening the climate crisis and creating large amounts of toxic waste and air pollution in the process.

An alarming number of pyrolysis and gasification , or “advanced recycling” facilities, have been proposed across the country – including projects right here in Ohio.

These facilities are false solutions being pushed so the plastic industry can continue to produce enormous amounts of single-use plastics instead of reducing production and addressing its impact on Lake Erie, the environment, our health and climate change.

Furthermore, these facilities could disproportionately burden the low-income communities and communities of color where most pyrolysis and gasification facilities exist, and where they are likely to be sited in the future.

Here in Ohio, we see the plastics pollution crisis firsthand. Lake Erie has one of the highest concentrations of microplastics in the world.

I urge you to pass a resolution that rejects pyrolysis and gasification of plastics, that harm public health, pollute our environment, and threaten the climate in our great state.

Additionally, I ask you to come to the table and meet with community members to hear our concerns about these facilities and to find real solutions to the plastic pollution crisis.

Thank you for always being a champion for Clevelanders, climate, and Lake Erie!