In 2014, the Center for Biological Diversity petitioned the Environmental Protection Agency to regulate discarded PVC as a hazardous waste under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act and the Toxic Substances Control Act. The EPA swiftly denied the petition under TSCA but never ruled on the regulation under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act. The Center for Biological Diversity sued EPA in August 2021 to force the agency to act under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act petition.

After being compelled recently to address this matter by a court and to avoid further legal action, the EPA proposed a consent decree that includes deadlines for the agency to act. It committed to make a preliminary decision regarding the Center for Biological Diversity’s petition by Jan. 20, 2023, and a final decision by April 12, 2024.

Ned Monroe, President and CEO of the Vinyl Institute, sat down with BE to talk about the Vinyl Institute’s petition to this ruling. In this role, Ned serves as an advocate for the vinyl industry and leading vinyl resin producers helping to create and execute the strategic focus of the Vinyl Institute to maximize its impact and value.

Check out our latest video as Ned and BE’s Group Publisher, Jill Bloom, discuss the background of the EPA's potential ruling and what this means for businesses in the construction industry if they rule PVC as hazardous waste.