The Tangled Web We Weave: Investigating the Barriers to Change in Plastic Recycling Policy Development

Abstract: At the core of the sustainable solid waste management challenge lies increasing rates of consumption which contribute directly to problems of resource extraction and degradation. Recycling is a tool designed in part to address this problem of scarcity, however on its own it is not enough to solve the problem, particularly in relation to plastics, which are challenging to manage and often are not recycled well or at all. Yet recycling persists as the solution of choice when managing plastic material in many instances, despite knowledge of its limitations. This research examines what holds policy and strategy makers in the Pacific Northwest back from making changes to plastic recycling policy when it is found to be inadequate. The Pacific Northwest acts as a case study in this instance due to its position as a pioneer in recycling and waste policy and its potential for progressive change in the field. Two theories are analyzed to build the frame for the research: lock-in theory as a way to contextualize the external barriers to change and the sunk cost fallacy as a way to examine the internal ones. This theoretical analysis, along with regional strategy documents and insights obtained from interviews with individuals who work in or engage with policy and strategy development in the solid waste domain, were utilized to build a framework to map how these barriers manifest. This research provides an overview of these significant barriers, both internal and external, that limit the development away from unsuccessful plastic recycling strategy, how these barriers may overlap, and how they may amplify one another in feedback loops that increase their durability. To support future research and application, feedback loop mapping samples and opportunities for application in other regions and for other solid waste management strategies are outlined.