The proposed bill, "An Act relative to chemical recycling," seeks to amend Chapter 21C of the General Laws in Massachusetts by introducing a new section that defines various terms related to chemical recycling and establishes regulations for solid waste processing facilities that engage in chemical plastic processing. Key definitions include "chemical plastic processing," which refers to the conversion of plastic waste into basic raw materials or fuels through chemical methods, and "plastic-to-plastic recycling," which is explicitly excluded from chemical processing. The bill outlines the responsibilities of solid waste processing facilities, including the requirement to manage and reduce waste residue and to recycle or process waste into fuel at a minimum rate of 50%.

Additionally, the bill mandates that operators of solid waste processing facilities that generate residue must demonstrate compliance with the new regulations through annual reporting to the department. It also sets specific recycling targets for facilities that handle construction and demolition debris, gradually increasing the percentage of debris that must be reused or recycled over several years. Furthermore, the bill requires facility operators to provide financial assurance for corrective actions and postclosure care, ensuring they can cover costs associated with environmental impacts from their operations.