Neel Brown: Can better policy unlock America's advanced recycling potential?

Published July 7, 2026 · Featuring Neel Brown of Progressive Policy Institute

Neel Brown of the Progressive Policy Institute discusses advanced recycling's potential to reduce plastic waste and its economic benefits for municipalities.

Neel Brown, Managing Director at the Progressive Policy Institute, discusses advanced recycling and its potential to transform plastic waste management, energy policy, and environmental impact in the latest episode of the Powering America Podcast. The conversation highlights the urgent need for effective solutions to address plastic waste in the United States.

WASHINGTON — July 7, 2026 — Neel Brown, Managing Director at the Progressive Policy Institute, joined the Powering America Podcast to discuss advanced recycling and its implications for plastic waste management, energy policy, and environmental impact. The episode delves into the challenges of traditional recycling methods and the potential benefits of advanced recycling technologies.

Brown emphasizes the staggering statistics surrounding plastic waste, noting, "In the U.S., every year we create 35.7 million tons of plastic waste as a total. Of that, 75.6% ends up in landfills." He explains that advanced recycling offers a solution by breaking down hard-to-recycle plastics into their molecular components, allowing for the creation of new products that mechanical recycling cannot achieve. This innovative approach could significantly reduce the volume of plastic waste entering landfills.

The podcast also explores the economic advantages of advanced recycling for municipalities. Brown states, "We can create the incentives for them to find ways to make profit in doing things like diverting this plastic from landfills." He highlights that diverting plastic waste can lead to substantial savings for local governments, with potential annual savings of $328 million nationwide on landfill tipping fees.

The Progressive Policy Institute is a center-left think tank based in Washington, D.C. It focuses on pragmatic solutions to various policy issues, including energy, education, and defense.

About the Powering America Podcast

The Powering America Podcast explores topics related to energy, infrastructure, policy, and economic growth. It features expert insights and discussions aimed at informing listeners about critical issues affecting the nation.

About Progressive Policy Institute

The Progressive Policy Institute (PPI) is a Washington, D.C.-based, center-left think tank founded in 1989 that promotes centrist, "New Democrat" and pragmatic policy ideas.

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About the Guest

Neel Brown — Managing Director

Neel Brown is a Managing Director of the Progressive Policy Institute (PPI) in Washington, DC. Neel engages stakeholders and decision-makers to facilitate policy discussions around federal, state, local, and international issues. Alongside PPI’s Director of Energy and Climate Policy, Neel has helped build the Energy and Climate Solutions Initiative, which is widely respected and relied on by Members of Congress, Senators, and their staff for pragmatic proposals and solutions. Neel is deeply engaged in PPI’s international efforts, frequently engaging with policymakers and think tanks in Europe on energy issues and other policy and political topics. Before joining PPI, Neel was the President of Legis Media, an advocacy communications firm that he founded in 2004. He has extensive experience in advocacy advertising, grassroots organization, and coalition building. He spent over seven years working on Capitol Hill and political campaigns. Neel lives in Arlington, VA with his wife and daughter and spends his spare time playing the game of Go and performing in local bluegrass and country bands.

About the Powering America Podcast

The Powering America Podcast hosts conversations on energy, infrastructure, policy and economic growth — interviewing the operators, regulators, and innovators powering America's grid, gas, nuclear, and industrial future. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.