Legislation has been introduced in Congress that supporters say will begin shifting the U.S. economy away from dependence on certain single-use plastics.
The legislation also would create new nationwide targets for plastic source reduction and reuse in the packaging and foodservice sectors, according to a news release. Rep. Jared Huffman, D-Calif., and Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J., along with Break Free from Plastic Pollution Act champions Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., and Rep. Alan Lowenthal, D-Calif., introduced the Protecting Communities from Plastics Act.
“Plastic pollution isn’t just a problem for our oceans and climate — it’s a massive environmental injustice, directly impacting frontline and fenceline communities throughout the plastics lifecycle,” Huffman said in the release. “My bill will protect the health of our communities, reduce greenhouse gas emissions fueling the climate crisis, and stop the fossil fuel industry’s petro-dictatorship as it eyes plastics as a safety net. The clock is ticking, and we will keep working on this next Congress — but we are sending a message here and now to put oil and gas companies on notice. Our communities must come first.”
Lawmakers said the Protecting Communities from Plastics Act would:
- Establish stricter rules for petrochemical plants.
- Create new nationwide targets for plastic source reduction and reuse in the packaging and food service sectors.
- Provide federal incentives to spur expansion of reusable and refillable systems, with a particular focus on environmental justice communities, as well as studies into the detrimental health effects of microplastics.
“Many of us know and live by the three R’s—reduce, reuse, and recycle—in the hope that as long as we put our plastic items into blue bins, we’ll protect our environment and our communities,” Merkley, who serves as chair of the Environment and Public Works subcommittee overseeing environmental justice and chemical safety, said in the release. “Unfortunately, when it comes to plastics, the three B’s are much more common—plastic is buried, burned, or borne out to sea—which means dangerous chemicals are seeping into our air, water, and soil, threatening Americans’ health everywhere, and disproportionately in communities of color and low-income communities.”
