Government Efforts To Combat Plastic Pollution

Plastic pollution is a pressing issue that has devastating effects on the environment, public health, and communities, particularly those that are underserved and overburdened. In recognition of this, governments worldwide have implemented various policies and initiatives to combat plastic pollution and reduce their environmental impact. The United States government, for example, has introduced the National Strategy to Prevent Plastic Pollution, which aims to eliminate plastic waste from land and sea-based sources by 2040. This strategy includes objectives such as reducing pollution during plastic production, improving waste management, and preventing plastic from entering waterways. The Biden-Harris administration has also taken steps to reduce single-use plastics in federal operations and increase investment in infrastructure for recycling. Other countries, such as Indonesia, Uruguay, and Costa Rica, have also made commitments to reduce plastic pollution. These collective efforts demonstrate a global recognition of the severity of plastic pollution and the need for collaborative action to address this crisis.

Reduce pollution during plastic production

The US government has acknowledged the severity of the plastic pollution crisis and is taking steps to address it. The Biden-Harris administration has released a strategy to target plastic pollution at every stage of the plastic lifecycle, from production to disposal.

To reduce pollution during plastic production, the administration is taking the following actions:

• Assessing and reducing pollution from plastic production: Federal agencies are working to reduce pollution from the extraction of fossil fuels and the production of plastic. This includes addressing chemicals of concern, hazardous air pollutants, and volatile organic compounds, some of which are known carcinogens. Improved data collection is also necessary to understand the full extent of the environmental and human health risks associated with plastic production.
• Innovating materials and product design: Agencies are exploring alternative materials and processing methods to ensure that products are compatible with waste management systems and have minimal impacts on human health and the environment. This includes participating in the development of standards to promote recyclability and reuse, as well as innovation in materials management.
• Reducing plastic waste generation: Federal agencies are leading by example by reducing single-use plastic within their operations. This includes introducing more environmentally friendly systems like water refill stations instead of single-use plastic bottles.
• Improving waste management: The Biden administration's Investing in America agenda aims to improve environmentally sound waste management, particularly in communities that are already overburdened by pollution. Additional actions are needed to enhance waste management practices and infrastructure to ensure plastic waste is properly handled and doesn't end up in the environment.

The US government is also working with industry leaders and stakeholders to identify key objectives and strategies to reduce pollution during plastic production. These objectives include improving the design of plastic products to provide more reuse and refill opportunities, reducing the production of single-use, unrecyclable, and frequently littered plastic products, and increasing solid waste collection to ensure it doesn't negatively impact communities.

Phase out single-use plastics

Phasing out single-use plastics is a key component of the Biden-Harris Administration's strategy to tackle plastic pollution. The administration has set a new goal to phase out federal procurement of single-use plastics from food service operations, events, and packaging by 2027, and from all federal operations by 2035. This builds on President Biden's Executive Order on Catalyzing Clean Energy Industries and Jobs through Federal Sustainability, which includes phasing out the procurement of single-use plastic products.

To achieve this goal, federal agencies are taking steps to reduce the initial use of materials that are unnecessary, difficult to manage, or likely to become pollution. This includes introducing more environmentally friendly systems, such as water refill stations, as a substitute for single-use plastic bottles. Agencies are also exploring alternative materials and processing methods, such as participating in the development of standards to promote recyclability and reuse, and researching and developing materials that will create a more circular economy.

In addition to federal actions, some states and businesses are also taking initiatives to phase out single-use plastics. For example, California has introduced legislation to phase out single-use plastic food containers and packaging that is not recyclable or compostable by 2030. This follows California's previous efforts to restrict the use of plastic straws and bags, and to curb the use of single-use plastic bags in grocery stores.

Businesses are also stepping up to reduce their plastic waste. For example, Trader Joe's has committed to phasing out single-use plastics nationwide following a customer petition. The company has already stopped offering single-use plastic carryout bags and is replacing plastic produce bags and Styrofoam meat trays with biodegradable and compostable options. Other companies, such as McDonald's and Evian, have also made commitments to reduce their plastic packaging and move towards more sustainable sources.

By phasing out single-use plastics, governments and businesses can help reduce plastic littering in beaches and oceans, protect public health, and address the global plastic pollution crisis.

Improve waste management

Improving waste management is a critical aspect of tackling plastic pollution. Here are some measures that governments can implement to enhance waste management and reduce plastic pollution:

Increase Solid Waste Collection and Ensure Equitable Practices:

• Governments should prioritize increasing solid waste collection to prevent plastic waste from ending up in the environment.
• It is essential to ensure that solid waste management practices do not adversely impact communities, especially those that are underserved and overburdened by pollution.

Promote Reuse, Refill, and Recycling:

• Governments can work with industries to improve the design of plastic products to provide more reuse and refill opportunities, reducing the need for single-use items.
• Encouraging recycling practices is crucial. This includes investing in infrastructure for recycling, such as the EPA's $275 million in Solid Waste Infrastructure for Recycling grants, which aims to improve recycling, composting, and reuse infrastructure.
• Public awareness campaigns about recycling and reducing plastic waste can empower citizens to make more sustainable choices.

Reduce Single-Use Plastics:

• Governments should take steps to reduce the use of single-use plastics, which are often unrecyclable and frequently littered.
• This can include phasing out the procurement of single-use plastics in federal operations, as announced by the Biden-Harris Administration, with a goal of eliminating them by 2035.
• Providing alternatives, such as water refill stations instead of single-use plastic bottles, can significantly reduce plastic waste generation.

Collaborate with Communities and Businesses:

• Solving plastic pollution requires collaboration between communities, businesses, and governments.
• Governments should engage with local communities, listen to their concerns, and involve them in decision-making processes related to waste management and plastic pollution reduction.
• Businesses also play a vital role in reducing plastic waste. Governments can partner with companies to promote the use and reuse of materials productively over their entire life cycles, as seen in the EPA's WasteWise Program.

By implementing these measures, governments can significantly improve waste management practices and reduce the environmental and health impacts of plastic pollution.

Ban single-use plastic bags

Plastic pollution is a pressing issue that has severe consequences for human health and the environment. The Biden-Harris Administration has released a new strategy to tackle plastic pollution, which includes reducing single-use plastics in federal operations. As part of this strategy, the administration has set a goal to phase out federal procurement of single-use plastics from food service operations, events, and packaging by 2027, and from all federal operations by 2035. This initiative builds on President Biden's Executive Order on Catalyzing Clean Energy Industries and Jobs through Federal Sustainability.

One significant way to reduce single-use plastic consumption is to ban single-use plastic bags. Several states and cities in the US have already implemented such bans, including Washington state, Maine, and Vermont. These bans aim to encourage customers to bring and reuse their own bags when shopping. For example, Washington's ban allows certain carryout bags, such as large paper bags and thick reusable plastic bags, but charges customers an 8-cent fee per bag. The fee is meant to encourage customers to bring their own bags and cover the cost of providing the allowed bags.

The impact of banning single-use plastic bags goes beyond just reducing waste. It also has cultural effects, forcing companies to innovate and rethink their designs, as well as helping to shift consumer mindsets. Additionally, it is important to note that while banning single-use plastic bags is a crucial step, it is not enough to solve the plastic pollution crisis on its own. Other initiatives, such as reducing plastic consumption overall and promoting reusable and compostable alternatives, are also necessary.

The US government, through various agencies, is taking a comprehensive approach to tackle plastic pollution. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has been working to protect human health and the environment from the impacts of plastic pollution. The EPA's National Recycling Strategy aims to increase the US recycling rate to 50% by 2030. The agency is also investing in infrastructure to improve reuse, recycling, and composting, with $275 million in Solid Waste Infrastructure for Recycling grants.

Furthermore, the US Department of Energy (DOE) launched the Plastics Innovation Challenge in 2018 to coordinate initiatives on plastic recycling, degradation, upcycling, and design for circularity. The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) offers support and programs to increase research, development, and consumer awareness of bioplastics. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) assists manufacturers in safely using recycled plastics for food contact articles, helping to divert plastic from landfills and the marine environment. These collective efforts demonstrate the US government's commitment to addressing plastic pollution and promoting sustainable practices.

Improve public awareness

The US government has identified three key objectives for its "National Strategy to Prevent Plastic Pollution":

• The EPA is working to increase public awareness of ways to reduce plastic and other trash in waterways.
• The EPA has developed an interactive map of recycling markets that highlights existing infrastructure, per capita generation and recycling of post-consumer material, and other relevant market factors.
• The EPA's Trash Free Waters program emphasizes stakeholder engagement to assist US and international communities in addressing primarily land-based sources of marine litter.
• The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) offers programs to increase buyer/consumer awareness of bioplastics.
• The National Park Service (NPS) actively works with local, state, and other federal partners on beach clean-ups and educational products and programs to help make visitors aware of the environmental impacts of plastic pollution and marine debris, and how individual choices and actions can make a difference.
• The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) assists manufacturers in safely using recycled plastics for food contact articles, helping to divert plastic food contact articles from landfills or the marine environment.
• The US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Marine Debris Program was established in 2006 to address the adverse impacts of marine debris on the US economy, the marine environment, and navigation safety. The program partners with communities across the US and internationally through outreach and education initiatives and supports community-based marine debris removal projects.

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