Plastic pollution contaminates our air, water, and soil, even in the remote Arctic. Its production and incineration generates greenhouse gases and creates toxic, carcinogenic chemicals. This pollution disproportionately affects low-income communities and communities of color.
Plastic pollution is not just an environmental or a climate change issue: It is an environmental justice issue and a public health threat.
The Break Free From Plastic Pollution Act (H.R. 5845, S. 3263) will mitigate plastic pollution at the source by increasing producer responsibility for waste management. It will place a temporary moratorium on the construction of new plastics facilities until the EPA can evaluate and update the appropriate regulations. It will establish a minimum recycled content and a nationwide refund program for beverage bottles.
Single-use, non-recyclable items, such as carry-out bags and polystyrene products, will be banned. The BFFPPA will prevent the exportation of plastic to developing countries while also spurring investment in domestic waste management.
This act is the first comprehensive means of managing our extensive plastic pollution problem. It will reduce waste and pollution throughout plastic’s production and disposal chain, rather than focusing solely on recycling or relying on fraudulent “solutions” such as incineration.
The BFFPPA is a timely and extremely necessary piece of legislation. Please take the time to contact Rep. Annie Kuster and Sens. Maggie Hassan and Jeanne Shaheen and urge them to co-sponsor this bill.
ABIGAIL STONE
Hopkinton
(The writer is a member of the Hopkinton Waste Reduction Committee.)