Dear John, Last week a groundbreaking federal bill was introduced in the U.S. Capitol to tackle the exploding plastic pollution crisis, the Break Free From Plastic Pollution Act of 2020 (Senate Bill 3263, House of Representatives Bill 5845).
Every year, the United States alone burns or landfills 32 million tons of plastic. And an additional 8 million tons of plastic pollution escapes into the world's oceans.
This historic legislation needs all the support we can get for it, and
YOU can make a significant difference by asking your state and local representatives to support this historic act. This legislation seeks to
meaningfully address the plastic pollution crisis by: - Shifting responsibility for waste management and recycling to manufacturers and producers,
- Setting up a national beverage container refund program,
- Establishing minimum recycled content standards and
- Phasing out certain single-use plastic products that aren’t recyclable.
Additionally, this legislation will prohibit plastic waste from being exported to developing countries, and place a temporary pause on new plastic facilities until the EPA updates and creates important environmental and health regulations on those facilities.
The Break Free From Plastic Pollution Act is supported by the
original Co-Sponsors U.S. Senator Tom Udall (D-N.M.), and U.S. Representative Alan Lowenthal (D-Calif.), in addition to U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), U.S. Representative Steve Cohen (D-TN) and other Congressional leaders, in addition to more than 200 stakeholders, including Break Free From Plastic, Plastic Pollution Coalition, The Last Plastic Straw, Hannah4Change, Algalita Marine Research and Education, The Surfrider Foundation, and many others.
Please tell your representatives it's time to support the Break
Free From Plastic Pollution Act of 2020, for the health of humans, animals, waterways, oceans, and the environment.
Questions? Learn more here or if you need additional information or guidance, send us an email.
Onward together, 
Julia Cohen
Managing Director
Plastic Pollution Coalition |
