Anonymous,

Cambodia will be sending more than 3.5 million pounds of plastic waste back to where it came from: the U.S. and Canada.[1]

Cambodia isn't alone -- last year, China stopped accepting our plastic waste, and now we're running out of places to send our mounting trash.[2] We're in the midst of a global plastic waste crisis, and this is another symptom of the problem.

We need to deal with this plastic waste chaos head-on, and we have a plan: Reduce our reliance on single-use plastics we don't need first, and reuse and recycle the rest.

But we can't do this -- or any of our work -- without the support of members like you. Donate today.
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Eighty-three shipping containers full of plastic trash, including bags and other single-use plastic items, were found at Cambodia's main port. "Cambodia is not a dustbin," said Cambodia's environmental minister when he announced that these items would be returned to the United States and Canada.[3]

We produce an unbelievable amount of plastic every year, and our recycling facilities are being overwhelmed. In the U.S., less than five percent of plastics are recycled.[4] Recycling experts warn that most of our plastic waste just isn't recyclable -- especially the single-use stuff we don't even need, like plastic bags, foam cups and containers, and straws.

The good news is, we have a better solution: We're advocating for smart, zero-waste policies that will move our country beyond single-use plastics.

This work takes resources -- and we need your help to keep up our efforts. Support all of our work today.
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Plastic pollution is a big problem, but U.S. PIRG and our national network are built for the job. We have a long history of addressing problems that some deemed impossible to solve. For example, our national network led the charge in passing some of the nation's first bottle bills, landmark pieces of legislation that shifted how our country views recycling.

And together with our national network, we have a clear plan:

1. We're running campaigns to reduce single-use plastic waste in states across the country -- including eliminating plastic foam cups and containers and single-use plastic bags, requiring plastic straws and utensils on request only, requiring the recyclability of packaging, and more.
2. We're advocating for consumers' right to repair the things they own, so we can keep using our electronics and other gadgets instead of throwing them away.
3. We're shining a spotlight on the issue in the media and online, and speaking out across the country.
4. We're going door to door to spread the word and mobilize public support.



But in order for us to achieve any of this, we need the support of people like you. Donate today.
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Thank you,

Faye Park
President

1. Jessie Yeung, "Cambodia to send plastic waste back to the US and Canada," CNN World, July 18, 2019.
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2. Guardian staff and agencies, "'Not a dustbin': Cambodia to send plastic waste back to the US and Canada," The Guardian, July 17, 2019.
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3. Guardian staff and agencies, "'Not a dustbin': Cambodia to send plastic waste back to the US and Canada," The Guardian, July 17, 2019.
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4. Waste 360 Staff, "U.S. Plastic Recycling Rate Projected to Drop to 4.4% in 2018," Waste 360, October 5, 2018.
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