Americans casually discard, on average, 185 pounds of plastic per year. And those collective tons of food wrappers, grocery bags, straws, and bottle caps don’t just disappear after we’re done with them.
92% of plastic waste is not recycled -- instead, it’s burned, buried, or bought by less-developed countries who lack the infrastructure to dispose of it safely. Eventually, it’s likely to make its way to the ocean -- where it will kill over 1 million marine animals annually.
And that was all before the current global health crisis, which has caused plastic use to skyrocket and has given governments around the world an excuse to roll back regulations on big plastic and big polluters.
That’s why we need to call on Congress to act now. The Break Free From Plastic Pollution Act of 2020 would stop the shipment of U.S. waste to countries that lack the ability to handle it. It would phase out the biggest offenders of plastic pollution -- like plastic bags and stirrers -- over the next decade. And it would force big corporations to take responsibility for the pollution they create, saving our marine life and saving taxpayers from shouldering a financial burden they shouldn’t have to bear.
Democrats in both the House and Senate have been advocating for the bill since February after working closely with environmental groups to design the best possible solution for our economy and our oceans. But the legislation won’t go anywhere if it doesn’t get your attention first.
Thank YOU for being part of the fight,
Progressive Majority
