Winters, J. (2023, October 27). Democrats unveil “most comprehensive plan ever” to address plastics problem. Grist. https://grist.org/politics/democrats-unveil-most-comprehensive-plan-ever-to-address-plastics-problem/
Three Democrats in Congress proposed the Break Free From Plastic Pollution Act of 2023, which would help reduce single-use plastics while also holding companies responsible for the amount of plastic waste that they create. Under this bill, companies would have to pay fees to an organization that would focus on consumer recycling of plastics, while also creating a system for rewards for recycling plastics from things like plastic bottles. This bill sets more specific targets for the reduction of plastic from companies, making them reduce their plastic production by 25% by 2032. The bill also prioritizes outreach to communities that have been particularly affected by plastic pollution.
This article is very informative about a new bill that targets reducing single-use plastics in the United States, especially when it comes to big corporations that produce a lot of plastics, leading to global greenhouse gas emissions. This bill is very important and a good step in Congress to pass a bill that focuses on reducing plastics at an industrial scale. While many people can recycle, reducing the creation of plastic is where plastic reduction has to start. Putting limits and monetary incentives on companies will greatly reduce the amount of plastics created, and therefore put back into our environment. I think that this bill is very promising, while maybe it might have trouble being passed in the House, it is a good start to creating a federal change in the regulation of plastics.
I agree with your assessment of the Break Free From Plastic Pollution Act of 2023, recognizing its importance in addressing the issue of single-use plastics at an industrial scale. The focus on holding companies responsible for their plastic waste, setting specific reduction targets, and implementing a system of fees and rewards provides a comprehensive approach to tackling plastic pollution. What strategies do you think can be employed to raise awareness and build bipartisan consensus on the importance of reducing single-use plastics at the industrial level?
I think that reducing plastic production 25% by 2032 is a good and realistic goal. Plastic is used in everything all around the world. I wonder what these large companies who will need to reduce plastics in the U.S. will do in other countries as-well? Could we be in the lead of something big in the coming years?