The US must act on the plastic waste crisis
Americans account for only 5% of the world's population yet create half of the globe's solid waste. As one of the top producers and users of plastic worldwide, we recycle only a mere 9% of it. That means over 90% of the plastic we use—even if it is recyclable—ends up incinerated, landfilled, or polluting nature.
With this challenge comes an immense opportunity to fix our broken systems so that the plastic we make is sustainable and not going to waste. Unlocking this potential will take political leadership, which is why we are calling for the US to push policy solutions forward in three concrete areas:
1. Calling for environmental justice
In the US, we need policies that prioritize community protections and lift the voices of those afflicted by the environmental impact of plastic production. We must also push to ensure that, no matter where you live, the environment surrounding you is free from pollution and mismanaged waste. You can help.
2. Strengthening recycling by putting the responsibility on producers.
A big fixture in the broken plastic system today is recycling—or lack thereof. To ensure that what goes into our blue bins actually ends up recycled and used again, we need to disrupt business-as-usual and shift to a system in which the producers of plastic help pay for it. And all Americans must have equal and straightforward access to the recycling system in a way that will work for every community. This change is a critical lever for driving the circular economies—those aimed at eliminating waste and pollution and keeping existing products and materials in use—we need to help turn off the tap of pollution leaking into nature. We can make this possible through a national public policy approach called Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR). EPR aims to eliminate plastic waste by putting the burden of the proper disposal of products on the producers. We need public policy to bring EPR to life.
3. Supporting international leadership.
While we can act locally to address plastic pollution, the crisis transcends borders. Every single country must be part of the solution. We need a united global response to the plastic pollution crisis, with the world's governments taking accountability. The US is no exception and should play an active role in the development and signing of a UN treaty on plastic pollution.
