The US government has released a new strategy to target plastic pollution at every level: production, processing, use and disposal.
The strategy, “Mobilizing Federal Action on Plastic Pollution: Progress, Principles, and Priorities” outlines existing and new federal actions to reduce the impact of plastic pollution throughout the plastic lifecycle and calls for sustained and coordinated work with state, local, Tribal and Territorial governments, local communities, the private sector and other stakeholders to address the scale and breadth of the plastic pollution challenge.
Additionally, the government announced a new goal to phase out federal procurement of single-use plastics from food service operations, events and packaging by 2027, and from all federal operations by 2035.
In a statement, the White House said:
“Communities across the United States and around the world are facing a plastic pollution crisis. Plastic production and waste have doubled over the past two decades, littering our ocean, poisoning the air of communities near production facilities, and threatening public health. The Biden-Harris Administration recognizes that pollution can occur at every stage of the plastic lifecycle, disproportionately impacting communities with environmental justice concerns, contributing to loss of biodiversity, and exacerbating the impacts of climate change.”
Julie Packard, Executive Director of the Monterey Bay Aquarium, cheered the move:
“I applaud this clear leadership by the White House. Plastic production, use, and disposal practices aren’t sustainable and cause significant harm to human health, the environment, and the economy, while driving deep societal injustices. We can solve this problem. To do it, we need strong leadership from the United States and the global community to reduce the amount of plastic produced and address pollution at every stage of the plastic life cycle. Today’s announcement is a part of a necessary shift to healthier approaches that safeguard our planet, our health, and vulnerable communities. This challenge will require all of us working together. Monterey Bay Aquarium and our partners look forward to supporting the next steps, and we hope many leaders nationwide will join us.”
