The Promising New Laws That Can Help Cut Plastic Pollution
Summary
Some U.S. states and Canadian provinces are adopting new laws to reduce plastic pollution by holding companies responsible for the waste they create. These laws are known as Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) programs. They aim to improve waste collection and recycling efforts by requiring companies to pay for the cost of managing the packaging materials they sell.Key Facts
- Plastic waste is a global issue, affecting rivers, marine life, and human health.
- Global treaty negotiations on plastic waste have stalled.
- Seven U.S. states (California, Colorado, Maine, Maryland, Minnesota, Oregon, and Washington) have adopted EPR programs.
- EPR laws require companies to pay for waste management based on their packaging sales.
- Funds from EPR programs help improve waste collection, recycling, and public education.
- In British Columbia, an EPR program helped recycle over 80% of packaging materials.
- The U.S. overall recycles less than 10% of its plastic waste, while British Columbia manages to recycle the majority.
- EPR programs aim to encourage businesses to use more recyclable and less harmful packaging.
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