By Danielle Smith, Keystone State News Service
Pictured above: More than 4.7 billion plastic bags are used annually in Pennsylvania, creating around 26,000 tons of waste, much of which could be prevented by using more sustainable options. Photo courtesy of Mihail/Adobe Stock
Pennsylvania ranks near the bottom in a national report evaluating efforts to combat plastic pollution.
July is Plastic-Free Month, and the Ocean Conservancy’s “United States of Plastics” report gave the state a score of just 1.5 out of five.
Anja Brandon, director of plastics policy for the advocacy group Ocean Conservancy and co-author of the report, said Pennsylvania has laws backing harmful chemical recycling flagged in their findings. She suggested the state could follow the lead of nearby Great Lakes and Northeast states by cutting back on single-use plastics. Brandon added that turning to safer, proven alternatives could quickly benefit Pennsylvania’s environment.
“They could consider policies like comprehensive extended producer responsibility that combine the best parts of a bottle bill with the best parts of extended producer responsibility to significantly increase the amount of material that is recycled and kept out of the environment,” Brandon outlined.
While Pennsylvania has not yet enacted statewide bans or mandates banning plastic outright, it has created a framework for reducing plastic pollution through targeted legislation. In June, Rep. Maureen Madden, D-Monroe, introduced House Bill 1547 to ban single-use plastic bags in retail establishments.
According to PennEnvironment, 40 municipalities have adopted local bans on plastic bags in Pennsylvania.
Brandon pointed out that about 11 million metric tons of plastic enter the ocean each year from land-based sources, more than a garbage truck’s worth every minute. She noted the U.S. is the top generator of plastic waste and the third-largest source of ocean plastic pollution.
While Pennsylvania is not on the coast, Brandon stressed plastic pollution knows no boundaries and urged inland states to take stronger action, since all communities are connected through watersheds leading to the ocean.
“I think states are not only on the front lines but they’re also kind of in the best position of power to take action,” Brandon contended. “Because they’re already in charge of recycling and waste management and cleanup and education. So that’s really why we chose to focus this on the state level.”
Brandon added that it has been nearly a decade since the federal government took major action on plastic pollution. Although laws like the Save Our Seas Act have addressed marine debris, no major efforts have succeeded since then.
Multiple bills, including the Break Free from Plastic Pollution Act, Fighting Fibers and Farewell to Foam Act, and others, have been introduced to tackle the issue. None has passed despite ongoing advocacy.
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Source: bctv
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