Image by Warren Hansen
Written by Esme Hyatt
EPA released the draft “National Strategy to Prevent Plastic Pollution” Focusing on Objective C of the plan, which has to do specifically with preventing trash from entering waterways
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently posted the Draft National Strategy to Prevent Plastic Pollution. This report was derived from the Save Our Seas 2.0 Act passed in 2020. Title 3 of the act requires the EPA to create a plan to reduce consumer plastic released into the ocean. Additionally, the plan has been released to the states and the public for comment. (Toto, 2023)
There are three objectives to the report. According to the EPA, Objective A addresses reducing pollution during plastic production, Objective B focuses on improving post-use materials management, and Objective C emphasizes preventing trash and plastics from entering waterways (EPA, 2023).
Objective C is of particular importance as it pertains to preventing plastic from passing through waterways, a critical issue, especially considering the role the United States plays in the plastic crisis. According to a congressionally mandated report from 2021, the United States is the world’s greatest producer of plastic waste. Approximately 1.13 to 2.24 million metric tons of plastic is released into the environment per year Furthermore, 8 million metric tons of this plastic makes it into the ocean. If the issue is not resolved, this number could reach 53 million metric tons by the end of the decade (Root, 2021).
Thankfully, the government and EPA have taken notice of the issue, as seen in Objective C of the report. Proposed actions to execute Objective C include: improving stormwater management to to prevent the trash from being carried into waterways by runoff stormwater, better evaluating the amount of trash to implement informed solutions, increasing public awareness on the issue, and furthering research to have more insight into the situation (EPA, 2023).
The report is meant to determine such possible solutions and place them for public comment in the hope of collaborating with stakeholders. The actual document merely surveys the problem and derives possible solutions, without mandating the United States to any legally binded solutions (EPA, 2023).
The EPA’s report is a step in the right direction to solve the issue as it raises governmental and public awareness. However, due to the heavy reliance on public opinion and stakeholders, the report at this time lacks procedures that are being enacted The EPA will attempt to ameliorate this, saying, “Due to the action-oriented nature of the draft strategy and the need for commitments to execute it, EPA will continue outreach and engagement during the comment period and the finalization of the strategy” (EPA, 2023). Though the EPA’s support for “finalizing the strategy ” is admirable, it is also clear that the report’s solutions need to be legally enacted, for without a legally binding action plan, it is not required for the EPA to create solutions that are carried out in a timely manner and fully address the plastic crisis.
Works Cited:
Draft national strategy to prevent plastic pollution. (n.d.). https://www.epa.gov/system/files/documents/2023-04/Draft_National_Strategy_to_Prevent_Plastic_Pollution.pdf
Root, T. (2021, December 1). U.S. is top contributor to plastic waste, report shows. Washington Post. Retrieved August 25, 2023, from https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-environment/2021/12/01/plastic-waste-ocean-us/
US EPA releases draft of strategy to prevent plastic pollution. (2023, April 26). Retrieved August 25, 2023, from https://www.recyclingtoday.com/news/epa-plastic-pollution-prevention-strategy/
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