117 SRES 697 IS: Designating July 2022 as “Plastic Pollution Action Month”.
U.S. Senate
2022-06-23
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EN
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Whereas plastic pollution represents a global threat that will require individual and collective action, both nationally and internationally, to address;Whereas, since the 1950s, over 8,000,000,000 tons of plastic have been produced worldwide;Whereas, in the United States—(1)just 9 percent of plastic waste is sorted for recycling; and (2)less than 3 percent of plastic waste is recycled into a similar quality product;Whereas a recent study found that, despite the United States only accounting for 4 percent of the global population in 2016, in that same year the United States—(1)generated 17 percent of all plastic waste; and(2)ranked third among all countries contributing to coastal plastic pollution;Whereas single-use plastics account for at least 40 percent of the plastic produced every year;Whereas over 12,000,000 tons of plastic waste enter the ocean every year from land-based sources alone;Whereas, if no action is taken, the flow of plastics into the ocean is expected to triple by 2040;Whereas studies estimate that there are between 15,000,000,000,000 and 51,000,000,000,000 pieces of plastic in the oceans;Whereas, globally, 100,000 marine mammals die every year as a result of plastic pollution;Whereas plastics, and associated chemicals of plastics, directly impact human health;Whereas studies suggest that, every week, humans swallow the amount of plastic that is in a credit card;Whereas taking action to reduce plastic use, collect and clean up litter, and reuse and recycle more plastics will lead to less plastic pollution;Whereas, every July, people challenge themselves to reduce their plastic footprint through Plastics Free July
;Whereas, during the International Coastal Cleanup in 2020, nearly 950,000 people across the globe cleaned up over 10,000 tons of plastic from beaches;Whereas switching to reusable items instead of single-use items can prevent waste, save water, and reduce litter; andWhereas July 2022 is an appropriate month to designate as Plastic Pollution Action Month to recommit to taking action, individually and as a country, to reduce plastic pollution: Now, therefore, be itThat the Senate—(1)designates July 2022 as Plastic Pollution Action Month
;(2)recognizes the dangers to human health and the environment posed by plastic pollution; and(3)encourages all individuals in the United States to protect, conserve, maintain, and rebuild the environment by responsibly participating in activities to reduce plastic pollution in July 2022 and year-round.