PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — More than a dozen state attorneys general – including from Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware – are calling on the Biden administration to come up with a comprehensive strategy to address what they call the “plastic pollution crisis.”
They did so in a letter to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, saying while about 2 million metric tons of plastic waste end up polluting the environment each year, federal policy continues to focus on clean-up and recycling, rather than on slowing production and reliance.
Faran Savitz with PennEnvironment says less than 6% of plastic actually gets recycled, so focusing on less production is an important first step.
“Since we're already flooded with plastic, making sure that the best solution to our waste crisis is creating less waste in the first place is a great, it's a good signal.”
They also say there needs to be a national plastics labeling standard to combat what it describes as “deceptive environmental marketing,” Savitz said.
“Most people see those arrows and think that means the plastic is recyclable. If you look at the number, that's going to tell you what that plastic is, it's not telling you it can be recycled. And in fact, the vast majority of our plastic can't be recycled.”
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Savitz went on to explain that turning plastics inot fuel or burning plastics as recycling should not be called “recycling.”
The letter also calls for an assessment of what it labels the “fast fashion” industry, pointing to cheap, polyester clothing that is disposed of quickly and ends up in landfills.
According to a 2022 report from EPA, landfills received 11.3 million tons of municipal solid waste textiles in 2018.
“Time and time again, we have taken positions to regulate industry pollution that jeopardizes the health of future generations. I have no doubt that these recommendations, if followed, will reduce harmful plastics in our waterways, clothing, and landfills,” said Attorney General Michelle Henry, one of the 14 attorneys to join the coalition.
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