This Earth Month, the theme of Earth Day (April 22) is reducing plastics, which makes sense since plastic has permeated nearly every aspect of our lives and also our bodies. In other words, if we aren’t breathing it in, we are eating it. Ridding the Earth of plastics is impossible, which you are well aware of if you’ve read our 3-part series on the scam that is recycling. At this point, the better option is curb it—especially nonessential single-use plastic—from your life. Here’s why:
1. It’s here forever.
The U.S. recycling rate for plastics has dropped to less than 6%. This is because the vast majority of plastics cannot actually be recycled, so to the landfill it goes. Of the plastics that can be recycled, most aren’t because of cost. As a result, companies just opt to create even more new, virgin plastics.
2. There’s an obscene amount of it already.
The U.S. generated over 35 million tons of plastic in 2018 alone, according to EPA, and landfills received more than a two-thirds of that plastic—27 million tons. Most of this waste becomes micro- and nanoplastics, which are microscopic polymers that end up in our bloodstreams and even cross the placental barrier.
3. But wait! There’s more coming. SO.MUCH.MORE.
The plastics industry plans to triple plastics production by 2050. Nearly half of all plastics are single-use products including water bottles, straws, and disposable bags. To end this, the U.S. government could stop issuing permits for new and expanded petrochemical facilities and put a cap on plastic production to ultimately reduce the amount of plastic and related petrochemicals entering the market.
4. The makers don’t want us to do anything about it.
The petrochemical and plastics industry has lobbied successfully to block bans of single-use plastics. As of 2021, 18 states, including Tennessee, Michigan, Florida, and Arizona, have passed plastic pollution preemption laws. Almost half of U.S. residents live in areas where they can’t ban single-use plastics.
5. The new “solution” is actually worse for us.
The plastics industry is selling a false solution to the plastic problem called chemical recycling, or “advanced recycling.” Chemical recycling uses heat to break plastics down to create chemicals and synthetic fuels. This process requires burning fossil fuels and creates even more pollution. Toxic air pollution from chemical recycling is linked to cancers, respiratory ailments, neurodevelopmental conditions, and reproductive disorders. This is an environmental justice concern as most of the incineration facilities are in historically marginalized Black and Brown communities.
These are just a few reasons why turning our attention to plastic is more urgent than ever and why at Moms Clean Air Force we won’t stop calling for the strongest possible protections from petrochemical pollution.
Learn more about Moms’ work on petrochemical pollution.
Tell President Biden and EPA: Protect People From Plastics Industry Pollution