Send a Letter: Tell Congress We Need a New U.S. Recycling System!

The United States produces 31 million tons of plastic every year, and only 2 million tons of plastic is recycled. Our habit of producing and consuming enormous amounts of plastic is pushing our recycling system and landfills to the brink. We must drastically change the way we approach recycling and tell Congress it is time for action!

Plastic waste is impacting our planet, and there are studies pointing to impacts on human and animal health.  We need to keep plastic waste out of the environment and from getting into the food chain.

A new approach to improve consumer packaging recycling programs has emerged. It’s called Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR). EPR is a recycling framework where companies that produce plastic packaging take financial responsibility for the collection, sorting, and recycling of the materials they produce. The goal is to increase recycling rates and incentivize companies to use sustainable packaging design including using recycled material within the packaging of their products.  And, most importantly, to keep this plastic waste from going into the environment.  

For EPR to work successfully, government, businesses and consumers must all work together toward the same goal. The best way to do so is through adoption of a national EPR framework at the federal level.

Send a letter to your elected leader encouraging federal EPR legislation!

Why federal EPR legislation is needed:

• By 2030, it is estimated U.S. landfills could reach capacity.
• A web of complex state regulations increases costs and recycling inefficiencies.
• The environmental impact of new plastic is greater than recycled plastic.
• 79% of Americans believe the government should lead the way in dealing with plastic waste.