Confronting the Plastic Pollution Crisis
by Faye Park, President, ConnPIRG
Support bans on the worst form of single-use plastic! One in three Americans now live in a state with a ban on at least one form of single-use plastic — including here in Connecticut.
Hold plastic producers accountable for the waste their products become by supporting producer responsibility legislation at the national and state levels. PIRG helped lead the charge to win groundbreaking producer responsibility laws for packaging in Colorado, California and Oregon — and Connecticut could be next.
One of the most impactful things we can do to protect our planet and our health is stem the tide of plastic pollution.
As the world’s largest online retailer, Amazon produces a ton of plastic trash in the form of packaging. The company has said it’s committed to reducing its plastic waste – but the amount of plastic packaging it uses in America is actually growing, not shrinking.
New research shows that Amazon produced 208 million pounds of plastic packaging trash in the U.S. in 2022, a 10% increase over the prior year.
We need Amazon to get its plastic production under control and turn to more sustainable packaging alternatives. To keep our work going strong, we need everyone who believes in a zero-waste future to come together.
Start by boycotting Amazon, which I do, and buy direct from the producing company or other source, or do without — though this could be a problem for some, especially younger folks. “Come together” in what way do you recommend?