Urge PA’s Senators to Cosponsor the Break Free from Plastic Pollution Act

From PennEnvironment (http://www.pennenvironment.org):

The U.S. generates more plastic trash than any other country — but we have a chance to break the cycle of waste and overproduction.¹

The Break Free From Plastic Pollution Act requires plastic producers to fund the work needed to manage their waste and would begin a nationwide phase-out of the worst single-use plastics, which would dramatically reduce plastic pollution and save marine life in the process.

PennEnvironment and our national network have championed the Break Free From Plastic Pollution Act — and we’re calling on Sens. Patrick J. Toomey and Robert P. Casey to co-sponsor the bill when it’s reintroduced this spring.

Please go to https://pennenvironment.webaction.org/p/dia/action4/common/public/?action_KEY=43110 to tell our senators to address our nation’s plastic pollution problem by co-sponsoring the Break Free From Plastic Pollution Act.

Plastic wrappers, polystyrene foam containers, and other plastic items that we only use for a few seconds can take hundreds of years to degrade in the ocean. Right now, there are actually more microplastics in the ocean than stars in the galaxy.²

Once in the ocean, plastics present deadly obstacles for marine life like whales, turtles and dolphins. All sea turtle species and nearly half of all seabird and marine mammal species have ingested plastic.³

Our country’s use of plastic has increased dramatically in the last year — and far too much of this waste comes from single-use items we don’t even need.⁴ We can turn the tide on plastic waste — but we need your help.

Tell Sens. Toomey and Casey to co-sponsor the Break Free From Plastic Pollution Act.

Our national coalition has made progress on plastic waste. Polystyrene foam foodware is now banned in five states — but we can’t stop there.

To address the root of our plastic pollution problem, we need our country to require polluters to pay to clean up their plastic waste, and we need to federally phase out the worst single-use plastics.

Add your name to convince your senators to act on plastic waste.

1. Laura Parker, “U.S. generates more plastic trash than any other nation, report finds,” National Geographic, October 30, 2020.
2. Erik Solheim, “The missing science: Could our addiction to plastic be poisoning us?,” UN Environment, June 4, 2018.
3. “Banning Single-Use Plastics Protecting Our Health and Environment,” Environment America, February 20, 2020.
4. Tanya Mosley and Serena McMahon, “COVID-19 Pandemic Has Led To More Ocean Plastic Pollution,” WBUR, October 12, 2020.