Senate Bill titled “Save Our Seas 2.0 Act” addresses ocean plastic debris was introduced on June 26, 2019 by Senators Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Dan Sullivan (R-AK), and Bob Menendez (D-NJ). The legislation “… seeks to help reduce the creation of plastic waste, find uses for the plastic waste that already exists to keep it from […]
News and Updates
House Passes Amendment to Develop a National Recycling Strategy
Development of a US National Recycling Strategy would be required by an amendment included in an appropriations bill adopted June 26, 2019 by the House of Representatives. The amendment, if included in Senate passed legislation and signed by the President, would require EPA to “… develop a national recycling strategy to ensure the long-term economic […]
Corals Consuming Microplastics over Traditional Food
Corals off the coast of Rhode Island were found to favor consumption of microplastic particles over traditional food (brine shrimp), according to “Patterns, dynamics and consequences of microplastic ingestion by the temperate coral, Astrangia poculata”. This report was published June 26, 2019 in the Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences by researchers with […]
Plastic Waste Management in Canada
Canada is preparing a “… State of the Science assessment on plastic pollution … [which] will include a peer review, public consultations, and socio-economic considerations …” according to a June 10, 2019 news release. The release notes that as part of its assessment, Canada will be banning certain “… single-use plastic products and packaging – […]
Who Can Help Most with Reducing Plastic Waste?
” … When asked which parties can do the most to reduce plastic waste related to food packaging, the vast majority of respondents felt that the food brands have the main responsibility …” according to a June 12, 2019 news release issued by Kemira, a diversified Finland chemical company. It reports on a consumer survey […]
Environment Ministers Agree on Marine Plastic Litter
“Marine Plastic Litter” is one of several “Key Outcomes” of the G20 Ministerial Meeting on Energy Transitions and Global Environment for Sustainable Growth held June 15 and 16, 2019 in Karuizawa, Nagano, Japan. A June 17 Japanese government news release notes that “… Environment Ministers agreed to adopt a voluntary framework … The Three Pillars […]
The Guardian Publishes Series on United States of Plastic
“United States of Plastic” is a new Guardian newspaper series that “… will scrutinize the plastic crisis engulfing America and the world …” – The newspaper asks “… Is microplastic the next health crisis? …” and is asking its “… readers to help us raise $150,000 for Toxic America, a new US environmental series that […]
EEA Issues Report on Preventing Plastic Waste in Europe
“Preventing plastic waste in Europe” is a June 3, 2019 report issued by the European Environment Agency (EEA) which reviews “… waste prevention policies in Europe …” The report notes that “… The demand for plastics is increasing rapidly worldwide … Specific and concrete prevention targets addressing plastic waste are not widespread in Europe. Only […]
Ocean Conservancy CEO issues blog post on Recycling and the Ocean
“Is Recycling Broken? Yes. Do we need to fix it to solve the ocean plastic pollution crisis? Absolutely” is a June 7, 2019 blog post issued by Janis Searles Jones, CEO of the Ocean Conservancy. The post notes that “… Approximately 6,300 million metric tons of plastic waste has been generated since the creation of […]
QUB Researches Micro and Nano Plastic Particles’ Effect on Human Health
Do Micro and Nano Plastic Particles Affect Human Health? – This question is being addressed by researchers from the Institute for Global Food Security at Queen’s University Belfast (QUB). See related article. The QUB are working as part of an international consortium funded by the European Commission. According to a June 13, 2019 QUB news […]