EPA National Strategy Aims to Address Plastic Pollution

SEATTLE (Scrap Monster): The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has launched the National Strategy to Prevent Plastic Pollution, which intends to address plastic pollution and its effects on human health, the environment, and the economy. It focuses on minimizing plastic pollution at every stage of its lifespan, proposing a variety of voluntary and regulatory methods.

The proposed National Plastics Strategy was originally released in April 2023, and it garnered almost 92,000 comments.

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The Strategy outlines a comprehensive approach to combat plastic pollution that is centred on six key objectives (numbered A to F).

Objective A proposes four areas of action, with 12 supporting aspects, to reduce pollution from plastic manufacture. Objective B proposes two areas of action, each with 11 supporting aspects, both centered on material and product design innovation. Objective C covers four proposed areas of action and 12 supporting aspects aimed at reducing waste generation, particularly single-use plastics.

Objective D proposes four areas of action with 13 supporting items to improve waste management. Objective E consists of four proposed areas of action and 13 supporting items aimed at increasing the capture and removal of plastic pollution. Objective F proposes four areas of action, with 13 supporting elements, to reduce loadings and impacts on waterways and the ocean.