Senate Approves Bill to Confront Marine Plastic Debris

SEATTLE (Scrap Monster): The bipartisan legislation Save Our Oceans (SOS) 2.0 Act to address plastic debris threatening marine life, was unanimously approved by the U.S. Senate last week. The bill, introduced by Senators Sheldon Whitehouse, Dan Sullivan and Bob Menendez, is considered as an extension to the Save Our Seas Act signed into law in October 2018.

The legislation proposes setting up of a Marine Debris Foundation, which will oversee new research to tackle the issue and honor innovations in the field. Also, it recommends formalization of U.S. policy on international cooperation and expansion of federal agency outreach to other countries. The bill explores the potentials of a new international agreement on tackling the rising challenge. It suggests new grants for improving domestic recycling infrastructure.

The bill calls for a report on economic incentives that would boost new end markets for recycled plastics, within a year from the date of enactment of the legislation. It also calls for the EPA administrator to conduct a study on minimizing plastic waste creation, within two years.

The passage of Save Our Seas 2.0 Act by the U.S. House of Representatives is regarded as an important step towards removing plastic pollution.

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