Send a Letter: Tell Congress We Need a New U.S. Recycling System!

The United States produces 31 million tons of plastic every year, and only 2 million tons of plastic is recycled. Our habit of producing and consuming enormous amounts of plastic is pushing our recycling system and landfills to the brink. We must drastically change the way we approach recycling and tell Congress it is time for action!

Plastic waste is impacting our planet, and there are studies pointing to impacts on human and animal health.  We need to keep plastic waste out of the environment and from getting into the food chain.

Extended Producer Responsibility, or EPR, is a policy approach in which producers that supply packaging and paper to residents are financially and, in some cases, operationally responsible for those materials in end-of-life management. The goal is to create a sustainable source of funding to support increased recycling rates by incentivizing companies that use sustainable packaging design, including using recycled material within the packaging of their products.  And, most importantly, to keep this plastic waste from going into the environment.  

For EPR to work successfully, government, businesses and consumers must all work together toward the same goal. The best way to do so is through adoption of a national EPR framework at the federal level.

Send a letter to your elected leader encouraging federal EPR legislation!

Why federal EPR legislation is needed:

• By 2030, it is estimated U.S. landfills could reach capacity.
• Individual state EPR regulations and processes can create complexity and inconsistencies, both of which can inhibit large-scale, end-to-end improvements to recycling programs across all states.
• The environmental impact of new plastic is greater than recycled plastic.
• 79% of Americans believe the government should lead the way in dealing with plastic waste.