This is an all too common sight. Photo: Unsplash
According to a new report from the Ocean Conservancy, a staggering 90 percent of states are lagging in their efforts to curb plastic pollution. The Washington-based non-profit environmental advocacy group scored the national average at 1.5 stars out of five.
This month is Plastic Free July, so Ocean Conservancy thought it was a good time to launch their report. Called “United States of Plastics,” the report analyzes state-level efforts to combat plastic pollution on a five-point scale.
“Overall, the results are disappointing,” said Ocean Conservancy’s Director of Plastics Policy, Dr. Anja Brandon, in a press release. “Four in five Americans consider plastic pollution to be the most pressing issue facing our ocean, yet only six states ranked as ‘good’ or above in our study. We hope that the United States of Plastics report inspires policy change and gives a benchmark for states to measure their progress in combating plastic pollution in the years to come.”
As a nation, we’re not doing all that well when it comes to curbing plastic pollution. Image: Ocean Conservancy
The report used 20 different factors that relate to the United States’ plastic pollution policy, like bans on single-use plastic items like bags, straws, foam, and utensils, microplastics prevention, and recycling rates, to name a few. It also took into account actions that are making it difficult to fight the growing issue, like laws that prohibit local governments from regulating single-use plastics.
“States are on the frontlines of tackling our plastic pollution crisis — they bear the costs of cleanup, recycling operations, and the consequences of plastic pollution in our communities,” Dr. Brandon explained. “That’s why state-level action is not only appropriate, it’s essential. When we pass policies that reduce plastic waste at the source, we save taxpayer dollars, protect public health, and deliver immediate, tangible benefits to local communities and ecosystems.”
Every single minute in the United States, an average of a garbage truck full of plastic makes it way into the ocean. It’s wreaking havoc on entire ecosystems, but it’s nearly impossible to make the enormous changes needed to make a real dent in the problem. Every little bit counts, though, and reports like the one from Ocean Conservancy serve as a stark reminder that we need to continue fighting for cleaner oceans.
Read the full report from Ocean Conservancy here.
