3 ways the US can act on the plastic waste crisis and protect our oceans

The US produces a disproportionate amount of global solid waste and recycles only 9% of its plastic. To combat this, the document advocates for policies that protect afflicted communities, shift recycling costs to producers via Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), and support a globally binding UN treaty on plastic pollution.

• The United States is a major contributor to global waste, with Americans representing 5% of the world's population but producing 50% of the globe's solid waste. Furthermore, the US recycles only 9% of its plastic, meaning over 90% is landfilled, incinerated, or pollutes nature.
• To fix the broken recycling system and move toward a circular economy, the US should adopt Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), a policy that shifts the financial and operational burden of product disposal from the public to the producers.
• The document calls for the US to take a leadership role in the international response to plastic pollution by actively participating in the development and signing of a United Nations treaty.
• Environmental justice must be a priority in US policy to protect communities most affected by the impacts of plastic production and ensure all environments are free from mismanaged waste.

APA

WWF International (2022). 3 ways the US can act on the plastic waste crisis and protect our oceans. https://www.worldwildlife.org/news/stories/3-ways-the-us-can-act-on-the-plastic-waste-crisis-and-protect-our-oceans/

Chicago

WWF International. 3 ways the US can act on the plastic waste crisis and protect our oceans. 2022. https://www.worldwildlife.org/news/stories/3-ways-the-us-can-act-on-the-plastic-waste-crisis-and-protect-our-oceans/.

Wikipedia

{{cite press release |author=WWF International |title=3 ways the US can act on the plastic waste crisis and protect our oceans |date=7 March 2022 |url=https://www.worldwildlife.org/news/stories/3-ways-the-us-can-act-on-the-plastic-waste-crisis-and-protect-our-oceans/ |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@misc{wwfinternational2022ways, author = {{WWF International}}, title = {{3 ways the US can act on the plastic waste crisis and protect our oceans}}, publisher = {WWF International}, year = {2022}, month = mar, url = {https://www.worldwildlife.org/news/stories/3-ways-the-us-can-act-on-the-plastic-waste-crisis-and-protect-our-oceans/}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }