Contact Congress to let them know that you support The REDUCE Act, introduced by Senator Sheldon Whitehouse and Congressman Lloyd Doggett. This important bill outlines a strategy to reduce plastic production and plastic waste by limiting the use of new, non-recycled plastic in everyday items. 

Take action: Ask Congress to pass The REDUCE Act and take a crucial step towards eliminating unnecessary plastic usage and incentivizing more eco-friendly practices.

Once passed, the legislation would impose a fee on the production of new plastics designated for single-use items. This fee would not apply to plastics that have been recycled, making the use of recycled materials more financially appealing. This approach is designed to motivate companies to either recycle more plastics or opt for recycled materials over new ones, thus keeping more plastics from ending up in landfills and incinerators.

Anna Alsobrook, MountainTrue’s lead in the Plastic-Free WNC coalition, explains that plastics are a growing threat to both our environment and public health. “Plastic waste has become ubiquitous. MountainTrue has sampled every water basin in Western North Carolina, and we found microplastics in every single sample. And there is a growing body of evidence that plastics and the additives used to make them are harmful to aquatic ecosystems and human health. We need to take action to address this growing problem, and the REDUCE Act can be a part of that solution.” 

The production, distribution, disposal, and incineration of plastics exacerbate climate change, harm public health, and contaminate our communities and natural environment. The REDUCE Act is a means to curb our waste production and encourage the use of recycled plastics by manufacturers.

Take action today.