Senators Mull ‘Whopping Failure’ of Recycling Amid Pandemic (2)

Senators on Wednesday highlighted holes in recycling infrastructure exposed by the coronavirus pandemic, questioning how Congress can stop a plastic pollution crisis from emerging alongside a public health crisis.

Many municipalities paused recycling pickup programs as part of stay-at-home orders during the pandemic, causing recyclables to either end up in landfills or pile up outside.

And the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is encouraging businesses to use disposables, and cities have pulled back on single-use plastic bans, further contributing to pollution, said Senate Environment and Public Works Chairman John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) in a Wednesday hearing.

“The Covid-19 pandemic has ...