Ubiquitous Plastic Junk Catching Lawmakers’ Attention

A ban on plastic foam food containers and packaging, fees on carryout bags, and standardized plastic recycling collection all could become part of a national plastic waste bill now in its early stages.

Due to “decades of inaction, pollution from plastics have become a global crisis and federal action has been long overdue,” Rep. Alan Lowenthal (D-Calif.) told Bloomberg Environment in an email.

Lowenthal and Sen. Tom Udall (D-N.M.) recently released an outline of legislation they plan to introduce in the fall after gathering ideas from consumers and businesses.

The outline comes amid legislative momentum surrounding plastic waste: ...