Biden announces federal government will phase out single-use plastics

The federal government is the world’s largest buyer of consumer goods, and the move could “significantly impact the supply” of the ubiquitous plastic products, according to an 83-page report detailing the administration’s plan. The administration also wants stricter regulations on plastic manufacturers, a source of greenhouse gas emissions. The report notes that more than 90 percent of plastic is made from fossil fuels.

By leveraging the federal government’s purchasing power, the administration hopes to reduce air pollution, protect public health and shift the market toward more sustainable alternatives to plastic.

“Addressing plastic pollution and its related impacts requires unprecedented action at every stage of the plastics lifecycle — from stemming pollution from petrochemical production … to reorienting infrastructure to ensure dramatic increases in recycling and reuse,” Brenda Mallory, chair of the White House Council on Environmental Quality, and Ali Zaidi, White House national climate adviser, wrote in a letter accompanying the report.

The decision to reduce plastic use domestically comes as the world grapples with how to tackle its massive plastic waste problem.

According to the UN Environment Programme, more than 460 million tonnes of plastic are produced each year, equivalent to the weight of more than 300,000 blue whales. Much of the plastic that becomes waste is single-use items that can eventually pollute land, waterways and oceans. As the hardy material breaks down in the environment, it becomes microplastics: tiny particles smaller than five millimetres that have been found everywhere from Antarctic snow to human bodies.

Countries are trying to create the first global treaty to reduce plastic pollution, and the United States is a key player in those negotiations. One thorny issue is how to reduce plastic production and consumption, with a handful of fossil fuel-dependent countries opposing proposed measures that would, in part, limit the amount of plastic produced.

Following Friday’s announcement, Ross Eisenberg, president of America’s Plastic Makers, a division of the American Chemistry Council, said the industry and the White House are aligned in their desire to prevent plastic pollution by “creating systems that allow plastic feedstocks to be used again and again.” The report notes the Biden administration’s efforts to take steps on plastics that help promote “a more circular economy.”

With the new report, environmental organizations emphatically recognize that something must be done about the problem of plastic pollution.

The report “clarifies so clearly the gravity and urgency of this crisis for our oceans, for our climate, and for our communities,” said Anja Brandon, deputy director of U.S. plastics policy at the nonprofit Ocean Conservancy.

“The fact that it calls for comprehensive action across the entire lifecycle of plastics is a new recognition that we cannot solve this crisis without taking upstream action to reduce the amount of plastics we make and use in the first place,” Brandon said.

She added that the federal government’s commitment to phase out single-use plastics is a “monumental” step.

“If they do their part, we know they can significantly change the market,” she said.

Christy Leavitt, director of the plastics campaign at Oceana, an international advocacy group, largely agreed. She said the federal government’s purchasing decisions “can have a global impact.”

Biden’s pledges come with a caveat, however. If former President Donald Trump returns to office after the November election, his administration is widely expected to roll back a number of environmental and climate regulations.

Some environmentalists stressed the need for action and implementation following Friday’s announcement.

“While commitments are important, the ‘how’ is essential,” Erin Simon, vice president and head of plastic waste and affairs at the World Wildlife Fund, said in a statement. She noted that the new report “provides the strategic analysis needed to achieve these goals.”

“We’re pleased that this report doesn’t shy away from the negative impacts plastics have on human health and examines the problem across the entire plastic lifecycle,” Simon said. “Cleaning up the world’s plastic mess must start at home. And today, the U.S. administration under President Biden and Vice President Harris is doing just that. The world is watching; now is the time for bold commitments and concrete action on plastic.”