New plastics bill emphasizes climate change, justice
Anti-plastics Democrats are ramping up their efforts to target the oil- and gas-derived product, which they link to both climate change and environmental justice crises.
Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.) and Rep. Jared Huffman (D-Calif.) unveiled legislation Thursday that would crack down on plastics production and make strides towards shifting the country away from single-use materials.
The "Protecting Communities From Plastics Act" targets petrochemical and waste incineration facilities along with underscoring climate concerns, in an indicator of how polarizing the material has become.
In a statement, Booker argued that plastics production "threatens to derail our efforts to address the climate crisis" and poses a threat to low-income communities of color.
"In fenceline communities that are near plastic production plants, residents suffer from the release of harmful pollutants and increased rates of debilitating health conditions such as cancer and heart disease," Booker said.
Huffman similarly said the bill "will protect the health of our communities, reduce greenhouse gas emissions fueling the climate crisis, and stop the fossil fuel industry's petro-dictatorship as it eyes plastics as a safety net."
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By: E.A. Crunden
Source: E&E News
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