Senate hearing to revisit solutions to plastics pollution

The Environment and Public Works Committee will discuss how to address wastes.

Plastics remain a prominent issue in Congress, with a Senate Environment and Public Works subcommittee planning to probe possible avenues for addressing a spiraling pollution crisis this week.

The Chemical Safety, Waste Management, Environmental Justice and Regulatory Oversight panel will meet Thursday to "examine solutions for reducing plastic waste and its impacts on public health and the environment," according to an announcement.

Led by Chair Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), the discussion comes as anti-plastics fervor is once again building among Democrats. Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.) and Rep. Jared Huffman (D-Calif.) introduced legislation earlier this month that would target plastics manufacturers and the petrochemical industry, with a significant environmental justice angle (E&E Daily, Dec. 2).

That bill, the "Protecting Communities From Plastics Act," already has backing from Merkley, who has been among the most vocal anti-plastics lawmakers on the Senate side. The Oregon Democrat is the co-sponsor of the "Break Free From Plastic Pollution Act" — S. 984 and H.R. 2238 — which has faced an uphill battle in both chambers.

Both that legislation and the new bill have generated condemnation from industry advocates, including powerful forces like the American Chemistry Council. Those critics have panned provisions that would freeze plastic manufacturing capacity, as well as bans and limitations targeting single-use plastic items.

...

For complete article, please visit source link below. 

By:  E.A. Crunden
Source: E&E Daily

• Print
• Email
• Tweet