Today, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced a new national strategy to prevent plastic pollution,outlining opportunities for action to protect communities from the impacts of plastic production and waste. The strategy details how government agencies, businesses, non-profits, and communities can take additional actions to prevent plastic pollution. World Wildlife Fund (WWF) issued the following statement from Alejandro Pérez, senior vice president, policy and government affairs:
"It's no secret that the plastic waste crisis in the US and around the world is growing at an exponential rate. As world leaders meet next week to negotiate a global agreement to end plastic pollution, we welcome this new U.S. government strategy, which reflects increased ambition and action to address how plastic products are made, used, and recycled in the US. A whole-of-government approach to stopping plastic pollution is what this moment requires to protect our communities and keep plastic out of nature.
"The new national strategy identifies six core objectives, including specific actions needed to reduce and recover plastic and other materials and prevent plastic pollution from harming human health and the environment. It will greatly enhance waste management in the U.S. by directing policies and investments that will reduce plastic pollution and establish the certainty and clarity that both consumers and companies need.
"If implemented, the key elements of the strategy could improve environmental standards from production to end of life and lay the groundwork for the creation of a national Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) framework, which five U.S. states have already enacted to hold producers of plastic financially responsible for recycling their products."
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