Zero Waste Campaign
THE PROBLEM:
Over 380 million tons of plastic are produced every year, with up to half of that for single-use purposes – utilized for just a few moments. And throughout the life cycle of plastic – from production through use to the end of its useful life, whether buried or burned or dumped in our oceans – it harms our environment and our health in myriad ways.
THE SOLUTION:
Real solutions will require the participation of producers and consumers, but that will not be enough without government action at every level. What follows are policy proposals being considered now in Congress and state legislatures, that ASBN will be tracking at the federal and state level for the Zero Waste campaign. Please help support our effort by calling or emailing the primary sponsors of the bills listed below. To help you in that effort, we have drafted a simple message you may use in whole or in part. Feel free to edit this message or craft your own as an email or phone message to these legislators.
Sample Script for Emails and Calls
Dear_________ (fill in the title and name of legislator),
Thank you for sponsoring the ____ (fill in relevant bill). I wanted to let you know how much I appreciate your efforts and that it is important to me that you continue to advocate for a circular economy through the measure you’ve sponsored. Thank you for your time and for all you are doing to move us toward Zero waste in ______. (either “our country” or fill in state)
Legislative Targets
FEDERAL
Break Free from Plastic Pollution Act of 2021 (S.984 & H. 2238) - creates requirements and incentives to reduce the production of a variety of products and materials, including plastics, and increase efforts to collect, recycle, or compost products and materials. It makes certain producers financially responsible, phases out use of single-use products, creates a temporary moratorium on new or expanded permits for certain facilities that manufacture plastics until regulations are updated to address pollution from the facilities, creates new regulatory requirements and establishes limitations on the export of plastic waste to other countries.
Senator Jeff Merkley (D-Oregon)
Capitol Office: (202) 224-3753
Email: https://www.merkley.senate.gov/contact/
Representative Alan Lowenthal (D-CA 47)
Capitol Office: (202) 225-7924
Email: https://lowenthal.house.gov/zip-code-lookup?form=/contact/email-me
CALIFORNIA
*There is also a proposed ballot measure on this issue, however, this measure covers a broader range of materials and the ballot intiative could be withdrawn if this bill passes before June.
SB 54 – Plastic Producer Responsibility Act - prohibit producers of single-use, disposable packaging or single-use, disposable food service ware products from offering for sale, selling, distributing, or importing in or into the state such packaging or products that are manufactured on or after January 1, 2032, unless they are recyclable or compostable. Builds off existing legislation with a state policy goal that not less than 75% of solid waste generated be recycled, composted, or reduced.
Primary Sponsors:
Ben Allen (D)
Capitol Office: 916-651-4026
District Office: 310-318-6994
Email: Senator.Allen@Senate.CA.Gov
Henry Stern (D)
Capitol Office: 916-651-4027
Calabasas Office: 818-876-3352
Email:Senator.Stern@senate.ca.gov
Scott Wiener (D)
Capitol Office: 916-651-4011
Email Contact: https://sd11.senate.ca.gov/contact
Lena Gonzalez (D), Lorena Gonzalez (D), Al Muratsuchi (D), Phil Ting (D).
Fiscal Note did not list Lena Gonzalez (D) as primary, but Legiscan did
Co-Sponsors: Josh Becker (D), Tasha Boerner Horvath (D), Wendy Carrillo (D), Sydney Kamlager (D), Luz Rivas (D)
From bill analysis: “more than seven out of 10 cities anticipate having to increase waste collection rates by as much as 20 percent to cover the cost of managing the additional waste.”
NEW JERSEY:
A4676 – (S2515 is companion) – Establishes postconsumer recycled content requirements for rigid plastic containers, glass containers, paper and plastic carryout bags, and plastic trash bags; prohibits sale of polystyrene loose fill packaging.
Primary Sponsors:
Annete Quijano (D)
Office Phone: 908-327-9119
Email: AswQuijano@njleg.org
Mila M. Jasey (D)
Office Phone: 973-762-1886
AswJasey@njleg.org
John F. McKeon (D)
Office Phone: 973-377-1606
Email: AsmMcKeon@njleg.org
Co-Sponsors:
Clinton Calabrese (D), asmcalabrese@njleg.org (201) 943-0615
Valerie Vainieri Huttle (D) https://www.valeriehuttle.com/contact
NEW YORK
S.1185 - Extended Producer Responsibility for Packaging & Printed Paper (Kaminsky)
Establishes the extended producer responsibility act requiring covered materials and product producers to develop and implement strategies to promote recycling, reuse and recovery of packaging and paper products
Primary Sponsor:
Todd Kaminsky (D)
District Office phone: 516-766-8383
Email: kaminsky@nysenate.gov
Can create an account to message his office here https://www.nysenate.gov/senators/todd-kaminsky/contact
This has 36 co-sponsors, 34 Democrats and 2 Republicans
S.5027 - Extended Producer Responsibility for Carpet (Kavanagh)
Relates to establishing the carpet stewardship program; establishes a carpet stewardship advisory board; requires the establishment of a carpet stewardship plan to be approved by the commissioner of environmental conservation; establishes the carpet administrative fund
Primary Sponsor:
Brian Kavanaugh (D)
Albany Office Phone: 518-455-2625
Email: kavanagh@nysenate.gov
Co-Sponsors:
Alessandra Biaggi (D)
District Office Phone: 718-822-2049
Email: biaggi@nysenate.gov
Rachel May (D)
Albany Office phone: 518-455-2838
Email may@nysenate.gov
WASHINGTON
SB 5697 Renew Act – Renewing Washington’s recycling system and reducing waste. Companion Bill HB 2003
Includes product stewardship for packaging and printed paper, including recycling and reuse
targets, accurate labeling provisions and requirements for post-consumer recycled content in plastic tubs, thermoform containers (e.g., clamshells), and single-use cups. This bill implement the top recommendations in Ecology’s Plastics Study (October 2020) which was required by Senator Rolfes’ SB5397 in 2019 to address our recycling crisis and the increasing amount of plastic pollution.
https://app.fiscalnote.com/bills/12034663
Primary Sponsors:
Senator Mona Das (D)
Olympia Office: 360-786-7692
Legislative Hotline 1-800-562-6000
Email: mona.das@leg.wa.gov
Use this portal to fill in an email: https://app.leg.wa.gov/pbc/memberEmail/47/0
Representative Brandy Donaghy
Phone: 360-786-7804