Plastic use is ubiquitous in modern life, but so is the associated pollution—which impact human health, the environment, climate change, and more. ELI is working to address these problems by identifying actionable law and policy tools that can be used to regulate plastic at every stage of its life cycle and convening stakeholders to prioritize and advance these solutions. Our analyses—which draw from leadership across all sectors, are based on science, and aim to elevate principles of justice—allows for conversations to move beyond dialogue and into action.
Our report, published with the Monterey Bay Aquarium, provides a comprehensive overview of existing U.S. federal authorities to address plastic pollution domestically and serves as a toolkit for decision makers.
Existing U.S. Federal Authorities to Address Plastic Pollution: A Synopsis for Decision Makers
Report Highlights: Existing U.S. Federal Authorities to Address Plastic Pollution
Webinar: Existing U.S. Federal Authorities to Address Plastic Pollution
John Doherty, ELI Science and Policy Analyst, also recently presented at an EPA Trash Free Waters program webinar on Plastics and Climate, which can be viewed here: Plastics & Climate: Exploring Data, Impacts, and Solutions (youtube.com)
Resources:
ELI Reports
- PFAS Deskbook
- A National Strategy for Ocean Plastics
- Marine Litter Legislation: A Toolkit for Policymakers
ELI Blogs
- The U.S. Plastics Problem: The Road to Circularity
- Talking Trash About Plastics
- What Does Plastic Have to do With Climate Change?
Previous ELI Events
- Existing U.S. Federal Authorities to Address Plastic Pollution
- Moving Beyond Plastics: The Environmental Justice Impacts of Plastic Pollution
- A Primer on Compliance and Enforcement Issues for Plastics Pollution
- Global Review of Plastics Pollution: Managing Marine Litter
- Single-Use Plastics and the Pandemic
- Bioplastics: A Solution to Pollution?
External Resources
- Plastics & Climate: Exploring Data, Impacts, and Solutions (youtube.com)
- Draft National Strategy to Prevent Plastic Pollution (epa.gov)
- Reckoning with the U.S. Role in Global Ocean Plastic Waste (The National Academies Press)
Related ELI Programs: