Background: 

Care for Creation is one of our 4-chapter themes. This means we have a commitment to act on issues of caring for creation.

Plastic has made life easier since the beginning of the 20th century. It is lightweight and durable. 

Unfortunately, the rate at which we produce and consume plastic has left us with a growing threat to our environment and public health.  

Plastics are made from gas, coal and oil. We know that plastics are made into water bottles, to-go containers and many other daily-used products, but they are also in clothing, glue, chewing gum, glitter, our food, water and in our bodies! 

40% of the plastic produced each year is single-use plastic. 

The United States needs to consciously reduce plastic production and plastic waste by limiting the use of new, non-recycled plastic in everyday items. 

The Rewarding Efforts to Decrease Unrecycled Contaminants in Ecosystems (REDUCE) Act: 

-would impose a per pound fee on the sale of new, non-recycled plastic resin that is used to make single-use plastics. This fee is charged to the producer and will gradually increase.  ($.10 in 2024; $.15 in 2025; and $.20 in 2026)

-would not charge a fee on recycled plastics, making the use of recycled plastics more cost-effective. 

-would motivate companies to either recycle more plastics or opt for recycled materials over new materials

-would keep more plastic out of landfills and incinerators. 

- the UK and the European Union have already imposed such a tax at about $.45 per pound and has shown a large uptake in the number of items being recycled. 

Ask your Representative and Senators to pass The REDUCE Act