From Maine to Oregon, citizens urge state legislators to choose wildlife over waste

Our campaign to put wildlife over waste has made major headway in four states.

On May 2, Maine became the first state to ban polystyrene foam containers—what most call Styrofoam—one of the worst forms of plastic pollution, and a deadly threat to wildlife. The Maryland Legislature passed a similar measure last month. As of this writing, the bill has not yet been signed by the governor, but it has enough votes to override a potential veto. A ban has passed the Oregon House of Representatives, and our network’s staff are helping guide a bill through the committee process in New Jersey.

“It’s been one year since we launched our campaign to tackle plastic pollution, and we have a lot to show for it,” said Steve Blackledge, senior director of our Conservation campaign. “Looking ahead, we hope to see more and more states join us.”

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Photo: Our national network’s staff and volunteers hold an Earth Day event in Baltimore urging lawmakers to put wildlife over waste. Credit: Lake Stein