New bill would stop spilling of plastic into waterways

Tiny pieces of plastic that threaten wildlife are now being found everywhere we look- not just in our oceans and rivers, but also in soil and even in our bodies.

One source: plastic pellets, small pieces of plastic that are used to make plastic products. Often, the pellets are spilled into our rivers and oceans during plastic manufacturing or transportation, and currently, there are no federal rules stopping companies from dumping this plastic into our waterways. A new bill from Congressman Alan Lowenthal of California, the Plastic Pellet Free Water Act, would require the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to create regulations within 60 days that prohibit the discharge of plastic pellets into waterways, storm drains, or sewers from facilities that “…make, use, package, or transport plastic pellets or other pre-production plastic materials.”

Additional cosponsors include Lloyd Doggett (TX-35), Jared Huffman (CA-02), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), and Mike Quigley (Il-05).

Learn more: https://lowenthal.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-lowenthal-i…