These states include California, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Maine, New York, Oregon and Vermont. As plastic bags (mostly made of polyethylene) are readily discarded and cannot be recycled, ending up in our oceans and terrestrial environments. Approximately 300 million plastic bags end up in the Atlantic Ocean every year. We need to work towards phasing out these unnecessary and harmful pollutants from our societies. We can do this by advocating for our state and local governments to ban the single-use plastic bag, and like California, incorporate fees or taxes on products that have negative implications for our environment.

As discussed earlier on the Types of Microplastics page, styrofoam is an ubiquitous material that has severe inmplications for our environment. Not only is it persistent, but it is non-recyclable, and is often ingested by marine animals who mistake it for food. Travelling up water-based food webs, these have been identified to harm animals, yet the information on whether these can harmfully affect human health is still unknown, although research is underway. California, Florida, Hawaii, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, are the only states which have passed full bans on these materials.

We ask you all to help us write to represanatives who have not yet taken steps towards eliminating these harmful substances. North Carolina especially must begin to take steps towards eliminating our consumption of polystyrene material, for the sake of our environment and ourselves.

In 2002, Kenya was the first country across the world to initiate country-wide plastic bags bans for the reduction of plastic material in our environment. Although some of their measures have been viewed as extreme, with fines on manufacturers and retailers amounting to over $38,000 and prison sentences up to four years, they demonstrated how less developed countries can and should take a stance on reducing our harm on the environment. 34 countires located within the African continent, with 31 in Sub-Saharan Africa, have reported bans, taxes or fees on plastic materials and bags, states National Geographic.

The US can and should be doing more to mitigate the harm we are reaping on our environment, and we can use countries like these and other countires across the world as models and inspiration towards change.

If passed, this bill will help to preserve our water ways by incorporating ecosystem restoration, flood management, and implementing action to reduce plastic waste like microplastics and microfibers. The EPA would also be able to support infrastructure improvements and fund advanced technologies to lower our pollution rates.

You can find updates on this bill here: https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/senate-bill/3591

This is a directive implemented by the EU, which utilizes a comprehensive approach to mitigate and reduce marine litter and pollution. With the goal of preserving marine resources, "maintaining biodiversity," and preventing the impacts of harmful litter in marine ecosystems, such as microplastics, the EU stresses the importance of protecting our world's oceans and waterways.

The Alliance to End Plastic Waste, a global initiative, is an example of producer initiatives towards adapting and innovating their processes for the protection of our environment. As of 2019, over 80 companies have become active members of this alliance in hopes of influencing other companies around the US to take proactive responsibility for the health of our environment. With large-scale companies hopping on the sustainability bandwagon, such as Exxon Mobil, Dow Chemical Company, and PepsiCo, as some examples, these companies have pledged to innovate, design, and sell products that are better suited for the health of our environment and our people.

Find out more on their website: Alliance To End Plastic Waste