We see it almost everywhere we go; plastic surrounds our grocery stores, homes, outdoor spaces and waterways. This past March I attended a beach cleanup in Edmonds. I was outraged by the amount of plastic I saw engulfing the beaches and water. I later found out that in a year roughly 11 million metric tons of plastic enter our oceans and waterways.
I constantly think about how I can use less plastic. I try to use reusable bags and buy products in bulk. However, on an individual level this task can seem daunting when plastic is so normalized in our society. This is why Washington should prioritize passing the ReWrap Act, which will implement “extended producer responsibility” for paper and packaging, which would make companies and manufacturers financially responsible for the full life-cycle of their products’ packaging.
It’s important that we hold companies responsible for internalizing the external environmental and social costs that result from plastic and other waste, and producer responsibility can incentivize companies to use more sustainable packaging. This concept isn’t new: the European Union and Canadian provinces have had producer-funded recycling programs for years, which has contributed significantly to their comparatively superior recycling outcomes.
This policy is a step toward improving our environment. Call your legislators and urge them to pass the ReWrap Act this upcoming legislative session.
Gracia Anderson
Woodway
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