A resolution designating July 2025 as "Plastic Pollution Action Month".

III 119TH CONGRESS 1ST SESSION S. RES. 320 Designating July 2025 as ‘‘Plastic Pollution Action Month’’. IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES JULY 14, 2025 Mr. M ERKLEY (for himself, Mr. B OOKER, Ms. D UCKWORTH, Mr. V AN HOL- LEN, Mr. W ELCH, and Mr. W HITEHOUSE) submitted the following resolu- tion; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary RESOLUTION Designating July 2025 as ‘‘Plastic Pollution Action Month’’. Whereas plastic pollution represents a global threat that will require individual and collective action, both nationally and internationally, to address; Whereas approximately 460,000,000 tons of plastic are pro- duced each year, a number that is projected to triple by 2050; Whereas, in the United States— (1) the rate of plastic waste recycling decreased in 2021 to between 4 and 6 percent; and (2) less than 3 percent of plastic waste is recycled into a similar quality product; VerDate Sep 11 2014 18:54 Jul 15, 2025 Jkt 059200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\SR320.IS SR320ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS 2 •SRES 320 IS Whereas a study from the Organization for Economic Co- operation and Development found that, in 2024, the United States— (1) mismanaged 3 percent of plastic waste; (2) landfilled 73 percent of plastic waste; (3) incinerated 19 percent of plastic waste; and (4) recycled 5 percent of plastic waste; Whereas single-use plastics account for not less than 40 per- cent of the plastic produced every year; Whereas more than 12,000,000 tons of plastic waste enter the ocean every year from land-based sources alone; Whereas, if no action is taken, the flow of plastics into the ocean is expected to triple by 2040; Whereas, as of the date of adoption of this resolution, studies estimate that there are approximately 171,000,000,000,000 pieces of plastic in the oceans of the world; Whereas, of those 171,000,000,000,000 pieces of plastic in the ocean, 1 percent floats, 5 percent washes up on beaches, and 94 percent sinks to the bottom; Whereas more than 2,000 marine species have consumed plastics; Whereas plastics, and associated chemicals of plastics, are in- gested by humans and are associated with well-estab- lished human health risks; Whereas studies show that scientists have found microplastic particles in the blood, lungs, colons, breastmilk, livers, feces, sputum, and placentas of humans; Whereas studies suggest that humans ingest up to 1,500,000 microplastic particles per day; VerDate Sep 11 2014 18:54 Jul 15, 2025 Jkt 059200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\SR320.IS SR320ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS 3 •SRES 320 IS Whereas taking action to reduce plastic production and use, to collect and clean up litter, and to reuse and recycle more plastics will lead to less plastic pollution; Whereas, every July, individuals challenge themselves to re- duce their plastic footprint through ‘‘Plastics Free July’’; Whereas, during the 50-year period preceding the date of adoption of this resolution, more than 18,000,000 volun- teers have joined the International Coastal Cleanup to collect more than 380,000,000 pounds of plastic and de- bris while simultaneously recording their findings to in- form research and upstream action; Whereas switching to reusable items instead of single-use items can prevent waste, save water, and reduce litter; and Whereas July 2025 is an appropriate month to designate as ‘‘Plastic Pollution Action Month’’ to recommit to taking action, individually and as a country, to reduce plastic pollution: Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the Senate— 1 (1) designates July 2025 as ‘‘Plastic Pollution 2 Action Month’’; 3 (2) recognizes the dangers to human health and 4 the environment posed by plastic pollution; and 5 (3) encourages all individuals in the United 6 States to protect, conserve, maintain, and rebuild 7 public health and the environment by responsibly 8 VerDate Sep 11 2014 18:54 Jul 15, 2025 Jkt 059200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\SR320.IS SR320ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS 4 •SRES 320 IS participating in activities to reduce plastic pollution 1 in July 2025 and year-round. 2 Æ VerDate Sep 11 2014 18:54 Jul 15, 2025 Jkt 059200 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\SR320.IS SR320ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS