A resolution designating July 2026 as "Plastic Pollution Action Month".

III 119TH CONGRESS 2D SESSION S. RES. 806 Designating July 2026 as ‘‘Plastic Pollution Action Month’’. IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES JULY 16, 2026 Mr. M ERKLEY (for himself, Mr. W HITEHOUSE, Mr. B OOKER, Mr. V AN HOL- LEN, and Mr. W ELCH) submitted the following resolution; which was re- ferred to the Committee on the Judiciary RESOLUTION Designating July 2026 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 450,000,000 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 is less than 10 percent; and (2) less than 3 percent of plastic waste is recycled into a similar quality product; VerDate Sep 11 2014 20:53 Jul 16, 2026 Jkt 069200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\SR806.IS SR806kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB 2 •SRES 806 IS Whereas a study from the Organization for Economic Co- operation and Development found that, in 2022, the United States— (1) mismanaged 4 percent of plastic waste; (2) landfilled 73 percent of plastic waste; (3) incinerated 19 percent of plastic waste; and (4) recycled 4 percent of plastic waste; Whereas single-use plastics account for at least 40 percent of the plastic produced every year; Whereas more than 12,000,000 tons of plastic waste enter the ocean every year from land-based sources alone; Whereas, if no action is taken, the flow of plastics into the ocean is expected to triple by 2040; Whereas, as of the date of adoption of this resolution, studies estimate that there are approximately 171,000,000,000,000 pieces of plastic in the oceans of the world; Whereas, of those 171,000,000,000,000 pieces of plastic in the ocean, 1 percent floats, 5 percent washes up on beaches, and 94 percent sinks to the bottom; Whereas nearly 1,300 marine species have consumed plastics; Whereas peer-reviewed modeling has found that ingesting plastic in an amount the size of less than 3 sugar cubes can kill a seabird; Whereas plastics, and associated chemicals of plastics, are in- gested by humans and are associated with well-estab- lished human health risks; Whereas studies have found microplastic particles in human blood, lungs, colons, and placentas; VerDate Sep 11 2014 20:53 Jul 16, 2026 Jkt 069200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\SR806.IS SR806kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB 3 •SRES 806 IS Whereas studies suggest that humans ingest more than 800 microplastics per day; Whereas taking action to reduce plastic use, collect and clean up litter, and reuse and recycle more plastics will lead to less plastic pollution; Whereas, every July, people challenge themselves to reduce their plastic footprint through ‘‘Plastics Free July’’; Whereas, during the 40-year period preceding the date of adoption of this resolution, more than 19,000,000 volun- teers have joined the International Coastal Cleanup to collect more than 400,000,000 pounds of plastic and de- bris while simultaneously recording their findings to in- form research and upstream action; Whereas switching from single-use items to reusable items can prevent waste, save water, and reduce litter; and Whereas July 2026 is an appropriate month to designate as ‘‘Plastic Pollution Action Month’’ to recommit to taking action, individually and as a nation, to reduce plastic pol- lution: Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the Senate— 1 (1) designates July 2026 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 20:53 Jul 16, 2026 Jkt 069200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\SR806.IS SR806kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB 4 •SRES 806 IS participating in activities to reduce plastic pollution 1 in July 2026 and year round. 2 Æ VerDate Sep 11 2014 20:53 Jul 16, 2026 Jkt 069200 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\SR806.IS SR806kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB