Abstract

In this Policy Brief, we argue that current U.S. waste disposal strategies (recycling, displacement and disposal) do not address waste reduction, are perceived as socially unfair, and cannot keep pace with the ever-increasing proportion of plastic waste discarded. Factors including low demand for recycled plastic, recent bans on importation of foreign plastic waste, cheap feedstocks and an increase in the production of single-use plastic items are converging to worsen the problem of plastic waste. Plastic waste is ubiquitous in the environment, and threatens human health, wildlife, and ecosystems. We discuss how current policies developed, and examine four major policy strategies used by the European Union (product bans, extended producer responsibility laws, taxes and fees, and ecolabeling). Finally, we provide recommendations as to which would be most effective in moving the U.S. away from its overreliance on recycling and disposal, and toward reduction of the amount of plastic waste generated.

抽象的

在本政策简报中，我们认为，当前的美国废物处置策略（回收，置换和处置）不能解决废物减少问题，在社会上被认为是不公平的，并且不能跟上越来越多的塑料废物丢弃率的步伐。包括对再生塑料的需求低，最近禁止进口外国塑料废料，廉价原料以及一次性塑料制品生产增加在内的各种因素正在加剧使塑料废料问题恶化。塑料废料在环境中无处不在，并威胁着人类健康，野生动植物和生态系统。我们讨论了当前政策的发展方式，并研究了欧盟使用的四种主要政策策略（产品禁令，扩大的生产者责任法，税费和生态标签）。最后，