End Plastics
7 Bits Of Good News You Should Know About the U.S. State Level Action on Plastic Pollution
July 31, 2025
As Plastic Free July comes to an end, it’s right that we talk a beat to and stress that plastic pollution in the United States is not just a trash issue, it is a human health issue. Plastic pollution is choking our oceans, landscapes, and our bodies.
But across the U.S., states there is good news and some are stepping up; though some faster than others. Ocean Conservancy’s United States of Plastics report breaks down where progress is happening, where it’s stalled, and what’s still needed. Here are seven things you need to know:
1. Styrofoam? More Like Bye-rofoam!
Sometimes it is difficult to distinguish what is made of plastic. Styrofoam does not have the appearance or texture we associate with other plastics, but it is made from oil and its own special mix of petrochemicals like styrene. This substance sneaks into our lives in the form of cups and packing materials and is a known carcinogen as well as being linked to many other health issues such as respiratory and neurological issues.
Luckily, fourteen states, including Virginia, Maine and Rhode Island, have all banned plastic foam foodware. Considering this substance is one of the most visible and harmful plastic pollutants, these states are taking big steps towards the health of their citizens and the planet.
2. Reuse and Waste Reduction Are Gaining Policy Support
Roughly 40% of all plastic produced globally is designed for single use; items like packaging, utensils, and bags which are often discarded after just minutes of use. These plastics persist in our environment, filling landfills, polluting waterways, contaminating soil, and even entering us through microplastics found in food and water.
In response, at least 11 U.S. states, including California, Colorado, and Oregon, have enacted laws supporting reuse infrastructure and waste reduction strategies. For example, the Plastic Pollution Producer Responsibility Act requires that by 2032, 100% of packaging in California must be recyclable or compostable, and plastic packaging must be reduced by 25%.
These policies signal a shift away from the traditional recycling narrative, which places all the blame on consumers by suggesting that if we just put our plastic in the right bin, the crisis would be solved. It paints the problem as something we’ve caused and must fix, while overlooking the major role companies have played, and continue to play, in creating it. Instead of relying on individual behavior alone, these new approaches focus on systemic solutions that tackle the problem at its root: reducing production of new plastic.
This includes investment in refill and reuse models, such as reusable takeout container programs, and bans on certain single-use plastics altogether. With support from local and state governments, like Florida and North Carolina, these measures are becoming essential tools in reducing our dependence on throwaway culture and transitioning toward a circular economy.
3. Recycling Alone Won’t Save Us
Not all solutions to our plastic pollution crisis are created equal. While nearly 80% of Americans try to recycle plastics, only about 9% of all plastics actually gets recycled in the U.S. Much of what we toss in the bin ends up in landfills due to poor product design, confusing labels, and outdated recycling systems. That is why we often say recycling is a lie.
Plus there’s no huge market out there for recycled plastics as making virgin plastics is easier and cheaper.
One widely promoted but flawed solution is chemical recycling; a process that uses varying temperatures to break plastics down into their original ingredients. In practice, only 1–14% of plastics sent to these facilities are truly recycled. The rest are often burned as fuel, releasing even more pollution than the original plastics into the atmosphere and posing serious risks to human health, wildlife and the environment.
Encouragingly, states like New York have started closing the loophole by excluding chemical recycling from their definition of sustainable waste management. Others should follow their lead to ensure that meaningful, science-backed strategies take priority.
4. Nipping Plastic Pollution in the Bud
Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) is an idea that essentially means that the companies that make our plastic products are responsible for what happens to those products after we have used them. This actively incentivises them to reduce their packaging waste to save on clean up costs they will have to pay for downstream. It is essentially the best way to ensure companies are pulling their weight and is a great form of the ‘polluter plays’ principle.
Since 2022, seven states have passed EPR laws for packaging including Minnesota and several states, like Tennessee, have EPR bills proposed.
This means that roughly 1 in 5 Americans now lives in a state with an EPR law! We can all do something to combat plastic waste, but the most effective solution is to address it at its source; companies must reduce their plastic production and clean up their mess.
5. Bags be Gone
For some time now, plastic bags have been a key part of the conversation surrounding plastic pollution. To date, twelve states including Connecticut, New York and Oregon, have phased out single-use plastic bags. This is progress, but we have a ways to go.
In the U.S., the average person uses more than 90 times as many plastic bags a year as the average Danish person.Why? Well because in 2021 Denmark banned lightweight plastic bags and required roughly a 50 cent fee on every single plastic bag used in store. Clearly their ban has been effective and Americans should learn from the success in Denmark.
6. Microplastic Pollution Needs More Attention
Microplastics are literally everywhere. Plastics are so widespread that there’s no “plastic-free” control group to compare effects against; making long-term health research more difficult. So, despite growing awareness of plastic’s harm to human and environmental health, research and regulation around microplastics are still dangerously limited.
The other barrier to our knowledge and progress on understanding the human health issues of plastics is that it is political: microplastic pollution simply hasn’t been made a priority by our leaders. But six states have passed laws to study microplastics – Illinois, California, Michigan, Minnesota, Vermont, and New Jersey. If you live in one of those states you should be proud you are taking action that will benefit us all
Take microfibers, for example, the most common form of microplastic pollution, largely released from synthetic clothing during washing. Yet no U.S. state requires microfiber filters in washing machines, even though studies show that a single load of laundry can shed up to 700,000 microfibers. Some countries, like France, have already passed national laws requiring filters on all new washing machines. The U.S. has yet to act.
7. Some States Are Standing in the Way
Many states are pushing forward with bold policies to reduce plastic pollution, but more needs to be done.
Nearly half of U.S. states have passed preemption laws, which are policies that take away power from local governments to act on plastics. These laws often prevent cities and towns from banning plastic bags, foam containers, or other single-use items, even when there’s overwhelming local support to do so. And these actions are often supported by the plastic industry and their lobbying groups. This not only undermines local democracy but also stalls grassroots efforts that have historically driven national change.
But there’s hope as these policies can and we believe eventually be reversed. But what we are seeing is that pro-active state-level laws can and do fill the gap where federal action is missing.
The progress detailed in the United States of Plastics report shows that change is possible, however it’s not yet happening at the scale or speed this crisis demands. To truly end plastic pollution, we must pair strong state-level action with global cooperation. That’s why we’re calling on U.S. leaders to support a strong Global Plastics Treaty, one that holds polluters accountable and commits to reducing plastic production by 60% by 2040. The health of our oceans, communities, and future generations depends on it.
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