Green Laws

Ways We Are Rethinking the Plastic Status Quo

By Mark Kuhl

For the GPHN

Reduce, reuse, recycle is a familiar cliché and important to follow. But a 4th “R” — Rethink — is where we should also focus efforts to rein in ever increasing plastic pollution.

The Environmental Protection Agency estimates that in 2018 only 8.7 percent of the 36 million tons of plastic used in the U.S. was recycled. Meanwhile, petrochemical companies plan to produce even more, thanks to the fracking boom yielding cheap, abundant ethene, a raw ingredient for plastic.

Look to the Colorado Legislature for leadership on the “rethinking” front. Lawmakers are working to dismantle the 1989 law that bans government from prohibiting use of specific types of plastic. Next, they will attempt to pass several bills, including House Bill 20-1163 which would put a statewide ban on single-use plastic from restaurants and stores. Senate Bill 20-055 would create a tax credit to encourage investment in end-market production, where recycled materials are turned in to new things.

These are a couple examples of legislative action to incentivize “rethinking” the plastic status quo.  We individuals can also incentivize packagers by purchasing products with minimal, or green packaging.

Mark Kuhl is an environmental advocate who lives in Park Hill with his family. His handy tips and news about recycling household items appear every month in these pages. A directory of his past columns for recycling everything from paint to Styrofoam to shoes is at greaterparkhill.org/sustainability/recycling-directory/.