The Break Free from Plastic Pollution Act of 2021 (BFFPPA ) was recently introduced in Congress and is the most comprehensive legislative effort to date to mitigate the impacts of toxic synthetics on our ecosystem, our communities, and our personal health. Essentially, the bill is building on the momentum and progress made by various state-driven initiatives to employ plastic reduction strategies. Ultimately, the bill is targeting three primary areas of impact with plastic production, use, and disposal. 

Reducing Production 

The process of producing plastic is just as harmful to our ecosystem as the use of and disposal of it. At least 144 chemicals known to be harmful to human health are present in the production of plastic. The development and production process and the pollution that comes from consumer waste and improper disposal all add up to significant amounts of toxic, dangerous chemicals that are impacting our environment, our communities, and our health. 

Increasing Recycling

Only a fraction of the plastic that is produced and sold ends up properly recycled. This means that the overwhelming majority of it ends up carelessly tossed into landfills or littered into our environment. More comprehensive efforts to ensure that plastic ends up where it belongs when it is being discarded can have a massive, lasting impact for our entire planet — from the smallest microbiota to the very top of the food chain; from the most pristine and picturesque landscapes to the food served at a restaurant. 

Protecting Communities

Some geographical and socio-economic communities have greater levels of exposure and vulnerabilities to the toxic components of plastic production. For instance, much of the plastic waste that is either discarded or incinerated is done so in facilities located in lower income communities. This exposes residents of those communities to harmful gases and emissions that can cause significant health issues. 

To learn more about the BFFPPA — and to get involved in making moves against the onslaught of plastic on our environment, our communities, and our health, click here.

To learn more about the ingestion of plastic and its impacts on people and animals, click here.

To learn more about the toxic chemicals that have been identified in plastic, click here.

To learn more about the Filtrol and what we’re doing to stop plastic in its tracks, click here.