THE SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR 

WASHINGTON 

ORDER NO. 3407 

Subject: Department-Wide Approach to Reducing Plastic Pollution 

Sec. 1 Purpose. This Order prioritizes Departmental action to reduce the amount ofplastic waste 

produced by the Department of the Interior (Department) in support ofthe goals ofExecutive 

Order (EO)14057, entitled "Catalyzing Clean Energy Industries and Jobs through Federal 

Sustainability," and to further reestablish the Federal Government as a leader in sustainability.

Sec. 2 Authorities. This Order is issued under the authority ofsection 2 of Reorganization Plan 

No. 3 of1950 (64 Stat. 1262), as amended. Other authorities for this Order include, but are not

limited to, EO 14057, (December 8, 2021). 

Sec. 3 Definitions. Under this Order, the term "single-use plastic products" means plastic items 

intended to be disposed ofimmediately after use, including plastic and polystyrene food and 

beverage containers, bottles, straws, cups, cutlery, and disposable plastic bags. 

Sec. 4 Background. On December 8, 2021, President Biden issued, EO 14057, which includes a 

focus on sustainable acquisition and procurement. Plastic waste is a priority environmental 

problem. Less than 10 percent of all the plastic ever produced has been recycled, and recycling 

rates are not increasing. Plastics, including unnecessary and easily substituted single-use plastic 

products, are devastating fish and wildlife around the world. Our oceans are downstream of all 

pollution sources, so they bear the brunt ofthe impacts: ofthe more than 300 million tons of 

plastic produced every year for use in a wide variety ofapplications, at least 14 million tons of

plastic end up in the ocean every year, and plastic makes up 80 percent ofall marine debris 

found from surface waters to deep-sea sediments. Marine species ingest or are entangled by 

plastic debris, which causes severe injuries and death, and plastic pollution threatens food safety 

and quality, human health, coastal tourism, and contributes to climate change. 

The United States is one ofthe world's largest producers ofplastic waste and other types of 

waste, and the U.S. Government is a large consumer with significant market power and the

ability to drive change through its waste reduction policies and procurement patterns. Section 

208 ofEO 14057, entitled "Sustainable Acquisition and Procurement," creates an opportunity for 

the Department to lead by example in aggressively reducing the amount ofsingle-use plastic 

products it procures, sells, or distributes while prioritizing products that can be reused,

refurbished, or recycled. 

Since 1849, the Department has been charged with numerous management and stewardship 

responsibilities with respect to Government-managed lands, waters, resources, and ecosystems. 

Today, the Department manages more than 480 million acres ofpublic lands, 2.5 billion acres of
the Outer Continental Shelf, and 750 million acres ofmarine national monuments across more 

than 2,000 locations that host nearly 400 million visitors each year. As the steward of20 percent 

ofthe Nation's lands, including national parks and national wildlife refuges; the Federal agency 

responsible for the conservation and management offish, wildlife, plants, and their habitats; and 

a producer ofnearly 80,000 tons ofmunicipal solid waste in fiscal year 2020, the Department has 

an obligation to play a leading role in reducing the impact ofplastic waste on our ecosystems and 

our climate. 

As documented by the United Nations Environment Program, additional nonhazardous, 

environmentally-preferable alternatives to single-use plastic products have been developed in 

recent years and are readily available. Bags made of paper, bioplastics, and composite can 

replace single use plastic bags, as can reusable cloth or thicker plastic alternatives. Bottles made 

of bioplastics, glass, and aluminum, and laminated cartons can replace single-use plastic bottles, 

as can reusable bottles made of glass, aluminum, or stainless steel. Similar materials can replace 

single-use plastic in food packaging, beverage cups, tableware, and other products, giving the 

Department a range of options to consider in this effort to account for the variety of geographic 

locations and social contexts in which Departmental facilities operate. 

Sec. 5 Reducing Single-Use Plastic Products. The Department's Chief Sustainability Officer 

(CSO), working with the Office ofEnvironmental Policy and Compliance within the Office of 

Policy, Management and Budget, is leading the Department's sustainability efforts and working 

with Bureaus and Offices to further the goals of EO 14057. The following explicit directions and 

timelines are necessary to ensure the Department's sustainability plans include bold action on 

single-use plastic products: 

a. Within 90 days ofthe issuance ofthis Order, the CSO shall issue guidance to Bureaus 

and Offices on its implementation to include: 

(1) Development of a process to account for single-use plastic products being procured, 

sold, or otherwise distributed by Bureaus and Offices and concessionaires; 

(2) A review of contracts, concessions, and procurement mechanisms to identify singleuse plastic product reduction opportunities and challenges; and 

(3) Development of sustainable procurement plans to support the goals of section 208 of 

EO 14057 that include specific approaches to phasing out single-use plastic products 

by the end of 2032. 

b. Within 270 days ofthe issuance ofthis Order, Bureaus and Offices shall submit draft 

sustainable procurement plans that: 

(1) Include schedules and targets to make annual progress toward reducing the 

procurement, sale, and distribution ofsingle-use plastic products from current levels 

with a goal ofphasing out single-use plastic products by 2032; 

(2) Include schedules for updates to their acquisition and procurement policies and 

practices to reduce single-use plastic products; 

(3) Include annual reporting on progress toward reducing procurement, sale, and 

distribution of single-use plastic products; 
(4) Include a schedule for reporting on how they will phase out single use plastic 

products by 2032; 

(5) Include an analysis of alternatives to single-use plastic products, such as compostable 

or biodegradable materials, or 100 percent recyclable or 100 percent recycled 

materials (with a circular economy plan) as defined in section 2 of the Save Our Seas 

2.0 Act (Public Law 116-224); 

(6) Identify opportunities to shift public behavior to reduce single-use plastic products, 

such as installing additional water fountains and reusable water bottle filling stations; 

(7) May include short-term exemptions if no alternatives currently exist, or for the term 

of an existing concession or procurement contract, ifjustification is provided; 

(8) May include exemptions for medical, public safety, public health, or scientific items, 

or for items for which there is proof of a circular economy plan, ifjustification is 

provided; and 

(9) May include funding requests, ifjustified, for implementation costs. 

c. Within 365 days ofthe issuance of this Order, the CSO shall review the draft plans and 

provide Bureaus and Offices feedback, and Bureaus and Offices shall refine and submit 

final sustainable procurement plans. 

Sec. 6 Effect of the Order. This Order is intended to improve the internal management of the 

Department. This Order and any resulting reports or recommendations are not intended to, and 

do not create, any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or equity by a 

party against the United States, its departments, agencies, instrumentalities or entities, its officers 

or employees, or any other persons. To the extent there is any inconsistency between the 

provisions of this Order and any Federal laws or regulations, the laws or regulations will control. 

Sec. 7 Expiration Date. This Order is effective immediately and will remain in effect until it is 

amended, superseded, or revoked, whichever occurs first. 

Secretary of the Interior 

Date: JUNE 8 2022