III 

118TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. RES. 296 

Designating July 2023 as ‘‘Plastic Pollution Action Month’’. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

JULY 13, 2023 

Mr. MERKLEY submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the 

Committee on the Judiciary 

RESOLUTION 

Designating July 2023 as ‘‘Plastic Pollution Action Month’’. 

Whereas plastic pollution represents a global threat that will 

require individual and collective action, both nationally 

and internationally, to address; 

Whereas 450,000,000 tons of plastic is produced each year, 

a number that is projected to triple by 2050; 

Whereas, in the United States— 

(1) the rate of plastic waste recycling decreased in 

2021 to between 4 and 6 percent; and 

(2) less than 3 percent of plastic waste is recycled 

into a similar quality product; 

Whereas a recent study from the Organisation for Economic 

Cooperation and Development found that, in 2022, the 

United States— 

(1) mismanaged 4 percent of plastic waste; 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS
2 

•SRES 296 IS 

(2) landfilled 73 percent of plastic waste; 

(3) incinerated 19 percent of plastic waste; and 

(4) recycled 4 percent of plastic waste; 

Whereas single-use plastics account for at least 40 percent of 

the plastic produced every year; 

Whereas over 12,000,000 tons of plastic waste enter the 

ocean every year from land-based sources alone; 

Whereas if no action is taken, the flow of plastics into the 

ocean is expected to triple by 2040; 

Whereas recent studies estimate that there are 

171,000,000,000,000 pieces of plastic in the oceans of 

the world; 

Whereas of the 171,000,000,000,000 pieces of plastic in the 

ocean, 1 percent floats, 5 percent washes up on beaches, 

and 94 percent sinks to the bottom; 

Whereas nearly 1,300 marine species have consumed plastics; 

Whereas plastics, and associated chemicals of plastics, are ingested by humans and are associated with well-established human health risks; 

Whereas studies have found microplastic particles in human 

blood, lungs, colons, and placentas; 

Whereas studies suggest that humans ingest over 800 microplastics per day; 

Whereas taking action to reduce plastic use, collect and clean 

up litter, and reuse and recycle more plastics will lead to 

less plastic pollution; 

Whereas, every July, people challenge themselves to reduce 

their plastic footprint through ‘‘Plastics Free July’’; 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS
3 

•SRES 296 IS 

Whereas, over the last 40 years, over 17,000,000 volunteers 

have joined the International Coastal Cleanup to collect 

more than 350,000,000 pounds of plastic and debris 

while simultaneously recording their findings to inform 

research and upstream action; 

Whereas switching to reusable items instead of single-use 

items can prevent waste, save water, and reduce litter; 

and 

Whereas July 2023, is an appropriate month to designate as 

Plastic Pollution Action Month to recommit to taking action, individually and as a country, to reduce plastic pollution: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 

2 (1) designates July 2023 as ‘‘Plastic Pollution 

3 Action Month’’; 

4 (2) recognizes the dangers to human health and 

5 the environment posed by plastic pollution; and 

6 (3) encourages all individuals in the United 

7 States to protect, conserve, maintain, and rebuild 

8 public health and the environment by responsibly 

9 participating in activities to reduce plastic pollution 

10 in July 2023 and year-round. 

Æ 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS