III 

117TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. RES. 304 

Designating July 2021 as ‘‘Plastic Pollution Action Month’’. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

JULY 15, 2021 

Mr. MERKLEY (for himself and Mr. WHITEHOUSE) submitted the following 

resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary 

RESOLUTION 

Designating July 2021 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, since the 1950s, over 8,000,000,000 tons of plastic 

have been produced worldwide; 

Whereas, in the United States— 

(1) just 9 percent of plastic waste is sorted for recycling; and 

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

into a similar quality product; 

Whereas a recent study found that, despite the United States 

only accounting for 4 percent of the global population in 

2016, in that same year the United States— 

(1) generated 17 percent of all plastic waste; and 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS
2 

•SRES 304 IS 

(2) ranked third among all countries contributing to 

coastal plastic pollution; 

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 studies estimate that there are between 

15,000,000,000,000 and 51,000,000,000,000 pieces of 

plastic in the oceans; 

Whereas, globally, 100,000 marine mammals die every year 

as a result of plastic pollution; 

Whereas plastics, and associated chemicals of plastics, directly impact human health; 

Whereas studies suggest that, every week, humans swallow 

the amount of plastic that is in a credit card; 

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’’; 

Whereas, during the International Coastal Cleanup in 2020, 

nearly 950,000 people across the globe cleaned up over 

10,000 tons of plastic from beaches; 

Whereas switching to reusable items instead of single-use 

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

and 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS
3 

•SRES 304 IS 

Whereas July 2021 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 2021 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 the environment by responsibly participating in ac9 tivities to reduce plastic pollution in July 2021 and 

10 year-round. 

Æ 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS