IV 
118TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. RES. 584 
Expressing support for the designation of July as ‘‘Plastic Pollution Action 
Month’’. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JULY 13, 2023 
Mr. DOGGETT (for himself, Ms. CLARKE of New York, Mr. GRIJALVA, and 
Ms. BONAMICI) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to 
the Committee on Energy and Commerce 
RESOLUTION 
Expressing support for the designation of July 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; 
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•HRES 584 IH 
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; 
(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 in-
gested by humans and are associated with well-estab-
lished human health risks; 
Whereas studies have found microplastic particles in human 
blood, lungs, colons, and placentas; 
Whereas studies suggest that humans ingest over 800 micro-
plastics 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; 
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•HRES 584 IH 
Whereas, every July, people challenge themselves to reduce 
their plastic footprint through ‘‘Plastics Free July’’; 
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 ac-
tion, individually and as a country, to reduce plastic pol-
lution: Now, therefore, be it 
Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 
(1) expresses support for the designation of a 
‘‘Plastic Pollution Action Month’’; 
(2) recognizes the dangers to human health and 
the environment posed by plastic pollution; and 
(3) encourages all individuals in the United 
States to protect, conserve, maintain, and rebuild 
public health and the environment by responsibly 
participating in activities to reduce plastic pollution. 
Æ 
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