The League of Women Voters of Colorado’s Climate Emergency Task Force believes that we need to act immediately. Join our Plastics Team!

1. Our Mission

In accordance with the issue position adopted by the League of Women Voters, we support measures that reduce the generation of solid and hazardous wastes.

2. Take Action!

The plastics group is meeting bi-weekly with a group of Colorado Environmental groups who are planning to work on supporting legislation for the next session and strengthening the plastics bill passed last session. 

 

The groups that attend include:

CoPIRG

Environment Colorado

Sierra Club

Inland Ocean Coalition

Eco-Cycle

Colorado Communities 4 Climate Action

Good Business Colorado

Citizen Action for a Sustainable Englewood

Green Latinos

Conservation Colorado,

350 Colorado

 

Goal: To support state legislative actions with education and advocacy for the coming legislative session.

The main thrust of the possible proposed legislation will most likely be a law involving the responsibility of the producers of products be responsible for the waste created by that product.

 

H.R2238 Amendment to the Solid Waste Disposal Act:

H.R2238 is an amendment to the Solid Waste Disposal Act introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives. It would reduce the production and use of certain single-use plastic products and packaging; improve the responsibility of producers in the design, collection, reuse, recycling, and disposal of their consumer products and packaging; and prevent pollution from consumer products and packaging from entering into animal and human food chains and waterways.

The U.S. House of Representatives website has more information about this bill:
H.R2238.

Passed during the 2021 and 2022 legislative sessions.

For League positions, custom summaries and related background, see the LWVCO Legislative Action Committee Page:
LWVCO Legislative Action Committee

HB22-1159  Waste diversion and circular economy development center:

Grow existing markets; create new markets; and provide necessary infrastructure, logistics, and marketing to create a sustainable circular economy for recycled commodities in Colorado.

 

HB22-1355 Producer responsibility program for recycling:

Program to provide convenient and equitable access to recycling services for covered materials to achieve recycling, collection, and postconsumer-recycled-content rate goals.

HB21-1162 Management Of Plastic Products:

Lifts the "no control" ban by municipalities to manage carry out single use plastic bags and polystyrene carry out-ready-to eat food containers.

Email Sandy Schuster at sandyschuster11@gmail.com for more information or to join the Plastics Team. If your group would like a program or presentation about plastics please contact us at this email address.

3. Meet Our Team

Our members are activists who are passionate about fighting climate change and protecting Colorado’s resources.

The Plastics  Team’s members are:

• Tom             Jefferson County
• Anne           Larimer County
• Debby         Boulder County
• Marina        Estes Park
• Sandy          Jefferson County

4. Learn More About the Threat from Plastics

Eco-cycle

Recycle Colorado

Beyond Plastics

Search for Plastics Bills in the 117th U.S. Congress (2021-2022):
2020-21 Federal Plastics Bills

Plastic Pollution Coalition

ScienceDirect "Plasticenta: First Evidence of Microplastics in Human Placenta", January 2021:
Article

The Endocrine Society "Plastics, EDCs & Health: Authoritative Guide", December, 2020:
Plastics, EDCs and Health

The Action Network "Support the Break Free From Plastic Pollution Act of 2021":
Break Free From Plastic Pollution Act

Reuters "A Plateful of Plastic - Visualising the Amount of Microplastic We Eat", December 2019:
A Plateful of Plastic

The Washington Post "Opinion: I thought I’d seen it all studying plastics. Then my team found 2,000 bags in a camel", March 2021:
2,000 bags in a camel

The Guardian "New Super-Enzyme Eats Plastic Bottles Six Times Faster", September 2020:
New Super-Enzyme Eats Plastic Bottles Six Times Faster

National Geographic "Tires: The Plastic Polluter You Never Thought About", September 2019:
Tires: The Plastic Polluter You Never Thought About

The New York Times  "The Proliferation of Plastics and Toxic Chemicals Must End", August 2021:
The Proliferation of Plastics and Toxic Chemicals Must End

Sierra Club "One Parent’s Harrowing Encounter With Microplastic", August 2021:
One Parent's Harrowing Encounter with Microplastics