Controversial Bill to Cut Plastic Packaging Advances

SEATTLE (Scrap Monster): “This is the ninth time this bill has been posted for a hearing,” Sen. Bob Smith (D-Middlesex) said, referring to a controversial bill that would make companies selling products in New Jersey slash plastic packaging by half over the next decade.

The ninth time was apparently the charm, as the Senate Environment Committee on Monday narrowly approved the bill.

Opponents say the measure would drive up costs for consumers, but supporters pointed to plastics damaging the environment and microplastics invading human bodies.

“Microplastics and chemicals are found in many parts of the human body: kidneys, livers, testicles. Microplastics attaches to plaque in arteries and causes more heart attacks and death,” said Judith Enck, a former regional administrator with the Environmental Protection Agency. She noted a recent study showed that human brains contain as much as 7 grams of microplastics — about the size of a plastic spoon — and that microplastic pollution is increasing rapidly.

“We cannot recycle our way out of the plastics crisis. The percentage of plastics recycling is not just in the low minority — it’s six percent,” said Doug O’Malley, director of Environment New Jersey. “We’re clearly failing on plastics recycling … And what that means is, our environment and our bodies are literally swimming in plastics.”

The much-debated, often-amended Packaging Product Stewardship Act mandates companies cut plastic packaging by 50% over 10 years, prohibits toxic chemicals in packaging, provides new revenue for local governments to promote recycling, and prohibits “chemical recycling” by manufacturers as a substitute.

Lobbyists for food and packaging industries said the bill is “unworkable” and “not realistic.” They questioned the 50% goal and said that reducing plastics could impair food safety by compromising the packaging.

“The legislation will undoubtedly increase the cost of packaging consumer goods,” said Mary Ellen Peppard, vice-president of the New Jersey Food Council.  “Unfortunately the manufacturers are not able to absorb all the additional costs, so at least some of those costs will have to be passed on to the consumers.”

Supporters of the bill noted that public polls show overwhelming support for reducing plastics pollution. Democrats outvoted Republicans three-to-two to release the bill. The measure now heads to the Assembly — and more hearings.

 Courtesy: www.njspotlightnews.org