Plastics

Plastic use is ubiquitous in modern life, but so is the associated pollutionwhich impact human health, the environment, climate change, and more. ELI is working to address these problems by identifying actionable law and policy tools that can be used to regulate plastic at every stage of its life cycle and convening stakeholders to prioritize and advance these solutions.

Report Highlights: Existing U.S. Federal Authorities to Address Plastic Pollution- A Synopsis for Decision Makers
Author
Cecilia Diedrich
Margaret Spring
Therese Wilkerson
Jack Schnettler
Date Released
March 2024
Cover page of report featuring an underwater photo with plastic pollution on the surface. Report is titled "Existing U.S. Federal Authorities to Address Plastic Pollution: A Synopsis for Decision Makers."

This brief summarizes the Existing U.S. Federal Authorities to Reduce Plastic Pollution: A Synopsis for Decision Makers report, which categorizes federal authorities—spanning executive orders, legislation, regulations, and associated programs—into specific "intervention areas" across the plastic life cycle and arrays these intervention areas alongside relevant authorities and their implementing agencies. 

Existing U.S. Federal Authorities to Address Plastic Pollution: A Synopsis for Decision Makers
Author
Cecilia Diedrich
Margaret Spring
Therese Wilkerson
Jack Schnettler
Date Released
March 2024
Cover page of report featuring an underwater photo with plastic pollution on the surface. Report is titled "Existing U.S. Federal Authorities to Address Plastic Pollution: A Synopsis for Decision Makers."

The report provides a comprehensive overview of the existing legal authorities the U.S. federal government can leverage to achieve the national goal of eliminating plastic release into the environment by 2040 while safeguarding human health and the environment. Building on the legal framework established by a Congressionally-mandated report from the National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine, the report categorizes federal authorities—spanning executive orders, legislation, regulations, and associated programs—into specific "intervention areas" across the plastic life cycle.

Federal, State, and Local Policies Addressing Chemical Emissions from Dry Cleaners: Opportunities for Reducing Exposure at Child Care Facilities
Author
Tobie Bernstein
Date Released
July 2020

This report describes some of the federal, state, and local laws and regulations that have been established to reduce the potential health risks posed by the use of perchloroethylene (perc or PCE) at dry cleaners, with a focus on policies that can help reduce exposures at nearby child care facilities and other sensitive land uses. The information is provided to assist policymakers, advocates, and others in further developing and implementing policies and programs in the areas of environmental protection, health, land use, and child care licensing.