Mississippi Tops List Of Plastic Pollution
Ocean Conservancy has released a report titled “United States of Plastics.” It offers ratings for all 50 states. The primary measure was state-level laws on the use and limits on plastic production and disposal. This includes restrictions on the regulation of polystyrene items, single-use plastic bags, single-use foodware, and single-use personal care items that contain plastics, as well as laws prohibiting local governments from enacting policies to address single-use plastics in their communities.
The research also examined the regulation of microplastic use and laws governing the reuse of plastic items. States were graded on a scale of 0 to 5, with a score of 5 representing “excellent”. Those closer to 0 were considered “needing improvement.”
Ranking Of Each State
Only a single state had a rating of less than 1. This was Mississippi. Its scores on single-use plastics and recycling were particularly poor. The report’s primary conclusion is “While the state has deep ties to its river and coast, the state has yet to pass legislation to address plastic pollution and has enacted laws that could hinder further progress.”
The study raises questions about whether studies like these are sufficient. To be effective, they must, at the very least, be read and taken seriously by state politicians, particularly at the legislative level. There is scant evidence that this is happening.
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