Single-Use Plastics to Be Phased Out in U.S. National Parks, Public Lands by 2032
This news story about the phasing out of single-use plastics in national parks and public lands in the U.S. is based on a June 8, 2022, Department of the Interior press release. You can read the original release here.
On Wednesday, June 8, 2022, Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland announced that public lands managed by the Department of the Interior (DOI) will phase out single-use plastics by 3032.
This includes all of America’s national parks and hundreds of other National Park Service sites.
That this announcement was made on World Ocean Day is not a coincidence, since oceans are one of the environments most affected by single-use plastic waste.
Single-Use Plastics in National Parks, Public Lands to Be Phased Out by 2032
Secretary Haaland issued a secretarial order, which “aims to reduce the procurement, sale and distribution of single-use plastic products and packaging with a goal of phasing out single-use plastic products on Department-managed lands by 2032.”
The Order is part of the implementation of President Biden’s Executive Order 14057, which calls for federal agencies to minimize waste and support markets for recycled products.
Additionally, the Order also directs the DOI to identify nonhazardous, environmentally preferable alternatives to single-use plastic products. Examples of those are compostable or biodegradable materials, or 100 percent recycled materials.
Single-use plastics encompasses a wide variety of products. They include plastic and polystyrene food and beverage containers, bottles, straws, cups and cutlery, as well as disposable plastic bags that are designed for or intended to be used once and discarded.
Secretary Haaland said “the Interior Department has an obligation to play a leading role in reducing the impact of plastic waste on our ecosystems and our climate.”
“As the steward of the nation’s public lands, including national parks and national wildlife refuges, and as the agency responsible for the conservation and management of fish, wildlife, plants and their habitats, we are uniquely positioned to do better for our Earth,” she added.
Haaland also reiterated the Department’s commitment to sustainability and emphasized the importance of taking “bold action on phasing out single-use plastic products as we seek to protect our natural environment and the communities around them.”
80% of Waste Products in the Oceans are Plastics
Plastic waste is a priority environmental problem. Less than 10 percent of the plastic that has ever been produced has been recycled.
On top of that, recycling rates are not increasing since some countries have ceased accepting waste exports from the U.S.
Plastics, including unnecessary and easily substituted single-use plastic products, are devastating fish and wildlife around the world.
Oceans are downstream of all pollution sources and bear the brunt of the impacts.
Of the more than 300 million tons of plastic produced every year for use in a wide variety of applications, at least 14 million tons of plastic end up in the ocean every year.
Plastic makes up 80 percent of all marine debris found from surface waters to deep-sea sediments.
Marine species ingest or are entangled by plastic debris, which causes severe injuries and death. Plastic pollution also is a serious threat to food safety and quality, human health, coastal tourism, and contributes to climate change.
Alternatives to Single-Use Plastics in National Parks and on Public Lands
In its press release, the DOI specified a number of more eco-friendly alternatives to single-use plastic products in the national parks or other public lands.
Bags made of paper, bioplastics and composite can replace single-use plastic bags. Reusable cloth or thicker plastic alternatives are also a valid alternative.
Bottles made of bio-based plastic, glass and aluminum, and laminated cartons can replace single-use plastic bottles. Arguably even better options include reusable bottles made of glass, aluminum or stainless steel.
Similar materials can replace single-use plastic in national parks’ food packaging, beverage cups, tableware and other products, the Interior Department said.
