Plastic pollution never seems to receive headlines here in Maine, but it’s an ongoing problem that deserves our undivided attention.

Take one look at the median on any of our highways, or a walk on any byway, it’s sickening. Single-use plastic pollution is destroying Maine’s communities, waters and heritage businesses that rely on healthy oceans. Last month marked “Plastic-free July,” a movement pushing for solutions to this crisis.

Attempting to enjoy summer in Maine, one thing remains in constant view: plastic pollution marring our natural spaces. Roughly 33 billion pounds of plastic enter the ocean every year. That’s two garbage trucks’ worth of raw plastic in the ocean every minute.

Plastic never fully biodegrades; it breaks up indefinitely until it becomes microscopic. Micro and nano plastics have been found in shocking locations, including inside human brain tissue. The plastic industry disguises its products as recyclable and puts the onus on the consumer. The industry must take accountability for any real change to occur. Companies must reduce their endless manufacturing of single-use plastics. Government policies are imperative to ensure they do. 

The REUSE Act has already passed the Senate. It’s time for the House to follow suit. The bill directs the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to develop widespread reuse and refill systems in the U.S. 

Let’s do something right by protecting our oceans, communities and wildlife, by asking our lawmakers to phase out single-use plastics and shift to reuse and refill systems locally and nationwide.

Sarah Perry
Falmouth