White House seeks end to government purchase of single-use plastic by 2035

The White House said Friday that is setting a goal of ending the federal government’s purchasing of single-use plastics by 2035.

The Biden administration added that it would try to phase out federal purchasing of such plastic for food service operations, events and packaging by 2027.

“Plastic production and waste have doubled over the past two decades, littering our ocean, poisoning the air of communities near production facilities, and threatening public health,” the White House said in a fact sheet.

Microplastics have become omnipresent in the environment. Human exposure to these tiny plastics have been linked to brain development and reproductive development issues in animal studies.

Whether the White House’s new goals actually come to fruition could be dependent on who wins the presidency both in November and in years ahead. Nevertheless, environmental advocates praised the move.

“The U.S. government is the world’s largest purchaser of goods and services, and its purchasing decisions can have a global impact” said Christy Leavitt, plastics campaign director at Oceana, in a written statement.

“This positive step reduces U.S. reliance on single-use plastics, which harm our oceans, climate, and communities,” Leavitt added.

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