EPA STUDY OF METHODS TO REDUCE PLASTIC POLLUTION.

SEC. 2202. EPA STUDY OF METHODS TO REDUCE PLASTIC POLLUTION. (a) In General.— The Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, in consultation with the Secretary of Commerce, shall commence a study of the adverse effects of the improper disposal of plastic articles on the environment and on waste disposal, and the various methods to reduce or eliminate such adverse effects. (b) Scope of Study.— A study under this section shall include the following: (1) A list of improper disposal practices and associated specific plastic articles that occur in the environment with sufficient frequency to cause death or injury to fish or wildlife, affect adversely the habitat of fish or wildlife, contribute significantly to aesthetic degradation or economic losses in coastal and waterfront areas, endanger human health or safety, or cause other significant adverse impacts. (2) A description of specific statutory and regulatory authority available to the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, and the steps being taken by the Administrator, to reduce the amount of plastic materials that enter the marine and aquatic environment. (3) An evaluation of the feasibility and desirability of substitutes for those articles identified under paragraph (1), comparing the environmental and health risks, costs, disposability, durability, and availability of such substitutes. (4) An evaluation of the impacts of plastics on the solid waste stream relative to other solid wastes, and methods to reduce those impacts, including recycling. (5) An evaluation of the impact of plastics on the solid waste stream relative to other solid wastes, and methods to reduce those impacts, including— (A) the status of a need for public and private research to develop and market recycled plastic articles; (B) methods to facilitate the recycling of plastic materials by identifying types of plastic articles to aid in their sorting, 101 STAT. 1466and by standardizing types of plastic materials, taking into account trade secrets and protection of public health; (C) incentives, including deposits on plastic containers, to increase the supply of plastic material for recycling and to decrease the amount of plastic debris, especially in the marine environment; (D) the effect of existing tax laws on the manufacture and distribution of virgin plastic materials as compared with recycled plastic materials; and (E) recommendations on incentives and other measures to promote new uses for recycled plastic articles and to encourage or require manufacturers of plastic articles to consider re-use and recycling in product design. (6) An evaluation of the feasibility of making the articles identified under paragraph (1) from degradable plastics materials, taking into account— (A) the risk to human health and the environment that may be presented by fragments of degradable plastic articles and the properties of the end-products of the degradation, including biotoxicity, bioaccumulation, persistence, and environmental fate; (B) the efficiency and variability of degradation due to differing environmental and biological conditions; and (C) the cost and benefits of using degradable articles, including the duration for which such articles were designed to remain intact. (c) Consultation.— In carrying out the study required by this section, the Administrator shall consult with the heads of other appropriate Federal agencies, representatives of affected industries, consumer and environment interest groups, and the public. (d) Report.— Within 18 months after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency shall report to the Congress the results of the study required by this section, including recommendations in connection therewith.