Tips to Advocate for Single-Use Plastic Bans Amidst COVID-19
By Sandra Meola, Director, Coalition for the Delaware River Watershed and N.Dini Checko, Project Director, Association of NJ Environmental Commissions
It’s no secret that COVID-19 quarantine orders led to a dip in emissions, giving Mother Nature a little break and a sigh of a relief. However, the pandemic also pushed aside single-use plastic phase-out efforts. Several locations, including Philadelphia and New York State, hit the pause button on enforcing plastic bag bans, and some states, including Maine and New Hampshire reversed plastic bag bans. Some cities across the country have also paused or slowed recycling pickup and programs.
Opting for reusable items, like fabric shopping bags, has been discouraged during the pandemic, to the detriment of our environment and waterways. Industry has taken advantage of these challenging and unprecedented times to use fear tactics, rather than sound science, to continue to push single-use plastics. While there are certainly sensitivities surrounding this topic, the truth is that single-use plastics can still harbor viruses and bacteria. And reusable products can still be used safely. The virus is killed with warm soap and water, so be sure to keep your reusable items clean.
We can’t afford to move backwards on single-use plastics. We can still advocate for single-use plastic phaseouts amidst this public health crisis. Want to move forward a ban on plastic bags, straws, or other plastics in your town or city? Here are some tips:
Organize: Start organizing your community! Identify a team of community members who will champion the effort with you. Be sure to reach out to a diverse representation of community and business leaders. Connect with other existing community groups or neighboring community groups to amplify efforts and share success stories. Consider launching a petition in support of local action.
Educate: Educate the community through a movie screening or meeting. Provide handouts, collect petition signatures, and recruit people for your team. Utilize existing plastics handouts and information developed by the CDRW member organizations (ANJEC, PennEnvironment, PennFuture, NJ League of Conservation Voters, Delaware Nature Society, Partnership for the Delaware Estuary, etc.). Create materials in more than one language to be inclusive of your community’s demographics.
Advocate: Meet with your town or city council and find out who is already on your side. Bring your team with you and be sure to have talking points, completed petitions, and a sample ordinance. Identify and work closely with champions. Some legislators will take more time, outreach, and focus to get them on your side.
Communicate: Spread the word about the campaign on social media, especially any Facebook groups that represent your community. Write a letter-to -the-editor or op-ed for your local newspaper that explains the problems and solutions related to single-use plastics and how community members can get involved. Remember to tweak messaging depending on your target audience.
Celebrate: Many businesses, towns, and cities have taken the initiative to phase out single-use plastics on their own, without state legislation. Highlight these success stories and share them as examples of people doing the right thing to limit single-use plastics.
Check out the Coalition for the Delaware River Watershed’s Plastics Advocacy and Messaging Guide for further resources and information. Additionally, if your organization is a member of the Coalition and are interested in joining the Plastics Work Group, please email Sandra Meola.