During a session with G7 ministers on Innovative Solutions to Fight Plastic Waste, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Andrew Wheeler highlighted the EPA’s Trash Free Waters program where the agency works directly with states, municipalities, and businesses to reduce litter, prevent trash from entering waterways, and capturing trash that has already entered waterways. Additionally, he discussed the pilot projects based off this program that the U.S. has launched in Jamaica, Peru, and Panama to combat marine litter. U.S. stakeholders from Ocean Conservancy and LyondellBasell and representatives from other G7 members also presented on solutions the international community can look to in efforts to curb marine waste.
“Governments, the private sector, and society all agree on the need to solve the ocean plastic crisis and to employ a full range of solutions. Solely banning plastics will not make a significant impact in cleaning up our oceans,” said Wheeler. “To be most effective, nations around the world must address the problem before it gets to our oceans, which means improving waste management and recycling. This past year, EPA held their first ever Recycling Summit, bringing together leaders from all levels of the recycling chain to discuss ways to strengthen the recycling industry and markets. It is our hope that we can build on recycling solutions that can be shared with our international partners.”
Wheeler was joined by representatives from the Ocean Conservancy, LyondellBasell, and the American Chemistry Council. Each minister at the G7 was invited to host a private sector and non-governmental organization leader to address reducing waste.
To read the full story, visit https://www.workboat.com/news/bluewater/epas-wheeler-discusses-marine-litter-and-waste-at-g7-meeting/.