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July 16, 2026
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Download official Senate Record PDFReturn to issue contextSUBMITTED RESOLUTIONS
SENATE RESOLUTION 806—DESIGNATING JULY 2026 AS “PLASTIC POLLUTION
ACTION MONTH”
Mr. MERKLEY (for himself, Mr. Whitehouse, Mr. Booker, Mr. Van Hollen, and Mr. Welch) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary:
S. Res. 806
Whereas plastic pollution represents a global threat that
will require individual and collective action, both
nationally and internationally, to address;
Whereas approximately 450,000,000 tons of plastic are
produced each year, a number that is projected to triple by
2050;
Whereas, in the United States—
(1) the rate of plastic waste recycling is less than 10
percent; and
(2) less than 3 percent of plastic waste is recycled into a
similar quality product;
Whereas a study from the Organization for Economic
Cooperation and Development found that, in 2022, the United
States—
(1) mismanaged 4 percent of plastic waste;
(2) landfilled 73 percent of plastic waste;
(3) incinerated 19 percent of plastic waste; and
(4) recycled 4 percent of plastic waste;
Whereas single-use plastics account for at least 40 percent
of the plastic produced every year;
Whereas more than 12,000,000 tons of plastic waste enter
the ocean every year from land-based sources alone;
Whereas, if no action is taken, the flow of plastics into
the ocean is expected to triple by 2040;
Whereas, as of the date of adoption of this resolution,
studies estimate that there are approximately
171,000,000,000,000 pieces of plastic in the oceans of the
world;
Whereas, of those 171,000,000,000,000 pieces of plastic in
the ocean, 1 percent floats, 5 percent washes up on beaches,
and 94 percent sinks to the bottom;
Whereas nearly 1,300 marine species have consumed plastics;
Whereas peer-reviewed modeling has found that ingesting
plastic in an amount the size of less than 3 sugar cubes can
kill a seabird;
Whereas plastics, and associated chemicals of plastics, are
ingested by humans and are associated with well-established
human health risks;
Whereas studies have found microplastic particles in human
blood, lungs, colons, and placentas;
Whereas studies suggest that humans ingest more than 800
microplastics per day;
Whereas taking action to reduce plastic use, collect and
clean up litter, and reuse and recycle more plastics will
lead to less plastic pollution;
Whereas, every July, people challenge themselves to reduce
their plastic footprint through “Plastics Free July”;
Whereas, during the 40-year period preceding the date of
adoption of this resolution, more than 19,000,000 volunteers
have joined the International Coastal Cleanup to collect more
than 400,000,000 pounds of plastic and debris while
simultaneously recording their findings to inform research
and upstream action;
Whereas switching from single-use items to reusable items
can prevent waste, save water, and reduce litter; and
Whereas July 2026 is an appropriate month to designate as
“Plastic Pollution Action Month” to recommit to taking
action, individually and as a nation, to reduce plastic
pollution: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Senate—
(1) designates July 2026 as “Plastic Pollution Action
Month”;
(2) recognizes the dangers to human health and the
environment posed by plastic pollution; and
(3) encourages all individuals in the United States to
protect, conserve, maintain, and rebuild public health and
the environment by responsibly participating in activities to
reduce plastic pollution in July 2026 and year round.