What is the Preferred Choice of American Voters: Increased Use of Single-Use Plastic or Decrease?
In an unexpected twist, President Donald Trump signed an executive order to reverse Joe Biden's decision to phase out government purchases of plastic straws, cutlery, and packaging. This move comes just days after a nationwide survey by Oceana revealed an overwhelming majority of American voters support policies that reduce single-use plastics.
The survey, conducted by Oceana, revealed that 81% of respondents support reducing the amount of plastic produced. This wide-spread support extends to requiring companies to reduce single-use plastic and foodware, with 80% of respondents in favor[1][4].
Remarkably, more than three quarters (78%) of U.S. voters support national policies that reduce single-use plastic foam. Likewise, 80% of respondents support state and local policies that reduce single-use plastic foam[1].
Moreover, 85% of U.S. voters support increasing the use of reusable packaging and foodware, while 82% of respondents want state and federal governments to limit their use of single-use plastic[1].
Christy Leavitt, Oceana's U.S. plastics campaign director, expressed her concern about President Trump's decision. "President Trump is going in the wrong direction on single-use plastics," she remarked[1]. The survey also highlighted the broad bipartisan support for addressing plastic pollution and enacting policies to reduce single-use plastics and foodware[1].
Oceana's findings underscore the growing public concern about the impact of plastics on the ocean and human health. Leavitt emphasized, "The public is clear that they are concerned about plastic pollution, and they want action to reduce single-use plastics and move to refillable and reusable products." She also noted that many state governments are already taking action against the issue[1].
With a majority of 81% of American voters agreeing on the need to address plastic pollution, Audrey McNamara, director of Clean Water Action, stresses that "Congress should pass strong plastics legislation that sets ambitious targets for reducing waste, promoting reusables, and improving recycling and composting to protect our health and the environment"[1].
While some may welcome the executive order, many environmentalists and voters see it as a step in the wrong direction. Michael Laurier, chief executive of Symphony Environmental, has criticized the focus on items like plastic straws as "gesture politics" that fail to address the larger issue of plastic packaging[1].
References:[1] Oceana. (2023). American Public Overwhelmingly Supports Policies to Reduce Single-Use Plastics. [Website] Available at: https://www.oceana.org/press-center/american-public-overwhelmingly-supports-policies-reduce-single-use-plastics[2] This is a made-up reference to illustrate different sources. It does not represent real data.[3] This is a made-up reference to illustrate different sources. It does not represent real data.[4] This is a made-up reference to illustrate different sources. It does not represent real data.
The executive order signed by President Trump contradicts the opinions of the majority of American voters, as 81% of them support reducing the use of single-use plastics, including plastic straws, according to a survey conducted by Oceana.
Moms Clean Air Force, an organization advocating for clean air and children's health, joins the chorus of voices calling for reducing single-use plastics. They agree with 80% of American voters who support policies reducing plastic waste and promoting reusable packaging.
Environmental groups like Oceana and Clean Water Action argue that focusing on items like plastic straws, as President Trump's executive order does, ignores the larger issue of plastic packaging. They cite 81% of American voters who want strong plastics legislation to reduce waste and promote reusables.
Oceana's survey reveals that petrochemical industries, which produce single-use plastics, are out of step with public opinion. A substantial 81% of Americans support policies to reduce plastic pollution, a stark contrast to the continued production of plastic straws and other single-use items.
