Plastic pollution is yet another critical peril impacting the oceans around the world. To solve this problem it is going to take a concentrated effort to implement solutions that stop the production of more plastic, improve recycling and disposal efforts and implement solutions that allow for reuse of items to replace the single-use plastic items that are so prolific.

Recently, Senator Jeff Merkley from Oregon introduced a bill – REUSE Act of 2025. REUSE stands for Research for Environmental Use and Sustainable Economies. The bill authorizes the Environmental Protection Agency to prepare a report on reuse and refill systems. Given the current disfunction with the legislative process, there is little hope that this bill will move forward.

We need legislation like the Farewell to Foam Act 2025, or the REUSE Act of 2025 and implementation of the National Strategy to Prevent Plastic Pollution to be set in motion. It might be worth asking those who are asking for your vote where they stand or do they think climate change, and the plastic pollution problem are con jobs.