Bill Overview
Title: Protecting Communities from Plastics Act
Description: This bill sets forth a variety of requirements and incentives to reduce the production and use of plastics and other petrochemicals, including by directing the Environmental Protection Agency to place a temporary pause on certain new permits for petrochemical facilities under the Clean Air Act and the Clean Water Act.
Sponsors: Rep. Huffman, Jared [D-CA-2]
Target Audience
Population: Individuals impacted by plastic pollution and petrochemical production
Estimated Size: 331000000
- The global population is impacted by plastic pollution, as plastic waste impacts the environment and human health worldwide.
- Approximately 7.9 billion people are part of the global population, and plastic usage and petrochemical production affect ecosystems and the climate globally.
- Countries with high plastic consumption and production are more directly impacted by measures to reduce plastic usage and production.
- People living in areas with high concentration of petrochemical facilities might experience direct effects due to localized pollution reductions.
Reasoning
- The intention of the policy is to reduce plastic production and use, which could benefit environmental and human health across the United States.
- The budget and timeline of the policy suggest a moderate scale of impact, not covering complete transformation but significant steps toward reduction of plastic pollution over 10 years.
- Since petrochemical facilities often exist in certain concentrated areas, impacts may vary greatly depending on proximity to such facilities.
- Industries and workers related to plastics may initially face challenges as operations are paused or scaled down, but in the long term, jobs could shift towards sustainable practices.
Simulated Interviews
Chemical Engineer (Houston, TX)
Age: 34 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I think it's about time we start considering the long-term effects of plastic on our environment.
- This policy might challenge my current job, but I am hopeful it will lead to cleaner air and new opportunities.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 5 |
Small Business Owner (Plastic Recycling) (Los Angeles, CA)
Age: 29 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This bill could increase demand for recycling, which helps my business and the environment.
- More education on recycling and waste reduction should accompany this policy.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 10 | 5 |
Teacher (Rural Alabama)
Age: 45 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 14/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Reducing plastic is crucial for earth's health but I hope it won't mean higher costs for consumers.
- I'd like to see more educational outreach as part of this bill.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
Petrochemical Facility Manager (Chicago, IL)
Age: 52 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm worried about the immediate economic impact on our industry and local jobs.
- We need investment in sustainable alternatives if this is going to work.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
College Student (New York, NY)
Age: 22 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- We need brave steps like this to tackle our plastic problem.
- Policies like these give me hope that things will improve in my lifetime.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 10 | 6 |
Nurse (Salt Lake City, UT)
Age: 39 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 15/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Air quality needs improvement so any effort is welcome.
- I worry about potential job losses but health benefits should outweigh this in time.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 6 |
Retired (Baton Rouge, LA)
Age: 67 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I've seen the effects of petrochemicals on our local rivers.
- Reducing plastics is important but we must ensure it's fair and considered.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
Software Developer (San Francisco, CA)
Age: 31 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 11/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy aligns with my values of sustainability.
- I hope to see technological advancements enabling similar global initiatives.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 8 |
Environmental Consultant (Charleston, WV)
Age: 57 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- We definitely need stronger actions like this at state and national levels.
- There's a lot to do beyond what's being proposed and we must persist in efforts.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 5 |
Waste Management Supervisor (Atlanta, GA)
Age: 44 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- With incentives, we could overhaul waste systems to be more efficient and environmentally friendly.
- The policy could mean more support and resources for waste reduction.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 10 | 6 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $1500000000 (Low: $1300000000, High: $1700000000)
Year 2: $1600000000 (Low: $1400000000, High: $1800000000)
Year 3: $1650000000 (Low: $1450000000, High: $1850000000)
Year 5: $1700000000 (Low: $1500000000, High: $1900000000)
Year 10: $1800000000 (Low: $1600000000, High: $2000000000)
Year 100: $-1 (Low: $-1, High: $-1)
Key Considerations
- The temporary halt on petrochemical permits may face legal challenges or require adjustments due to industry pushback.
- The success of the bill heavily depends on the formulation of viable, alternative materials that do not harm the environment.
- Sufficient public outreach and education measures will be necessary to ensure widespread understanding and compliance with new regulations.
- Long-term environmental benefits must be quantified to justify short-term economic costs.