Plastic Pellet Free Waters Act

Key Points

• Congress is considering a bill that would require the EPA to stop companies from letting tiny plastic pellets leak into the water. These pellets are the raw materials used to make almost all plastic products, from water bottles to car parts.
• The rule would apply to any facility that makes, uses, or moves these plastics. It would ban them from releasing pellets into wastewater or letting them wash away in rainwater runoff.
• These small plastic bits are a major problem for the environment because they are easily swallowed by fish and birds who mistake them for food. Because they are so small, they are very hard to clean up once they reach rivers or the ocean.
• The EPA would be required to set these new rules within 60 days of the bill becoming law. Companies would have to follow these rules to keep their official permits to operate.

Impact Analysis

Govbase has not yet run an impact analysis on this legislation.