🌊 The United States of Plastics: Where Connecticut Stands
Ocean Conservancy’s new United States of Plastics report ranks each state’s efforts to curb plastic pollution. The findings are stark: nationally, states average just 1.5 out of 5 stars, with 44 states falling below 3 stars—an urgent call to action.
Connecticut earns a "fair” 2-star rating, alongside states like Colorado and Massachusetts. That places us in the middle of the pack—but still leaves a lot of room for improvement.
Connecticut’s Wins ✅
- Single-use plastic bag ban: Enacted statewide in 2021, this law has helped dramatically reduce beach cleanup debris—from 169 bags per mile in 2013 to just 3 per mile last year—a remarkable 88% drop.
- Local straw ordinances: Coastal towns including Norwalk, Westport, Groton, Stamford, and Hamden have implemented bans preventing restaurants from handing out plastic straws unless specifically requested.
- Active coastal cleanups: As coordinator for Ocean Conservancy’s International Coastal Cleanup, Save the Sound enlists thousands of volunteers annually. In 2023 alone, volunteers removed cigarette butts (11,645), food wrappers (8,113), small plastic fragments (5,403), and over 4,299 bottle caps.
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What Still Needs Work 🚨
Ocean Conservancy flags significant gaps in state plastic policies, including:
- No extended producer responsibility (EPR) for packaging—Connecticut is missing out on this impactful approach.
- No polystyrene (Styrofoam) ban**, despite its prevalence in coastal litter.
- Microplastics** and **microfiber filtration in washing machines** remain largely unaddressed.
- No statewide dine-in container reuse mandate, which could curb single-use plastics significantly.
Progress On the Horizon: CT Bill 6229
Connecticut legislators have introduced HB 6229, which would:
- Ban polystyrene foodware and single-use plastic straws and utensils for state and municipal agencies,
- Mandate a 25% reduction in single-use plastics in packaging and food service products by 2032.
If passed, this would mark a major stride toward statewide source reduction.
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How You Can Take Action in Connecticut
1. Support HB 6229
- Contact your state reps and urge them to pass HB 6229. Reducing Styrofoam and single-use plastics is essential.
2. Join local cleanups
- Volunteer with Surfrider CT, Save the Sound or Ocean Conservancy's International Coastal Cleanup. Every trash pick-up helps break the cycle of plastic entering Long Island Sound .
3. Push for EPR and reuse systems
- Advocate for Connecticut to adopt EPR laws, making producers fund recycling efforts.
- Encourage legislation for refillable beverage containers and reusable dine-in containers.
4. Keep single-use plastics out of circulation
- Refuse straws and plastic bags at shops.
- Use reusable alternatives—utensils, cups, bottles, and bags—for everyday tasks.
5. Raise public awareness
- Share cleanup stats—like the 88% bag reduction and thousands of polystyrene pieces found—to educate neighbors about the plastic crisis.
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Why It Matters for Long Island Sound
Connecticut has already cut coastal litter by 68% since 2013, according to Long Island Sound cleanup data. Reducing plastic at the source protects marine life—like fish, birds, and turtles—and safeguards public health, as microplastics infiltrate our food chain.
But with the U.S. generating more plastic than any other nation (over 42 million metric tons annually), Connecticut alone can’t do it. We need action—local, state, and federal—to turn the tide.
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💡 Call to Action
- Contact your legislator in support of HB 6229.
- Join us for a beach or park cleanup this summer!
- Swap out single-use plastics in your home and workplace.
- Sponsor a cleanup or outreach event in your town—schools, businesses, and local governments can lead the way.
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Connecticut is making real progress—but the United States of Plastics report shows we can and must do more. With stronger legislation, community engagement, innovative reuse, and responsible habits, we can protect Long Island Sound and our beautiful coastal communities for generations. Let's ride this wave together. 🌊
Resources:
[1]: https://www.recyclingtoday.com/news/ocean-conservancy-report-claims-most-states-lagging-in-plastic-pollution-efforts/?utm_source=chatgpt.com "Ocean Conservancy report claims most states lagging in plastic pollution efforts"
[2]: https://lispartnership.org/ecosystem-target-indicators/marine-debris/?utm_source=chatgpt.com "Marine Debris - Long Island Sound Study"
[3]: https://www.ctinsider.com/news/article/president-donald-trump-paper-straws-plastic-ct-20160922.php?utm_source=chatgpt.com "Trump signed an executive order for plastic straws. Will it impact Connecticut?"
[4]: https://www.savethesound.org/2024/02/27/press-release-save-the-sound-releases-2023-connecticut-cleanup-data/?utm_source=chatgpt.com "Save the Sound Releases 2023 Connecticut Cleanup Data"
[5]: https://oceanconservancy.org/news/news-new-ocean-conservancy-report-90-of-states-lagging-in-plastic-pollution-efforts/?utm_source=chatgpt.com "NEWS: New Ocean Conservancy Report: 90% of States Lagging in ..."
[6]: https://oceanconservancy.org/trash-free-seas/take-deep-dive/united-states-of-plastics-report/?utm_source=chatgpt.com "United States of Plastics Report Examines State Progress Against ..."
[7]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plastic_pollution?utm_source=chatgpt.com "Plastic pollution"