Playing Chess with the Government

As the nation held its breath on November 3, 2020, waiting on the decision on who will lead our country for the next four years, we collectively knew the results wouldn’t be available immediately. We all knew we would need to wait for the counting to end and the tallies to be added up and that ultimately our system would triumph.

For nonprofits like 5 Gyres, government plays a critical role in our work as the gatekeepers to better laws that influence the way resources are used and disposed of. In particular, plastic waste has become a hot topic over the past ten years with mainstream media picking up on the global health crisis we’ve reported through our expeditions and first hand research. These findings, along with the findings and work of hundreds of other organizations that have emerged, are now being discussed by the public and elected officials alike. Without a foundation of science it would be an uphill battle to pass new laws to govern the use and disposal of plastic.

What is government? 

Government is defined as the political direction and control exercised over the actions of the members, citizens, or inhabitants of communities, societies, and states; direction of the affairs of a state, community, etc.; political administration. A government is made up of officials that the public elects to represent them and their values, and to set up systems benefiting the public. Government is necessary to the existence of civilized society.

Why is changing your government to reflect your values so difficult? 

In a democracy, government representatives with diverse views negotiate decisions in order to keep things balanced. It may feel like the process takes a long time to see real change, but in reality, changes are being made through discussion and debate, evidence-based critical thinking, and eventually compromise. We must keep pressure from our side strong in order to have leadership debate with science as the foundation, filtered through our values about conservation and social justice. 

The failing of SB54/AB1080

SB54/AB1080 was a bill in California that fought to reduce some of the most common forms of single use plastic and packaging waste  - i.e. polystyrene and other non-recyclable, non-compostable products. This would eliminate the lowest cost takeaway option for food establishments and most likely pass the cost of more sustainable options on to the consumer. While this bill had a lot of support over the two years of its tenure, the economic impacts of COVID-19 hit the restaurant sector hardest, from shutdowns and dining-in restrictions, leading to a complete rejection by the Assembly through non-consideration. While the science of waste impacts and the true economic costs to society were clear, the bill didn’t pass. Good bill, bad timing. 

What it takes to pass a new bill

A new bill must be written, re-written, signed and supported by a vast number of people and organizations that are all working toward the same goal. It’s important to have diverse voices present at the table, particularly the interests of communities that may be negatively impacted by policies, to ensure that inclusive perspectives are accounted for and all loopholes are identified and addressed. This drafting process can take many months, after which the bill needs to be endorsed by an elected official who would present it to their council district for consideration. Working with multiple stakeholders is a critical part of a democratic process. The elected becomes the bill’s champion and must be committed to seeing the process through to the next level of government. 

The importance of social justice in bill writing

As our nation continues to grapple with its past through movements like Black Lives Matter and the MeToo movement, we must confront the realities of “by whom and for whom” laws are written. With majority interests holding precedent over our governing offices, those whose lives are directly impacted by new policies are repeatedly left out. Therefore it is essential to collaborate with representatives from a diverse range of constituents present in coalition building, bill writing, and petition signing. We currently engage with Plastic-Free LA on environmental justice issues, to ensure that policy approaches and narratives are rooted in front and fenceline community interests. 

How local government helps shape international policy

We have all seen how the last four years have played out on the international level with many international partners scorning our positions and decisions. Our selection of leaders and policies, as well as our decisions to adopt or withdraw from global treaties directly impacts other nations and their citizens, as we either stall, launch or pivot on global issues. That’s why we consult with the United Nations on developing key policies that would encompass a broader range of mandates than those established solely by who is in the President’s seat. We are now witnessing industry and NGOs approaching the UN for a global treaty, through their respective governments.  

What’s on the horizon in 2021

2020 was the year that got turned on its head and it’s unsurprising that the primary focus became the health of oneself and those around them in the wake of COVID-19. With these changes taking precedent, we look to 2021 to pick up where we left off with the work of transforming how plastic is used nationwide, in particular through the Break Free From Plastic Pollution Act. The bill makes certain producers of products (e.g., packaging, paper, single-use products, beverage containers, or food service products) fiscally responsible for collecting, managing, and recycling or composting the products after consumer use, or innovate packaging and product solutions that eliminate waste. We believe that holding companies more responsible for the full life of their packaging and products, from extraction to waste management, would prompt better design that would lead to less plastic usage overall. We will continue to support this bill and others with science and collaboration, always striving for a waste-free world.

Having a stable government that engages in evidence-based critical thinking is essential to preserve our democracy. Regardless of the outcomes of this year’s election we will keep working on scientific research and using it to inform policy changes that eliminate harm to the planet from plastic waste. This is no longer an environmental problem, but one that impacts the future of civilization, and we have the power to change this.