You need to know, there’s a global plastic crisis that’s getting worse every day. Today, we have a real chance to help solve it.

Sen. Udall and Rep. Lowenthal, along with allies in both chambers of Congress, just introduced the Break Free From Plastic Pollution Act — which could be the most comprehensive federal legislation yet to address global plastic waste.

This is a big deal. It would address the injustices of plastic production that has long polluted communities of color, and it would put a moratorium on new plastic facilities. Plus, this bill would ban many of the worst single-use plastic products. And it would put the responsibility on plastic producers to cover the costs of waste management and cleanup.

If the Break Free From Plastics Act gains momentum fast enough, this legislation CAN get bipartisan support — we CAN get this passed. But Congress needs to know what side their constituents are on before they’re pressured by the petrochemical industry to oppose the bill.

This bill is the comprehensive solution we need to stop the tide of plastic waste flowing into the environment every day. These are just a few of the ways this legislation would help:

>>> It starts a moratorium on new plastic production facilities — which pollute heavily and are disproportionately placed in communities of color and low-wealth communities.

>>> It forces plastic producers to pay to stop their products’ plastic from ending up in the environment, rather than leaving that burden on the public.

>>> It reduces the demand for plastic by requiring an increasing percentage of recycled plastic in manufactured goods. And it would straight-up ban many single-use plastics from sale and distribution in less than two years.

Plastic producers are already running scared. They’re trying to push Congress to allow them to maintain the status quo. Without enough of us acting right now, they could succeed and actual solutions could be toast.

This bill will only pass if Congress hears that enough of us are demanding it — and now, right after it’s been introduced, is the best time to act. We need everyone who wants a future without rampant plastic pollution in our environment and communities to tell their leaders where they stand.

Elizabeth Jacob, League of Conservation Voters