Plastic Pollution: A Consumer-Driven Crisis We Can Stop

The ocean plastic pollution problem doesn’t start at the beach, it begins at your doorstep. Every bottle, bag, and wrapper you toss can end up in rivers, storm drains, or even blown by wind into waterways that lead to the sea. And the U.S., which produces more plastic waste than any other country, is failing to keep it out of our environment, according to research released this month.

The Ocean Conservancy’s 2025 United States of Plastics report paints a sobering picture: most U.S. states receive failing grades on plastic policy, and the country’s recycling rate remains below 9%. Here’s the disconnect: 80% of Americans consider plastic pollution the most pressing ocean health problem, yet the most common action people take—properly recycling—isn’t nearly enough when the system itself is broken.

But this isn’t just a policy failure—it’s a systemic opportunity. Consumers and businesses can take the lead, and the data shows exactly where to focus.

What You Can Do—Beyond Just Recycling

Ocean Conservancy researchers found microplastics in over a dozen commonly consumed protein types sold in U.S. markets, including meats, seafoods, and plant-based products. More than 11 million metric tons of plastic enter the ocean annually, which is equivalent to a garbage truck’s worth every minute. We can’t simply recycle our way out of this crisis; we must rethink our use of plastic. 

Here’s what makes the most significant difference, according to the report:

Refuse and Reuse at the Source

• Dine-in? Demand reusables. Not a single U.S. state requires restaurants to provide reusable foodware for dine-in customers. It’s a massive missed opportunity that you can activate through your choices and advocacy. Tell a restaurant you decide not to visit that it’s because of their plastic packaging.
• Support bottle refill infrastructure. Nearly 27% of Americans live in states with deposit return systems, which achieve recycling rates of over 60% for PET bottles, compared to the national average of below 9%.
• Bring reusable containers everywhere. Oregon updated its health codes specifically to ensure consumers can bring their containers for reuse. Follow Oregon’s lead wherever you are.

Push for Local Action (Where It’s Not Banned)

• Fight preemption laws. Nearly half of U.S. states prevent local governments from regulating single-use plastics through a “preemption law” that override local decisions. If your city can’t ban plastic bags or foam containers, it’s likely because your state prioritizes corporate convenience over local choice, Ocean Conservancy writes.
• Support proven policies. Only 12 states have banned plastic bags, and 14 have banned foam containers; however, where implemented, these measures are effective. Maryland saw a 65% reduction in plastic foam pollution after legislation that requires the material to be phased out.

Participate in Cleanups—and Use the Data

• Join Ocean Conservancy’s International Coastal Cleanup or use their Clean Swell® app to log plastic waste. Over 18 million volunteers have collected more than 380 million pounds of debris, creating the world’s longest-running and most comprehensive marine debris database to drive policy change.
• Even landlocked participation matters. The report illustrates the connection between inland waterways and the ocean. That means cleanups along rivers in Kansas can be just as valuable as coastal collection efforts.

Advocate for Washing Machine Filters

• No states require microfiber filtration in washing machines, despite laundry being a significant source of ocean-bound microplastics. Moreover, several appliance makers, including Samsung and Electrolux, offer these filters. Urge appliance manufacturers and policymakers to collaborate to mandate built-in filters. The Ocean Conservancy’s microfiber toolkit is a valuable resource to share with your legislator.

Tourist Responsibly

• In tourism-dependent states like Nevada, Florida, and Hawaii, ask the hotels you are considering if they have eliminated single-use plastic personal care products. The report identifies explicitly sustainable tourism as a high-impact opportunity that these states are missing.

How Businesses Can Lead by Example

The report reveals that businesses have massive untapped opportunities, especially in retail, hospitality, and food service. Your personal preferences can be leveraged to influence the companies you shop with, driving industry-wide change.

Phase out the worst offenders. Single-use packaging represents 40% of all plastic produced annually and dominates cleanup data nationwide. Use Ocean Conservancy’s “What the Foam?!” guide to understand phase-out strategies for expanded polystyrene foam used in packaging.

Hotels can follow California’s lead and end single-use personal care items. The state has already proven it works without harming businesses.

Fund local reuse solutions. Cities like Boulder, Colorado, are building reuse innovation hubs. Oregon’s nation-leading EPR law creates grants specifically for scaling reuse infrastructure through its MIRROR program.

Require water bottle filling stations. States like Illinois and Washington mandate that public venues include refill stations in new construction, while businesses can adopt this standard voluntarily.

Seven states have passed Extended Producer Responsibility laws since 2022, covering just 20% of Americans. These programs work: they shift cleanup costs from taxpayers to producers while driving redesign for recyclability. Learn more from Ocean Conservancy’s Plastics Policy 101 guide.

Leverage Deposit Systems

States with bottle bills see dramatically higher recycling rates than the national average. These programs support expanding the necessary infrastructure to enable local collection programs to function effectively.

Ocean Conservancy identified specific policy gaps where consumer and business pressure can drive change:

• No states mandate reusable foodware for dine-in
• No states require washing machine microfiber filters.
• Only one state (California) regulates pre-production plastic pellet pollution.
• Nearly half of the states actively prevent local governments from enacting solutions to plastic pollution.

However, success stories demonstrate what’s possible: states with comprehensive approaches, such as Oregon (with both EPR and the nation’s oldest bottle bill) and California (with source reduction targets), are proving that integrated strategies are effective.

Your Choices Drive Change

The plastics crisis didn’t happen overnight; it was decades in the making, and now it gets worse each week that passes without action. The Ocean Conservancy report suggests that momentum for state-level action is at an all-time high, driven by public pressure and rising costs of managing plastic pollution. But it takes commitment from all of us to make meaningful, long-term progress.

If you’re waiting for a perfect policy, don’t. Consumer choices have a direct influence on state-level policy development. Whether you join a beach cleanup, refuse single-use items, or advocate for your city to reverse the state’s preemption laws that ban plastic bags (consider that), your voice contributes to a growing movement.

Because ocean health starts with you, and the data reported by Ocean Conservancy is compelling proof that your actions matter.

Where Does Your State Rank?

Top Performers (3+ Stars)

Making Progress (2+ Stars)

Needs Significant Improvement (0-1 Stars)

States with Active Barriers to Progress

States with Clean Slates (No Major Barriers)