This year's Earth Day theme is “Planet vs. Plastics”. Plastic pollution is a major environmental and public health issue globally, across the United States, and here locally. Over the years Cape Fear River Watch has documented how big of an issue plastic pollution is in our community. Our passive litter collection devices have collected 6,569 individual items of litter. Of all the litter they have collected 90%(5,953 items) were plastic of some kind! In 2023 our cleanups collected and disposed of 24,004 pounds of litter, much of which was plastic!

What do North Carolinians think about plastic pollution? According to a NC statewide poll conducted by Mason-Dixon Polling & Research they found that 82% of North Carolina voters support state action to reduce single use plastic! This issue has broad support as they found that nearly three quarters (74%) of Republican respondents and 91% of Democrat respondents supported reducing single use plastics.

In 2023 multiple towns, counties, and cities in North Carolina were well on their way to passing local policies that would address plastic pollution in their communities. This included Durham’s 10 cent fee on disposable plastic and paper bags. Similarly, Asheville, Black Mountain, Weaverville, and Woodfin proposed a potential ban on single use plastic bags and styrofoam takeout containers. Unfortunately, before these plastic reducing policies could be implemented, North Carolina state politicians (with the backing of special interests groups) worked in unison to add a harmful provision into the omnibus budget that essentially blocked local governments from enacting any regulations on “the use, disposition, or sale of an auxiliary container (153A-145.11)”, including styrofoam containers and single-use plastic bags.

It's time to make our voices heard! Send your letter and let our politicians know that you are one of the 82% of North Carolinians who care about plastic pollution and want to see the provision removed from the budget! Local communities, not special interest groups, should have the ultimate say on what policies they want to see implemented in their communities.