POLICY APPROACHES ADDRESSING

The table below highlights the different approaches that can or have been implemented to reduce microplastic pollution within and across industry sectors. Examples listed link to suggested legislation to reference for each type of approach. POLICY APPROACH OVERVIEW OF METHOD STRENGTHS WEAKNESSES EXAMPLES Microbead Bans Laws and regulations that limit – Reduce the use and sale of – Not inclusive of all products – Waste the manufacture, import, sale, use products containing microbeads containing microbeads Minimization (Microbeads) and disposal of microbead Regulations 2017 products. – Microbeads in Toiletries Regulations (SOR/2017-111)

– Targets point source pollution – Not inclusive of sandblasting and primary microplastic media where microbeads are used – ‘Low hanging fruit ordinance’ – ‘Low hanging fruit ordinance’

Regulations on Industry Best Management Practices – Targets point source pollution – Poor/absent enforcement – Clean Water Act Practices (BMP) on microplastic pollution – AB-2379 Waste management: emissions (i.e. water discharge, sludge and air); clothing and – US Toxic Substances Control Act product labelling; Extended – Works within existing – Expensive and slow (TSCA) Producer Responsibility (EPR); monitoring framework infrastructure modification classification of plastic waste as – Multi-industry regulation – Many archaic or hazardous material. grandfathered-in systems in place on local or state level – State and/or federal – Without legislative directive implementation in place, voluntary measures have limited success – Increased producer responsibility Research Requirements Dedicated local and national – Existing guidelines for creating – Takes time – , USA SB-1263 Ocean microplastic research on robust monitoring programs Protection Council: Statewide environmental impacts. Microplastics Strategy Monitoring microplastic content – California, USA SB-1422 in water, food, air, agriculture California Safe Drinking Water (soil, fertilizers, produce) Act: microplastics – Monitoring can set management – Funding source competition objectives – Creates reliable estimates of – Data collected may not changes in space/time and creates comprehensively address issue baseline data – Data can be used at – Requires consistent and local/state/fed government levels reliable methods of sampling to drive producer responsibility, and sample characterisation multi-industry regulation and stricter point source pollution regulation – Requires a degree of consistency in frequency and location of sampling – Varying research approaches, not all compatible Comprehensive Legislation that addresses plastic – Places responsibility on – Requires strong Govt, – European Chemicals Agency Strategies pollution through multiple producers leadership, oversight (ECHA) Proposal for a restriction measures, including the above 3 – Addresses point & non-point – Slow implementation regulatory actions and/or focuses pollution sources on reduction or prevention of – Regulates industrial use – Can contain industry microplastic use or leakage loopholes through implementation of – Creates incentive to improve – New approach, no lessons to circular economy principles. quality of products & learn from others yet environmental performance – Generates positive socio- environmental impacts – Can use existing framework/models