Over 40 volunteers, including 15 Surfrider Foundation student club members, travelled to Annapolis, Maryland, to advocate for anti plastic pollution legislation in early February, speaking face to face with their elected officials.
Our Maryland Surfrider Foundation network came together for this event on February 3rd, with volunteers from the Annapolis and Ocean City Chapters joining students from the Broadneck, Maryvale Preparatory, ArchBishop Spalding, Stephen Decatur, and Annapolis High School Clubs.
The goal of the lobby effort was to pass the Maryland Beverage Container Recycling, Refund, and Litter Reduction Program aka the “Maryland Bottle Bill” (HB 232 and SB346). This bill seeks to emulate successful bottle bill programs that have been operating in other states for decades. These programs significantly increase recycling, decrease litter, and decrease waste being burned in incinerators or buried in landfills, which is an environmental justice issue.
Passing policies such as the Maryland Bottle Bill is a critical step to protect the environment and human health from the dangers of plastic pollution. Bottle and bottle cap litter is a big problem in Maryland, and is one of the most common items found in Surfrider clean-ups. Plastic pollution is now found in every ecosystem on the planet, and in every part of the human body. Linkages between plastic particles being found in humans and negative health effects are becoming frighteningly clear.
“Bottle bills have shown to be effective in multiple states and generally reduce municipal waste handling costs and landfill demand, thereby saving taxpayers money while reducing the incidence of litter. It is my sincere opinion there is no good reason NOT to pass a bottle bill, said Malcolm Taylor, PhD, and Vice Chair of the Ocean City Chapter.
Students additionally were able to testify in two hearings for the bill, giving them an opportunity to speak directly to lawmakers, on the record. The bill must pass out of various committees before it can be fully voted on by both the Maryland House of Delegates and the Senate.
Volunteers from other groups in our broader coalition joined and helped lead our advocacy day as well, including Watership Partnership of Baltimore, Blue Water Baltimore, Plastic Free Queen Anne’s County, Patagonia, and Oceana.