Even a majority of Republicans support efforts to hold manufacturers accountable for allegedly deceptive claims

Concern about the fossil fuel and plastics industries’ alleged deception about recycling is growing, with new polling showing a majority of American voters, including 54% of Republicans, support legal efforts to hold the sectors accountable.

The industries have faced increasing scrutiny for their role in the global plastics pollution crisis, including an ongoing California investigation and dozens of suits filed over the last decade against consumer brands that sell plastics.

Research published earlier this year found that plastic producers have known for decades that plastic recycling is too cumbersome and expensive to ever become a feasible waste management solution, but promoted it to the public anyway.

  • I_Has_A_Hat@lemmy.world
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    2 months ago

    Put a per gram tax on every manufactured product and watch how companies magically find alternative materials/methods to make goods.

    • csm10495
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      2 months ago

      You mean: how they will raise prices to account for that.

      • Blackmist@feddit.uk
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        2 months ago

        “They’ll just raise prices” is corporate propaganda. Making them raise prices for carrying on using plastic is the whole point.

        Other people will make packaging out of something else, and the people still stubbornly using plastic will see their sales go down.

        You just have to make the tax large enough to encourage the use of other materials, and keep raising it once other materials become the norm. Otherwise you just see that 2.5% charge become a 5% price rise and everyone just carries on.