Protecting Communities from Plastics Act of 2024

The Protecting Communities from Plastics Act of 2024 establishes new environmental justice protections for communities near plastics facilities by requiring environmental justice assessments for permits, setting a temporary moratorium on new permits for plastics facilities, and mandating new emissions standards. The bill directly affects covered facilities (plastics production facilities) and fenceline communities (low-income communities, communities of color, and Indigenous communities located near these facilities), requiring facilities to reduce emissions, provide community benefit agreements, and conduct environmental monitoring. It sets specific targets for reducing single-use plastics (25% source reduction by 2034) and increasing reusable alternatives (30% reuse/refill by 2034), with exemptions for medical products and certain food packaging. These provisions aim to address the disproportionate health and environmental impacts of plastics production on vulnerable communities through concrete regulatory changes.