Senators, advocates push sweeping Plastics Reduction Act as towns and groups urge statewide rules

The Joint Committee on Environment and Natural Resources heard extensive testimony on a sweeping Plastics Reduction Act on Oct. 12, 2025, with bill sponsors and scores of environmental groups urging a favorable report to establish statewide standards on single‑use bags, polystyrene, small bottled beverages and other plastics.

Senator Becca Rausch, cochair of the Joint Committee on Environment and Natural Resources, described the bill as a multipart effort to "create statewide consistency with regard to single use plastic reduction," listing bags, food service ware and beverage bottles as targets and saying the proposal would "codify into law" the governor's existing executive order on small beverage bottles.

Why it matters: Supporters told the committee that piecemeal municipal ordinances have reduced litter locally but leave gaps, increase compliance costs for multi‑jurisdiction businesses, and do not address health and climate harms from plastic production and microplastics. Opponents and some business…