Tell The TCEQ: Get Tough On Plastics Pollution

The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) should act now to end plastic pollution in Texas’ water. The Clean Water Act requires the TCEQ to prevent any unpermitted discharge of pollution into waterways.

The Commission should use this review of its wastewater program to get tough on plastics polluters in Texas. Some of the worst environmental violators in Texas are in the plastics industry. This includes Formosa Plastics, which recently settled a lawsuit over water pollution for $50 million—the largest environmental settlement in history. This was after a federal judge found a $121,875 fine of Formosa by TCEQ inadequate.

The TCEQ should get tough on plastics polluters. We recommend the following:

TCEQ should include all visible microplastics in its definition, not just those that float. TCEQ’s rules for microplastics apply to “floating solids.” All plastics must be kept out of our waterways. TCEQ’s intent to regulate only “floating” pollution will not protect human health or the environment.

TCEQ should review the medical and scientific literature on the human health impacts of plastic pollution. The presentation materials provided with this request reference the environmental impacts of plastic, but not the human health impacts. There is evidence that plastics accumulate in the food chain and can have negative physiological impacts on reproduction, metabolism, and behavior. Plastics also absorb toxins from their environment.

Finally, TCEQ should not give plastic manufacturers extra time to comply with its rules. This review process was begun more than a year ago, and TCEQ’s history of inadequate enforcement against plastic pollution offenders is well known to the industry. Now is the time to get tough on plastic pollution.

Thank you for the opportunity to provide these comments. I ask you to act now to limit plastic pollution in our water and protect our health.