Political Strategy for Increasing National Recycling Rate
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The purpose of this memo is to recommend a strategy to increase the domestic recycling rate by implementing an improved waste classification system at the local level. This strategy will need to gain bipartisan support, build and sustain a coalition triangle and create a message campaign to successfully implement. Framing the policy as an action that benefits oneself directly and crafting a message that indicates a close relationship between human activity and the ocean ecosystem will ensure the effectiveness of people’s participation to achieve the goal.
OVERALL STRATEGY
To implement the new waste classification system, the U.S. EPA should focus on gaining bipartisan support from legislators, building and sustaining a coalition with U.S major trash bag suppliers and U.S. General Service Administration and creating a message campaign that emphasizes the close relationship between human activities and the ocean ecosystem.
Gaining bipartisan support with Senate Recycling Caucus. Since the issue of plastic pollution has received attention from both parties, the U.S. EPA should seek Senate Recycling Caucus for the advocacy of the strategy in the legislative process. Led by a mix of leaders from different parties, the Senate Recycling Caucus can serve as a glue to find a common ground to support the implementation of this strategy.
Building and sustaining a coalition triangle. The U.S. EPA should develop a coalition triangle with U.S major trash bag suppliers and the Regional Solid Waste Management Team. These three major actors can effectively realize the policy and achieve its goal of educating the new standard code to the public, manufacturing needed products, and overseeing the application of the new system. The formed triangle can also ensure the problem from the local level to report back rapidly to the governmental level for future trimming.
Creating a message campaign underlying the relationship between human activity and the ocean ecosystem. In regards to a low environmental literacy rate, the gap in understanding the relationship between human activity and the ocean ecosystem needs to be filled by the educative message campaign by the reputation party - U.S. EPA. The more the public acknowledges that the damage to the current ocean ecosystem will eventually return in a similar way that destroys human living conditions, the more people are willing to practice recycling using this new classification system.
CONSTITUENTS, COALITIONS, AND OPPONENTS
The U.S. EPA will need to seek support from different levels of government to advocate and successfully realize the policy. The major constituents include:
Senate Recycling Caucus: Led by Tom Carper and John Boozman who are from different parties, the Senate Recycling Caucus obtains a powerful advocacy and policy ability within the committees across different parties. It supports public policies that aim to increase the recycling rate and align with the pursuit of the new waste classification system. With such a strong interest in the recycling industry, the Caucus can quickly develop a connection within the federal government for further implementing the new system.
U.S. Chamber of Commerce: While the U.S. Chamber of Commerce is in charge of the daily functioning of commercial practices in the U.S., it has shifted its focus on achieving a sustainable economy with environmental sustainability. Its strong interest in creating a sustainable value chain in packaging and shipping that reduces commercial waste will draw attention to the new classification system. The wide networks with socially innovative businesses and zero-waste manufacturing businesses in the current market will help to promote the implementation of the new system.
National Recycling Coalition: The National Recycling Coalition has developed an interest in calling for waste reduction and improving recycling systems that will help with the adoption of this new classification system. Its networks in the recycling industry can help build up the new system and encourage the use of the new media.
The U.S EPA will need to confront opposition from two major stakeholders who have medium to high levels of resources mobilization capability can oppose the implementation of this new system:
Federal Trade Commission: In an attempt to protect consumers in all business activities, the Federal Trade Commission may oppose the new system because trash bags endure a greater privilege in household products. The interference of the government in the trash bags industry violates the consumers’ interests as consumers are forced to purchase these products. The Commission can enforce its power to refuse the adoption of industry-wide trade regulation rules, hindering the implementation of the new system.
U.S International Trade Administration: To successfully regulate the system, the imported goods also needed to be identified along with the codes. Thus, the extra requirements for foreign businesses may lead to a potential negotiation on price strategy, thus hurting the competitiveness of the U.S. industry. The Admission has the power to adjudicate in proceedings involving imports claimed to injure a domestic industry. Thus, it is crucial to turn that power into the implementation of the new system. If not, the sales of imported goods without standard codes printed on the packages can create chaos in the domestic market, breaking domestic rules.
POTENTIAL THREATS, OBSTACLES, AND RESPONSES
The new waste classification system may be regarded as a potential harm to consumer’s rights as it puts the cost of trash bags to the consumer side on a regulation. In addition, the regulation on printing codes on the product packaging will affect international trade as the imported products will also have to meet the requirements. To transfer those powers and resolve the conflicts, the U.S. EPA should consider leveraging the subsidy to the manufacturers of the trash bags and maintain the market price for trash bags in order to protect consumer rights. Plus, importers whose products satisfy domestic regulations should receive incentives to create a buffer for price competition in the global market.
FRAMING AND MESSAGING
By framing this policy as an action that benefits oneself directly, the crafted message indicates a close between human activities and the ocean ecosystem. Whereas opponents regard this system as a violation of consumers’ interests, the message will indicate the new system directly affects the human living environment. As a result, this policy encourages such practices not only for the convenience of the trash management system but also for sustaining a healthy ecosystem for each individual. The general public will recognize more vividly how a small action can lead to a big change in society, thus becoming more willing to practice recycling.
