Research and Engagement to Decrease Plastic Waste Along the Mississippi River

More than half of U.S. waterways drain into the Mississippi River, creating numerous pathways for plastic pollution to enter the watershed. During 2023 and 2024, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) Office of Research and Development partnered with ERG to conduct research and community engagement aimed at decreasing plastic pollution along the river. 

During the first phase of the project, ERG hosted and documented 16 hybrid meetings across four EPA regions to prioritize the types, sources, and geographic hotspots of plastic waste most relevant to each community. ERG identified key barriers and benefits to implementing community-based solutions, as well as the community factors driving these solutions. The ERG team also worked with stakeholders to identify intervention points and high-value behavioral or policy actions to reduce plastic waste in these hotspots. Most meetings included 20 to 35 in-person participants and 15 to 20 virtual attendees. During the second phase, the ERG team estimated the relationship between consumer purchases and mismanaged plastic in selected Mississippi River communities. ERG conducted literature reviews; collected and processed data; and performed material flow, life cycle assessment, and geographic information system (GIS) modeling. For the final deliverable, ERG used GIS to develop high-resolution maps showing the estimated amount of plastic consumed and mismanaged and the likelihood that mismanaged plastic would reach the river.