Bill · S. 4181· Senate(119-S-4181)
Plastic Pellet Free Waters Act
- Introduced
- 3/24/2026
- Last activity
- 3/24/2026 — Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works. (text: CR S1583)
- Sponsored by
- Richard Durbin
- Cosponsors
- - 9 - 0
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
The Plastic Pellet Free Waters Act requires the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to create new rules regarding plastic pellet pollution. This bill aims to prohibit the discharge of plastic pellets or other pre-production plastic materials from specific facilities and point sources. These prohibitions include discharges into wastewater and other runoff. The rule must also be reflected in various wastewater, stormwater, and other permits. Finally, these requirements must be included in certain standards of performance.
Yes
Does this better protect air, water and wildlife?+8
The bill prohibits the discharge of plastic pellets and pre-production materials into wastewater and runoff to prevent pollution.
Does this give the federal government more power?+3
The bill directs the EPA Administrator to promulgate new rules and standards regarding plastic pellet discharges.
Would people in cities be better off under this?+2
Reducing plastic pollution in water systems can lead to cleaner local environments for residents.
The opposite
Does this make it easier to run a small business?-2
The bill imposes new discharge prohibitions on facilities that make, use, package, or transport plastic pellets, which may increase operational costs for small businesses in these sectors.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
-
Prohibition of plastic pellet discharge: The bill would prohibit the discharge of plastic pellets or other pre-production plastic materials, including through wastewater and runoff, from facilities regulated under certain parts of the Code of Federal Regulations (Section 2, paragraph 1).
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Prohibition of discharge from point sources: The bill prohibits the discharge of plastic pellets or other pre-production plastic materials from point sources that make, use, package, or transport those materials (Section 2, paragraph 2).
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Updated permit requirements: The bill ensures that all wastewater, stormwater, and other permits issued by the Administrator or State-delegated programs reflect these new prohibitions (Section 2, paragraph 3, subparagraph A).
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Updated performance standards: The bill requires that standards of performance promulgated under the Federal Water Pollution Control Act include these new requirements for relevant point sources (Section 2, paragraph 3, subparagraph B).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- No specific negative impacts are mentioned in the text provided.
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Improves Environmental Protections+8
- Governance And Ideology
- Increases Federal Power+3
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Good For Urban Residents+2
- Economy And Finance
- Improves Small Business Support-2
- 3/25/2026
- 9 Cosponsors added.
- 3/24/2026
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works. (text: CR S1583)
- Introduced in Senate
One bill Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
Richard BlumenthalDemocrat · Connecticut
Cory BookerDemocrat · New Jersey
Tammy DuckworthDemocrat · Illinois
Edward MarkeyDemocrat · Massachusetts
Christopher MurphyDemocrat · Connecticut
Jeff MerkleyDemocrat · Oregon
Alex PadillaDemocrat · California
Jeanne ShaheenDemocrat · New Hampshire
Chris Van HollenDemocrat · Maryland