UCLA Luskin Center for Innovation

​​The ubiquity of plastic in the modern economy has created a global crisis. Plastic pollution is now found everywhere, and increasingly poses grave risks to human health and the environment. Recycling has proven ineffective to address the plastic crisis, with only a small fraction of global plastic ever being recycled. However, while the plastic pollution burden is widespread, lower-income communities and communities of color are disproportionately exposed. In response, California's Senate Bill 54 seeks establishes a state investment fund to address plastic-related impacts within communities. This policy brief informs decision-makers on how to prioritize SB 54 platic pollution mitigation funds, equitably.