Sec. 202. Prioritization of efforts and assistance to combat marine debris and improve plastic waste management
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The Secretary of State shall, in coordination with the Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development, as appropriate, and the officials specified in subsection (b)— lead and coordinate efforts to implement the policy described in section 201; and develop strategies and implement programs that prioritize engagement and cooperation with foreign governments, subnational and local stakeholders, and the private sector to expedite efforts and assistance in foreign countries— to partner with, encourage, advise and facilitate national and subnational governments on the development and execution, where practicable, of national projects, programs and initiatives to— improve the capacity, security, and standards of operations of waste management systems; monitor and track how well waste management systems are functioning nationwide, based on uniform and transparent standards developed in cooperation with municipal, industrial, and civil society stakeholders; identify waste management systems’ operational challenges and develop policy and programmatic solutions; end intentional or unintentional incentives for municipalities, industries, and individuals to improperly dispose of plastic waste; and conduct outreach campaigns to raise public awareness of the importance of proper waste disposal; to facilitate the involvement of municipalities and industries in improving solid waste reduction, collection, disposal, and reuse and recycling projects, programs, and initiatives; to partner with and provide technical assistance to investors, and national and local institutions, including private sector actors, to develop new business opportunities and solutions to specifically reduce plastic waste and expand solid waste management best practices and waste collection services in foreign countries by— maximizing the number of people and businesses, in both rural and urban communities, receiving reliable solid waste management services and using safe and responsible practices for properly disposing, including recycling or reusing waste materials; improving and expanding the capacity of foreign industries to responsibly manage waste; improving and expanding the capacity and transparency of tracking mechanisms for marine debris to reduce the impacts on the marine environment; eliminating incentives that undermine responsible waste management practices and lead to improper waste disposal practices and leakage; building the capacity of countries— to monitor, regulate, and manage waste, plastic waste, and pollution appropriately and transparently; to encourage private investment in waste management, including collection services and responsible and beneficial reuse of plastic waste products; and to encourage private investment, grow opportunities, and develop markets for recyclable, reusable, and repurposed plastic waste materials, and products with high levels of recycled plastic content, at both national and local levels; and promoting safe and affordable reusable alternatives to disposable plastic products, to the extent practicable; and to research, identify, and facilitate opportunities to promote collection and proper disposal of damaged or derelict fishing gear.
The officials specified in this subsection are the following: The United States Trade Representative. The Under Secretary. The EPA Administrator. The Director of the Trade and Development Agency. The President and the Board of Directors of the Overseas Private Investment Corporation or the Chief Executive Officer and the Board of Directors of the United States International Development Finance Corporation, as appropriate. The Chief Executive Officer and the Board of Directors of the Millennium Challenge Corporation.
The heads of such other agencies as the Secretary of State considers appropriate. In carrying out subsection (a), the officials specified in subsection
(b)shall prioritize assistance to countries with— rapidly developing economies; and rivers and coastal areas that are the most severe sources of marine debris. In prioritizing and expediting efforts and assistance under this section, the officials specified in subsection
(b)shall use clear, accountable, and metric-based targets to measure the effectiveness of guarantees and assistance in achieving the policy described in section 201. Nothing in this section may be construed to authorize the modification of or the imposition of limits on the portfolios of any agency or institution led by an official specified in subsection (b).