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In this episode, we’re joined by environmental policy expert Judith Enck, co-author of The Problem with Plastic and president of Beyond Plastics, for a frank conversation about why plastic recycling has largely failed—and why that failure wasn’t an accident.

Judith unpacks how the plastics industry has known for decades that recycling doesn’t work, while spending millions convincing the public otherwise. We also explore the human and environmental costs of plastic production, from “Cancer Alley” in Louisiana—where petrochemical plants line the Mississippi River—to the growing body of research showing microplastics in our blood, organs, placenta, and breast milk.

But this isn’t just a story of harm. It’s a call to action. The conversation turns toward real, systemic solutions—like policy efforts to reduce single-use plastics, eliminate toxic chemicals in packaging, and invest in reuse and refill systems.

The takeaway? Individual choices matter—but lasting change comes when many people work together, imperfectly but persistently, to transform the systems and laws shaping our world.

About Judith

Judith Enck is a faculty member at Bennington College, where she teaches courses on plastic pollution, and the founder of Beyond Plastics, an organization that works with community leaders and policymakers to reduce plastic pollution. She also leads the college’s Environmental Action Fellowship.

Appointed by President Obama, Judith served as the longest-tenured Regional Administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for Region 2, overseeing environmental protection in New York, New Jersey, eight Tribal Nations, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. She has also held senior roles in New York State government, including Deputy Secretary for the Environment, Policy Advisor to the Attorney General, and Executive Director of Environmental Advocates of New York.

A frequent public commentator, Judith appears on WAMC Northeast Public Radio’s The Roundtable. She is the co-author of the new book The Problem with Plastic: How We Can Save Ourselves and Our Planet Before It’s Too Late.

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