42 U.S.C. § 6914b

Degradable plastic ring carriers; definitions

As used in this title—

(1)

the term “regulated item” means any plastic ring carrier device that contains at least one hole greater than 1¾ inches in diameter which is made, used, or designed for the purpose of packaging, transporting, or carrying multipackaged cans or bottles, and which is of a size, shape, design, or type capable, when discarded, of becoming entangled with fish or wildlife; and

(2)

the term “naturally degradable material” means a material which, when discarded, will be reduced to environmentally benign subunits under the action of normal environmental forces, such as, among others, biological decomposition, photodegradation, or hydrolysis.

( Pub. L. 100–556, title I, § 102 , Oct. 28, 1988 , 102 Stat. 2779 .)