An estimated 70-80% of all microplastics found in the oceans are secondary microplastics, i.e. those that are generated from natural degradation of discarded larger plastic products. These pollutants form over time in the environment and would find their way into water ecosystems without going through wastewater treatment plants. Stopping them from entering the environment, by regulating the manufacturing, use, and recycling of plastic products, is therefore a critical aspect of microplastics control. The good news is that the plastics crisis had raised awareness among administrations long before the term "microplastics" was introduced, and governments around the world have started taking encouraging actions in the past few years, especially against single-use plastic products. For example, a directive banning the production of single-use plastics such as straws, plates and polystyrene food containers took effect in EU in July 2021. The directive also mandates producer responsibility, requiring producers of food containers and lightweight bags, etc. to cover costs of managing wastes. In the US, eight states have banned single-use plastic bags, and numerous cities and municipalities have banned products such as plastic straws and expanded polystyrene cups and containers. No federal-level regulation about plastic waste exists yet; however, the sale of single-use plastic products in national parks and other public lands will be banned by 2032. The Canadian government also passed a regulation prohibiting single-use items such as checkout bags, cutlery, stir sticks and straws, to meet its zero plastic waste target by 2030. 121 Some US states and EU countries have managed to reduce plastic bag use by charging fees. In Portugal, for example, supermarket consumers have had to pay 0.08 euros per bag since 2015. As a result, the use of plastic bags in stores and supermarkets dropped by 90% in just one year. As with other environmental endeavors, a major challenge of microplastics removal efforts is the lack of profitability or financial resources. Apart from the remote possibility of utilizing collected microplastics as fuel, projects focusing on removing existing microplastics bring zero financial return and cannot survive without investments or donations. Thus, although regulatory and tax actions aiming at reducing the use of plastics and microplastics are rapidly growing, government support on removing microplastic particles or intercepting them before they enter the environment would also be desirable. This may include more financial assistance, regulations, as well as continuous efforts to raise public awareness on microplastics' harmfulness so that consumers are more willing to pay more, for cleaner water originating from wastewater treatment plants with specialized microplastics-removing equipment, for clothing less prone to microfiber shedding, for washing machines generating and release less microfibers, for more durable tires that shed less particles, and so on. However, the combat against microplastic pollution will require long-term dedication and concerted efforts among scientists, entrepreneurs, governments, and the public.