Let's consider the impact of single-use plastic bags on our environment for a moment.
Plastic bags are made of an assortment of environmental undesirables, primarily chemical-based, like most other plastic products. These do not break down like natural products such as paper or cotton when they're buried in landfills; rather, they slowly disintegrate, leaving those chemical compounds to filter down into the water table below the landfill. They also are easily caught by the wind, blowing them out of the landfills and across expressways on their journey to our lakes and oceans.
During beach cleanup efforts in 2009, plastic bags were the second most frequently collected item, representing 11% of all the debris cleaned up. They were second only to cigarette butts.
I'm bringing this up now because Illinois is at a crossroads in the battle to decrease the environmental impact of plastic bags. The bill in question is SB3442. While it is aimed at creating greater manufacturer accountability in creating recycling plans and making bags with a larger recycled content percentage, it isn't the solution we need. The problem with this bill is that the positive impact of recycling single-use plastic bags is marginal, as they are extremely difficult to recycle and cause major problems in recycling centers. We're looking at single digit percent improvements.
The sinister side of this bill is that it will effectively ban communities from enacting any legislation prohibiting the use of single-use plastic bags or instituting a purchase price or tax on single-use bags, a measure that has proven effective in many examples (a local example is Aldi, a grocery store chain that offers customers their cardboard boxes left from their stocking items as an alternative to their higher-quality plastic bags, which customers must purchase).
I'm sure you've heard this all before, but what it boils down to is this: our communities should be able to choose whether or not they can ban or tax the use of single-use plastic bags in their stores.
We can adjust to the absence of plastic bags, but the environment will not "adjust" to their continued use and improper disposal. Encouraging the governor to veto this bill is as simple as calling his office at 217-782-0244 and saying the following:
"I am an Illinois resident and I urge you to VETO S.B. 3442. Plastic bag recycling doesn't work, and SB 3442 is bad for us all." (suggested by the Center for Oceanic Awareness, Research & Education).
This simple action can make a difference in Illinois. Thanks, COARE, for drawing our attention to this issue!
Plastic bags are made of an assortment of environmental undesirables, primarily chemical-based, like most other plastic products. These do not break down like natural products such as paper or cotton when they're buried in landfills; rather, they slowly disintegrate, leaving those chemical compounds to filter down into the water table below the landfill. They also are easily caught by the wind, blowing them out of the landfills and across expressways on their journey to our lakes and oceans.
During beach cleanup efforts in 2009, plastic bags were the second most frequently collected item, representing 11% of all the debris cleaned up. They were second only to cigarette butts.
 |
| http://oceanwire.wordpress.com |
The sinister side of this bill is that it will effectively ban communities from enacting any legislation prohibiting the use of single-use plastic bags or instituting a purchase price or tax on single-use bags, a measure that has proven effective in many examples (a local example is Aldi, a grocery store chain that offers customers their cardboard boxes left from their stocking items as an alternative to their higher-quality plastic bags, which customers must purchase).
I'm sure you've heard this all before, but what it boils down to is this: our communities should be able to choose whether or not they can ban or tax the use of single-use plastic bags in their stores.
We can adjust to the absence of plastic bags, but the environment will not "adjust" to their continued use and improper disposal. Encouraging the governor to veto this bill is as simple as calling his office at 217-782-0244 and saying the following:
"I am an Illinois resident and I urge you to VETO S.B. 3442. Plastic bag recycling doesn't work, and SB 3442 is bad for us all." (suggested by the Center for Oceanic Awareness, Research & Education).
This simple action can make a difference in Illinois. Thanks, COARE, for drawing our attention to this issue!
No comments:
Post a Comment