HomeMy WebLinkAbout102-Powerpoint presentation.pdfCoalition to Support Recycling and
Oppose Single-Use Bans/Taxes
•California Independent Grocers Association
•Neighborhood Market Association
•California Restaurant Association
•7-Eleven Convenience Stores
•People’s Advocate, Inc.
•American Chemistry Council
Policy Options
1.Ban on plastic bags, no regulation on paper bags
2.Ban both paper and plastic
3.Ban plastic, fee on paper
4.Fees on paper and plastic bags
5.No punitive regulation but positive promotion of
rebates, AB 2449, and reusable bags; litter clean-
ups; recycling infrastructure; public education;
litter enforcement.
Plastic shopping bags represent LESS THAN 0.7 % of the
total U.S. municipal solid waste stream.
Because they are fully recyclable, why can’t we work together
to lower that number to ZERO PERCENT?
Reality Check: A Drop in the Bucket
Benefits of Plastic Bags:
Conservation of Natural Resources
•Plastic bags generate 80% LESS
WASTE than paper bags
•It takes 91% LESS ENERGY to
recycle a pound of plastic than it
takes to recycle a pound of paper
•The production of plastic bags
consumes LESS THAN 6% OF
THE WATER needed to make
paper bags.
Reality Check: Energy Efficient
Plastic bags require 70% less energy to make than paper bags.
Contrary to public perception, plastic bags in the United Statesare made
primarily (80%)of ethane –a by-product of domestic natural gas.
Reality Check: Less Air Pollution
Just 1 delivery truck full of plastic bags
Requires 7 trips for the same number of paper bags
And plastic bags generate 50% FEWER greenhouse gas
emissions compared with the manufacturing of paper bags.
Boustead Lifecycle Assessment:
Results
Impact Summary of Various Bag Types
(Carrying Capacity Equivalent to 1000 Paper Bags)
Paper
(30% Recycled
Fiber)
Compostable
Plastic
Polyethylene
Total Enegy Usage (MJ)26222070763
Fossil Fuel Use (kg)23.241.514.9
Municipal Solid Waste (kg)33.919.27.0
Greenhouse Gas Emissions
(CO2 Equiv. Tons)0.080.180.04
Fresh Water Usage (Gal)10041017 58
Benefits of Plastic Bags:
Convenient & Affordable
Plastic Bags
are especially
convenient
and affordable
for seniors,
people who
take public
transportation,
and others on
fixed incomes.
MORE THAN 90% of Americans Reuse their Plastic Bags!
Benefits of Plastic Bags: Reuse
Ireland is often cited as having reduced
plastic grocery bag usage by 90+% after
taxing each bag.
Not told when the statistic is cited is that
overall sales of other plastic bags shot up
400% as consumers were forced to
purchase replacement bags for the grocery
bags they once were able to reuse.
Unintended Consequences
Unintended Consequences
20
22
24
26
28
30
32
34
19961997199819992000200120022003200420052006
Total Ireland Bag Imports (thousands of tonnes)
Tax Imposed
Study of Grocery Bag Use in San Francisco
¾All food chains affected
by the ordinance have
switched to paper bags
¾The number of
consumers bringing their
own bags was found not
to be greater than in other
cities
¾Paper use was judged to
be excessive.
Source: Use-less-stuff.com(Sept.,
2008)
Recycling is the Answer
California was the first state in the nation to establish recycling
as a smart policy decision, mandating or requiring plastic bag
recycling programs.
And many large grocery and retail chains have implemented at-
store recycling programs on their own.
Recycling is the Answer
Plastic bags can be recycled into park benches, decking for boardwalks
and porches, pallets and even back in to plastic bags.
Across the nation,
plastic bag
recycling is
catching on.
In 2006, the
recycling of plastic
bags and wraps
shot up to 812
million pounds, a
24% INCREASE
in a single year.
Recycling is the Answer
And the
momentum
continues to
build.
People are
recycling
plastic bags
like never
before.
In addition to recycling plastic grocery and retail bags,
these programs allow shoppers to recycle their plastic
dry cleaning bags, newspaper bags, and bread bags
as well as wraps from paper towels, napkins,
diapers and toilet paper.
Banning plastic bags would eliminate programs to
recycle other products that are currently recycled with
plastic bags.
Recycling is the Answer
Municipalities here are playing a big role in increased recycling opportunities:
Los Angeles County
Hesperia, CA
Solana Beach, CA
New York, NY
Los Angeles County
Hesperia, CA
Solana Beach, CA
New York, NY
Recycling is the Answer
Chicago, IL
Phoenix, AZ
Tempe, AZ
Austin, TX
Albany Co., NY
Nassau Co., NY
Rockland Co., NY
Suffolk Co., NY
Chicago, IL
Phoenix, AZ
Tempe, AZ
Austin, TX
Albany Co., NY
Nassau Co., NY
Rockland Co., NY
Suffolk Co., NY
Elsewhere, the plastic bag recycling movement is growing:
•Build and Maintain Recycling Infrastructure
•Public Education
•Promote Recycling at Grocery Stores and
Pharmacies
•Drop-off recycling and not curbside
•Expand litter abatement efforts
•Collective work of all stakeholders
•Better enforcement of litter laws
.
Positive Alternate Policy