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Recycle Plastic Bags

Our Position: support
Bill Number: H2527
Sponsor: Pricey Harrison (D- Guilford)
Legislative Session: 2008

House Bill 2527 requires retailers that own or control more than 10,000 square feet of retail space to implement a plastic bag recycling program.  This means that retailers must provide only recyclable plastic bags.  The state’s goal is to have seventy-five percent of plastic bags provided by retailers to be recycled.  Plastic bag recycling programs would become mandatory on January 1, 2009. 

Status

Action Needed

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Background

Plastic Bag waste is detrimental to the environment and economy

· 12 million barrels of oil are used each year to manufacture plastic bags

· Plastic bags make the top ten list of the most common trash items on the American Coastline

· Plastic marine debris is estimated to kill over 100, 000 marine mammals and turtles every year and to negatively affect at least 267 species

· In some areas of the ocean, plastic bag fragments outweigh plankton by a factor of six, causing significant alterations to marine ecosystems

There is a high demand for plastic bag reuse and recycling

· Recycled plastic bags can be made into low maintenance fencing, decking, building and construction products, and new bags.

· The demand for recycled plastics exceeds the supply in many areas

· Recycling of plastic bags is increasing- recycling in 2006 increased 24% compared to 2005.

· Over 90% of Americans reuse their plastic bags for trash disposal, lunch bags, pet pick-up, and other uses.