willametteLive.com || Plastic bag ban in California

Plastic bag ban in California
By Salem Weekly Editors
from WillametteLive, Section News
Posted on Wed Sep 08, 2010 at 09:45:20 AM PDT

The California Senate failed to pass Assembly Bill 1998, which ended the state's attempt to adopt the nation's first statewide ban on plastic bags.

�Five hundred miles off the Oregon Coast is a toxic soup of plastic trash twice the size of Texas that kills millions of sea birds, turtles, mammals, and fish every year,� said Brock Howell, the state policy advocate for Environment Oregon. �The plastic bag industry sold an island of trash to Californians and bought the California Senate, and now the California Senate sold out the ocean.�

Environmentalists and like-minded businesses and governments have pushed to ban plastic bags in order to remedy plastic pollution in the oceans while simultaneously reducing recycling and litter costs.

While California would have been the first state to adopt a statewide ban, North Carolina recently expanded a bag ban for their coastal counties, which now include all types of plastic bags.

According to a release by Environment Oregon, the American Chemistry Council and plastic bag manufacturers and distributors spent millions of dollars on television advertisements and contributions to legislators� campaign funds. In 2009, the American Chemistry Council funded a $1.4 million campaign to defeat a bag policy already adopted by the Seattle City Council.

Oregon legislature is expected to consider a bill similar to the one defeated in California during the next session, which begins in January. Portland passed a resolution to become the first Oregon city to ban plastic bags by October 1, 2011. A partnership called The Great Pacific Cleanup Coalition is working with other cities on similar resolutions. No word on whether Salem will be considering a resolution.

�I�m confident the Oregon legislature will stand-up to the out-of-state petroleum and plastic industry in favor of our ocean, taxpayers, and business,� said Howell. �Oregon was the first to adopt the Bottle Bill and to protect public access to our beaches. We will be the first to protect our ocean with a statewide plastic bag ban.�

COMMENTS

Brock got it wrong... (#1)
by Anonymous on Thu Sep 09, 2010 at 11:42:54 AM PDT

Environment Oregon is continuing the long tradition of environmental advocacy groups exagerating and misrepresenting facts in order to make a loud noise. First, the plastic floating in the ocean isn't all from California, or Oregon, or even the US, it's from all over the world. Mainly from places that don't even have garbage pick up where trash, all trash, just gets tossed in the street and eventually blows into the ocean. Trying to solve that with policies in the US, where garbage pickup is everywhere, and recycling programs are growing, is rediculous. The reason there is garbage in the ocean is improper disposal of trash, not because plastic bags exist. Second. The statement that millions of marine animals are killed by plastic bags every year is a complete myth. This is based on a study that misread (or misreported) another study that showed that plastic debris (like fishing nets) was causing a problem, plastic bags weren't even mentioned. Third: The ACC spent a lot in Seattle to get the plastic bag fee on the ballot so that voters could decide the issue, and it was voted down. Also, just because a group like ACC represents oil companies, doesn't mean they don't know what they are talking about. Fourth: plastic bags are a fraction of one percent of litter, a fraction of one percent of landfill volume, and a fraction of one percent of oil comsumption. Environmental agencies like Environment Oregon would serve the public better by presenting actual facts instead of spreding rumors and lies.

We should work together on litter solutions (#2)
by Anonymous on Thu Sep 09, 2010 at 03:00:00 PM PDT

We all agree that litter does not belong in the ocean but banning plastic bags won't solve our litter problem. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association (NOAA) reports that derelict fishing gear causes the most harm to marine life, but even so-- we can all be doing more to make sure that land based trash does not make it into our waterways. You cannot tax and ban litter away. A better approach involves programs to prevent litter in the first place and to promote recycling. Plastic bags are valued by customers. Over 90% of consumers say they reuse their bags at home for lining wastebaskets, toting things or helping with pet pick up. And when they are not being reused, they can be easily recycled at most major grocers and Wal-Mart stores across the country. More than 830 million pounds of plastic bags and wraps were recycled in 2008. Some communities even offer curbside recycling. Plastic bags and product wraps are recycled into new bags, park benches, back yard decking, shopping carts and other useful things. The major plastic bag manufacturers in this country who make up the Progressive Bag Affiliates of the American Chemistry Council have committed significant resources to sustainability efforts aimed at substantially increasing the recycled content of plastic bags in the next few years. We continue our efforts to develop partnerships that focus on comprehensive solutions to reduce, reuse and recycle that don't limit consumer choice, create job loss or cost shoppers extra money. Shari Jackson Progressive Bag Affiliates of the American Chemistry Council

Plastic diaper ban! (#3)
by Anonymous on Sat Sep 11, 2010 at 05:55:20 PM PDT

If we ban plastic bags then we have to ban plastic diapers! Or does that hit too close to home?