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COG Recycling Committee, Washington, DC, March
19, 2009Controlling Plastic and Paper Bag
Pollution
The Scope of the Problem
Brenda Platt Institute for Local
Self-Reliance Sustainable Plastics
Initiative Sustainable Biomaterials
Collaborative www.ilsr.org
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Plastic Woes

• Non-renewable (geological timeframes to produce
  but consume in 1 to 10 years)
• Health impacts (polymers differ)
• Generally nonbiodegradable with devastating
  affects on ocean life
• Demand and production skyrocketing
• Plastics industry supports more drilling
• Recycling and reuse low
• Plastics industry supports incineration

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Nonbiodegradable bioplastics coming
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Known Impacts on Marine Life

• 267 marine species entangled by or ingested
  plastic
• 86 of all sea turtle species
• 44 of all seabird species (over 80 species)
• 100,000 marine mammals die each year in the North
  Pacific alone from entanglement

Source Captain Charles Moore, Agalita Marine
Research Foundation
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6 times more plastic than plankton by mass
Source Captain Charles Moore, Agalita Marine
Research Foundation
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Source Captain Charles Moore, Agalita Marine
Research Foundation
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Plastic bags were found to be main culprit during
the 1988 and 1998 floods in Bangladesh
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Human Footprint
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Plastic Packaging Discarded
Thousands of tons
Source US EPA, 2007 data (http//www.epa.gov/epa
oswer/non-hw/muncpl/msw99.htm)
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Plastic Bags, Sacks Wraps Discarded
Thousands of tons
Source US EPA, 2007 data (http//www.epa.gov/epa
oswer/non-hw/muncpl/msw99.htm)
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Wasting Trend in U.S.
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Wasting connected to ghg

• 4.6 of global population
• Consume one-third of Earths timber and paper
• Generate 22 of global CO2 emissions
• Produce 30 of worlds waste

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The Wasteberg

• For every ton of municipal trash, 71 tons of
  waste are produced during manufacturing, mining,
  oil and gas exploration, agriculture, and coal
  combustion.

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Upstream 71 x MSW Waste
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Alternate Path
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• Proposed Solutions

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Keys to Waste Reduction Record-Setters

• Accept many materials
• Convenience (e.g., curbside, weekly pickup, bins)
• Compost
• Mandate recycling
• Institute pay-as-you-throw trash fees
• Target all sectors
• Augment curbside with drop-off
• Educate, educate, educate
• Market materials

Institute for Local Self-Reliance
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Institutional Framework

• Landfill bans
• Recycling goals and requirements
• Beverage container deposits
• Recycled-content laws
• Creative funding mechanisms
• Buy recycled programs
• Pay-as-you-throw trash fees

Institute for Local Self-Reliance
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Changing the rules in San Francisco

• 75 diversion goal by 2010 zero waste goal by
  2020
• Bans polystyrene take-out containers
• Requires retail bags to be compostable plastic,
  recyclable paper, or reusable
• Bans use of city funds to purchase single-serving
  bottled water
• Will not give a street closure permit for events
  unless composting collection is in place
• Extended producer responsibility (EPR) resolution

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Solutions to Plastic Bag Problems

• Establish recycling collection bins at large
  stores
• Curbside collection of plastic bags
• Bans
• Outright ban
• Specific stores (supermarkets and pharmacies)
• Nonbiodegradable bags
• Thin bags
• Exceptions for dry cleaners
• Imposed if use doesnt decrease by target s
• Fees on paper bags
• Levies

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Communities Banning Plastic Bags

• Alaska
• Native Village of Koyuk (2001)
• Native Village of Ft. Yukon (2003)
• Louden Tribal Council (1999)
• Native Village of Tanan
• Aleut Community of St. Paul Island
• New Stuyahok Village
• California
• San Francisco City and County (2007)
• City of Oakland (2007)
• Malibu (2008)
• Manhattan Beach (2008)
• City of Los Angeles (2008)
• Encinitas (2008)
• Fairfax, Marin County (2008)
• Other USA

• International
• Corsica, France
• Bhutan
• Taiwan
• China
• Bangladesh
• Mumbai, Delhi, Maharashtra, Kerala, India
• Eritrea
• Botswana
• Rwanda
• Somalia
• Zanzibar Islands, Tanzania
• Kenya
• Uganda
• Collingwood, New Zealand

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Countries Communities with Per Bag Fees

• Ireland
• Taiwan
• South Africa
• Malta
• Italy
• Belgium
• Denmark
• Germany
• Sweden
• Israel
• Victoria, Australia
• Hong Kong

In Progress, Proposed, or Being
Studied Seattle, Washington 20 Santa Clara
County, CA 25 Pasadena, CA 25 on paper, ban
on plastic Toledo, Ohio New York City Washington,
DC
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Ireland Results

• Outstanding success
• Plastic bags per person decreased from 328 to 21
  bags per person
• Immediate reduction in plastic bag litter
• Reusable long life shopping bags have largely
  replaced disposable plastic bags in the grocery
  sector
• The availability of a viable alternative was a
  key factor in public acceptance
• Irish firms involved in plastic bag related
  industry show great flexibility in providing
  reusable bags
• 91 of those surveyed believe plastic bag levy is
  a good idea
• Bag levy has not led to an increase in plastics
  landfilled
• Any claims that levy has had a negative
  environmental impact have not been substantiated
  and are considered heresay

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Ireland Results
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Other Policy Results

• Malta
• 14 euro cents/bag levy introduced in 2005
• Amount of plastic bags decreased by 22.5 million
• Levy increased to 15 euro cents Nov. 2008
• Taiwan
• Restaurants, supermarkets, and convenience stores
  charge customers for plastics bags and utensils
  (2003)
• 69 drop in use of plastic products
• 77 cut back on use of plastic bags
• 71 regularly carry used plastic bags to
  supermarkets
• 43 brought their own plastic bag to convenience
  stores 40 do not ask for bags at convenience
  stores
• 68 support the governments decision to continue
  restricting use of plastic bags

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Other Policy Results

• South Africa
• Levy on plastic bags established in 2004
• Portion of revenue collected used to create new
  joint business ventures and market for recycled
  material
• Use of plastic bags cut in half (from 8 billion
  to 4 billion a year)
• Less plastic bag litter, particularly in poorer
  areas
• Large stores implemented regulations with success
• The large supermarket chain, Pick n Pay, has
  promoted its version of the Green Bag (5.5
  million sold)
• It has also designed a 2-tier trolley frame,
  allowing shoppers to collect and take home
  groceries in specially designed baskets (no need
  for a bag)