WHEREAS,
The Federal Trade Commission estimates that Americans use 90 billion plastic bags, sacks, and wraps each year; and
WHEREAS,
Those plastic bags not properly disposed of or recycled are often a source of visual litter in our communities and cause environmental harm; and
WHEREAS,
As a major source of plastic bags in our community, retail stores should take measures necessary to divert plastic bag waste to our landfills; and
WHEREAS,
The recycling of plastic bags and film grew to 27% in 2007 to over 830 million pounds, demonstrating the effectiveness of bag and film recycling; and
WHEREAS,
Consumer education about the recyclability of plastic bags and access to locations to recycle bags leads to higher recycling rates for plastic bags; and
WHEREAS,
More aggressive plastic bag recycling would help achieve the Greenworks Philadelphia Target 7 to divert 70% of solid waste from landfill; and
WHEREAS,
There are successful plastic bag recycling programs that exist throughout the country including Phoenix, Arizona and Austin, Texas; and
WHEREAS,
Many local retailers have already taken the initiative to set up plastic bag recycling and provide reusable bags at a reasonable cost in their stores; and
WHEREAS,
All retailers should be encouraged to have a program to reduce bag waste and to educate consumers on effective waste management options for plastic bags, such as increased recycling of plastic bag and use of reusable bags,
WHEREAS,
An effective program will include:
* Convenient locations for the collection of plastic bags to be recycled;
* A Citywide public education program to convey the importance of recycling to all Philadelphians;
* A retail store employee awareness initiative to reduce wasteful bagging practices, promote recycling of plastic and paper bags and the use of reusable bags;
* A management reporting system to provide annual updates on the success of the reduce, reuse and recycling efforts; and
WHEREAS,
A unified and coordinated education/advocacy/recycling program of this nature will reflect a meaningful and positive step forward towards reducing litter and plastic bag waste; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF PHILADELPHIA,
That we hereby call on all Philadelphia retail stores to implement plastic bag recycling.
End