Moran Introduces National Plastic Bag Bill on Earth Day

Washington, D.C., April 22nd – Congressman Jim Moran, Northern Virginia Democrat, introduced Earth-friendly legislation today that would place a 5 cent fee on “single use” bags from grocery stores and other retail outlets in order to encourage reusable bag use. The “Plastic Bag Reduction Act of 2009,” would allocate the funding generated to land and water conservation programs, to pay down the national debt, and to cover the costs for local businesses to implement the program.

“Our environment is literally choking on plastic bags,” said Moran. Whole swaths of our oceans, in some places up to 580 square miles – 13 times the size of the Commonwealth of Virginia -- have become floating landfills. Ingested marine debris, particularly plastic bags, are killing thousands of birds, turtles, marine mammals, fish, and squid each day.

“Equally disturbing, as these plastics break down, toxic chemicals are being released into the environment. Some environmentalists believe we may be witnessing the negative repercussions locally in the Potomac and Anacostia Rivers with the advent of inter-sex fish (80% of the male bass in the Potomac River were found to have female reproductive organs in recent study).  While research is limited, it doesn’t take a leap of faith to conclude that humans may be adversely affected if this trend continues.” 

Environmental Impact of Plastic Bags:

Scientists are becoming alarmed about massive “garbage patches” that are building up in nearly all of the world's oceans.  Ocean currents and winds are slowly bringing debris -- estimated to be 10 percent of the world's plastic production -- to the center of five major ocean gyres in the North and South Atlantic, North and South Pacific, and the Indian Oceans.

The best-known patch consists of an estimated 100 million tons of plastic debris that has accumulated inside a circular vortex of currents known as the North Pacific gyre.  It is estimated to be anywhere from 270,000 square miles to almost 580,000 square miles -- between six and thirteen times the size of the Commonwealth of Virginia -- depending on how it is measured.

To add to the environmental degradation, as plastic items break down, any toxic additives they contain -- including flame retardants, antimicrobials, and plasticizers -- may be released into the environment. Many of these chemicals may disrupt the endocrine system -- the delicately balanced set of hormones and glands that affect virtually every organ and cell.  In marine environments, excess estrogen has led to discoveries of male fish and seagulls with female sex organs. 

Legislative Background:

Under the legislation, a “single-use carryout bag” includes a grocery sack, dry-cleaning bag, take-out food bag, retail bag, membership or wholesaler bag, or service station bag used by a retail seller at the point of sale with a customer. 

The “Plastic Bag Reduction Act of 2009” encourages consumers to choose reusable bags by imposing a 5 cent tax on single-use carryout bags beginning January 1, 2010.  On January 1, 2015, the amount of the tax increases to 25 cents per bag. 

Of each 5 cents charged to the customer, the retail seller may apply for a tax credit of one cent per bag for carrying out a qualified carryout bag recycling program.  One cent will be transferred to the Land and Water Conservation Fund which is used to clean up the environment. Another cent would be made available for state and local trash reduction and watershed protection programs. The remaining two cents would go towards reducing the national debt.

“People once viewed our rivers and oceans as limitless resources, believing that garbage in our watersheds and along our coasts did little harm,” commented Moran.  “Those rose colored glasses are now gone. Plastic bags pose a serious threat to the environment, animal life and possibly even human health. The time has come to implement a national program that encourages the use of reusable bags instead of plastic.”

Notable countries and cities that have taken or plan action on plastic bags:

• Ireland imposed a fee in 2002. Use of plastic bags has dropped over 90 percent. 
• Denmark imposed a fee in 1994.
• San Francisco banned plastic bags in 2007.
• South Africa banned plastic bags in 2003.
• China banned plastic bags in 2008.
• Rwanda banned plastic bags in 2006.
• Tanzania banned plastic bags in 2006.
• Kenya banned importation and use of the thin bags; imposed a 120% tax on thicker ones.
• Bangladesh banned plastic bags in 2002.
• Bhutan banned plastic bags in 2005.
• Zanzibar Islands banned plastic bags in 2006.
• South Australia has a ban set to go into effect next month. 
• Dehli, India banned plastic bags in 2009.
• Washington D.C. is considering a 5 cent fee on paper and plastic bags. 
• New York City has proposed a 5 cent fee. 

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