A ban on plastic grocery bags proposed by legislator

By Anthony V. Coppola, The Packet Group
   The efforts of state Assemblymen Herb Conaway and Jack Conners (D-Delran), could help New Jersey become the first state to ban plastic grocery bags.
   The bill, A-4555, would require large retail stores to cut the number of plastic bags given to customers by 50 percent by the end of 2009, and eliminate plastic bags completely by Dec. 31, 2010.
   The proposed Plastic Bag Recycling Act was introduced on Nov. 20 and is now awaiting review by the Assembly Environment and Solid Waste Committee. It would institute mandatory in-store recycling programs for retail outlets with a minimum of 10,000 square feet of space, according to a press release issued by the assemblymen. Smaller stores can volunteer to participate in the recycling program, but would not be required by law to do so.
   ”We need to get these bags out of the waste stream because they are polluting our soil and our water,” Mr. Conaway said. “Plastic bags may be cheap and convenient, but they have costly long-term environmental consequences that just can’t be ignored.”
   According to the bill, an estimated 500 billion to 1 trillion plastic bags are used worldwide, and they account for 90 percent of grocery bags in the United States. Nonbiodegradable bags take longer to deteriorate than paper bags and kill countless animals and marine life, according to the press release.
   ”These bags clutter landfills, they blow around in trees, they clog drains, and they float into waterways where they harm marine life,” Mr. Conners said. “The statistics on the number of these bags entering the environment are absolutely staggering.”
   To help satisfy requirements of the bill, the assemblymen would urge retailers to sell a reusable shopping bag that consumers could use for multiple visits. If a retailer wanted to continue its use of plastic bags, it would need to provide one that states “please return this plastic bag to a participating store for recycling.”
   While he’s not against the proposed legislation, Ralph Copleman, executive director of environmental group Sustainable Lawrence, said it was far from enough.
   ”If I were a state rep and a bill like the one proposed by Conaway and Conners came up for a vote, I’d probably vote for it,” he said. “It’s sort of a step in the right direction, albeit a lurching one. It is probably better than nothing, and it is movement.”
   He added, “But, if the Legislature is worried about litter, drain clogging, etc., why not also ban plastic bottles, coffee cups (and their tops), Styrofoam take-out containers, Saran-type wraps, aluminum foil, plastic candy-wrappers, potato chip bags, yogurt cups, and more?” Mr. Copleman asked. “And why stop at ‘large retail establishments’? We’ve got to learn to think whole systems, and soon.”
   Mr. Copleman said everyone with a stake in the situation needs “to put their cards on the table and fashion legislation growing out of their common ground, assuming they can be honest, serious, and above-board with each other.”
   He added, “This means a smart legislator might convene her or his legislative allies and foes together with big stores, bag manufacturers (plastic, paper and cloth), consumer representatives, appropriate recycling authorities, trash haulers – everybody they can think of. It can be done,” he added.
   Although the bill, if enacted into law, would eventually make New Jersey the first state to completely ban the use of plastic bags, other areas across the country and beyond are also involved in the cause.
   San Francisco became the first city to pass a law banning plastic bags in large supermarkets and national chain drug stores. The New York City Council has also introduced legislation calling for the recycling of plastic bags. Ireland has reduced its plastic bag use by 90 percent after issuing a tax on the product in 2002, according to the release.
John Dunphy of The Packet Group also contributed to this story.