Statement

Philadelphia Rejects Tax and Ban on Plastic Bags

ARLINGTON, VA (June 18, 2009) – Today the Philadelphia City Council voted to reject a proposed ban on plastic bags.  In May, a move to tax both plastic and paper bags also failed to pass the City Council.  The Progressive Bag Affiliates of the American Chemistry Council, an organization that represents the manufacturers and recyclers of plastic bags and plastic resins, welcomed the decision and issued the following statement.

Today Philadelphia joined a growing number of cities and states that have looked at measures to reduce waste, prevent litter and improve the environment, and decided that taxes and bans are not the answer.  We welcome the City Council’s decision and look forward to continuing to work with local partners to increase recycling and reduce litter. 

The proposed plastic bag ban met with broad-based opposition from retailers, local businesses and other community groups, who agree that plastics don’t belong on our sidewalks or waterways—they belong in the recycle bin.

In 2007, more than 830 million pounds of plastic bags and wraps were recycled in the Unites States, marking a 27 percent increase over a two-year period.  Recycled plastic bags and product wraps are used to make many useful products, including durable backyard decks, home building products and new bags, to name a few.

Recently, the nation’s four leading makers of plastic carryout bags announced a landmark recycling goal of 40 percent recycled content, including 25 percent postconsumer material, in all plastic bags by 2015. When fully implemented, the Full Circle Recycling Initiative will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 463 million pounds, conserve enough energy (mainly natural gas) to heat 200,000 homes, and reduce waste by 300 million pounds every year.

About the Progressive Bag Affiliates
The Progressive Bag Affiliates of the American Chemistry Council promote the responsible use and recycling of plastic carryout bags. The PBA recycling toolkit is being used by retailers around the nation as a reference for determining the best ways to deploy effective recycling solutions in stores. For more information, please visit www.plasticbagrecycling.org.