News Release

ACC Supports Plastic Bag Recycling Pilot Program in Lake County, Illinois

Public-Private Partnership Aims to Boost Recycling through Education and Convenience 

ARLINGTON, VA (July 20, 2009) – Today the Lake County Plastic Bags Task Force of the Illinois General Assembly announced a six-month pilot program designed to increase the recycling of plastic bags and product wraps among residents.  Through the pilot, several major grocers and retailers will offer convenient at-store collection points where shoppers can drop-off a variety of recyclable plastic bags and product wraps.

The American Chemistry Council, which includes the Progressive Bag Affiliates – a group of leading manufacturers and recyclers of plastic bags and plastic resins in the United States – applauded the effort. “Plastics are too valuable to waste and should be recycled. We are delighted to work with the task force to help increase access to convenient recycling for residents of Lake County,” said Steve Russell, managing director of the American Chemistry Council’s Plastics Division.

The American Chemistry Council contributed funding for bins and signage, technical assistance, educational materials and other tools in support of the program. A key part of ACC’s involvement will include the collection of data to help inform other plastic bag recycling programs of the importance of enhanced consumer education and increased visibility of collection areas.

Wide scale recycling of plastic bags and product wraps is a relatively recent, but rapidly growing, trend.  The recycling of plastic bags and wraps increased 27 percent nationwide from 2005 to 2007, and the rate of recycling these products climbed to 12 percent. Programs like the one in Lake County and other public policy initiatives, such as California’s 2007 statewide, at-store plastic bag recycling mandate and similar laws in New York, Rhode Island and Delaware, will help fuel continued growth in recycling.

Recently, the Progressive Bag Affiliates announced a landmark recycling goal of 40 percent recycled content, including 25 percent postconsumer material, in all plastic shopping 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 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. To learn more about increasing plastic bag recycling, please visit www.plasticbagrecycling.org.