Statement

Proposed Malibu Bag Ban Wrong for Environment, Falls Far Short of Recycling Solution

Statement by the Progressive Bag Affiliates of the American Chemistry Council:

MALIBU, Calif. – Today, Shari Jackson, director for the Progressive Bag Affiliates of the American Chemistry Council, issued the following statement in response to the Malibu City Council’s proposal to ban the distribution of plastic bags by all retailers: 

“Research shows that banning plastic bags can create unintended negative consequences for the environment.  The obvious result of a plastic bag ban is an increased use of alternative bags, such as paper bags.  Plastic bags use 70 percent less energy and generate 50 percent less greenhouse gases than paper bags to manufacture.  Even a 100 percent recycled paper bag requires more energy to manufacture and process than a plastic bag.
 
We all want to make good choices for ourselves and for the environment.  But the Malibu City Council acted precipitously, failing to carefully consider the potential unintended adverse environmental impacts. 

“From coast to coast, citizens and lawmakers are embracing recycling as the environmental choice.  Legislation passed just this month in Chicago establishes in-store recycling programs for plastic bags in certain retail stores. Chicago joins cities and states – from Honolulu to the State of California to Austin and New York City – that are moving to plastic bag recycling as the practical environmental solution.  Recycling plastic bags is the right approach and makes plastic bags the environmentally responsible choice.
 
“More Americans are recycling plastic bags and film than ever before, driven by a growing realization that plastic bags and film are a valuable resource.  In the United States, plastic bag and film recycling increased by 24 percent in 2006, reaching a record high of 812,000,000 pounds.  The increase in recycling is in part driven by greater demand for valuable recycled plastic and increased recycling of plastic grocery bags in states like California. 

“The facts are absolutely clear – plastic bags are an environmentally responsible choice.  Plastics are too valuable to waste; they should be recycled.”

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.  For more information, please visit www.plasticbagrecycling.org.