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Apr 11, 2007 12:32 pm US/Eastern
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N.Y. Could Become 1st State To Ban Plastic Bags
Brooklyn Lawmaker To Introduce Legislation
NEW YORK (CBS) ―
A Brooklyn lawmaker is introducing legislation that would make New York the first state in the country to ban petroleum-based plastic shopping bags. A similar ban has already been passed in San Francisco and is also being considered in Los Angeles.
Democratic Brooklyn Assemblyman William Colton, who represents the 47th District in Kings County, announced this week his intentions to ban what he calls "harmful" plastic bags in large retail stores, an environmental policy which he believes would make a significant impact.
"If we in government truly want to reduce our dependence on foreign sources of oil, reduce the consumption of our natural resources, reduce landfill waste, reduce the amount of litter on our streets, and reduce the amount of damage done to our wildlife and environment, then New York State should kiss goodbye harmful check-out plastic grocery bags," Colton said in a statement. "I believe this important legislation should apply not only to New York City, but rather throughout the entire State of New York."
The ban would force those stores affected by it to offer customers bags made of recyclable papers, recyclable plastic that can be broken down into compost, or reusable fabric.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency estimates Americans use 380 billion plastic bags a year, and most are not biodegradable. Only 20 percent of paper bags and just 1 percent of plastic bags are recycled.
Biodegradable plastic bags, typically made from corn or potato starch, can have less of an impact on the environment.
Marine creatures choke on or get caught in discarded plastic bags, which is one the reasons San Francisco's Board of Supervisors banned them. According to the Board, their ban will save the U.S. from purchasing over 450,000 gallons of petroleum oil each year.
Countries that have banned or taken similar action to discourage the use of plastic bags include Australia, Bangladesh, Belgium, Britain, Ireland, Italy, South Africa, and Taiwan.
In Great Britain and Belgium, some retailers offer environment-friendly bags made up of vegetable starches that turn into compost. "We need the large retailers to be responsible corporate citizens in this effort. The goal of this legislation is to protect the general public, businesses, environment, wildlife, and the vitality of our planet from harmful products," Colton said in the statement. "Through working with my colleagues in government and with the retail industry, I hope we'll all be on the same page in this effort to get the bill passed."
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