According to a recent news report, Abby Goldberg, a 13 year old from Grayslake, Illinois is fighting for the environment and has been trying to get a plastic bag ban passed recently. The girl’s hometown, Grayslake is a little outside Chicago and houses just 20,000 residents.
The law in Illinois
Just when the girl began her ‘project’ of creating the bill, she heard about another bill being proposed that was trying to ban plastic bag bans. The lawmakers in Illinois recently passed a bill that target increasing the recycling of plastic bags and other types of plastic film. A provision at the end of the same bill could also prohibit the bans on plastic bags in every community other than Chicago.
Goldberg took her case straight to the Governor, Pat Quinn by getting over 150,000 signatures from a campaign by Change.org. The petition was accepted by Quinn himself in the beginning of this month. Quinn has until August end to either veto or sign the petition. Goldberg feels optimistic about the bill.
Will this bill facilitate eco-friendly promotional items like reusable bags?
According to the bill all plastic bag manufacturers will have to pay a registration fee of $500 and develop a recycle plan for the bags. The percentage of plastic bags that are recycled will be monitored and will have to rise, and in case it does not the manufactures will be held answerable.
According to Republican Representative Michael Tryon, the legislation will protect consumers by not completely banning plastic bags. It will also ensure that plastic bags are used in a more responsible manner.
The bill was opposed by some like Max Muller the director of Environment Illinois (a state environmental group) termed it a fraud. Muller added that the bill is weak and a strategy for bag manufacturers to escape a complete ban on plastic bags. Goldberg is determined to make changes in her hometown and stated that if the governor vetoes the bill she will try banning plastic bags all together. She added that in case the governor does sign the bill, she will try encouraging students and stores to sign a pledge that they won’t use plastic bags.
Such initiatives are sure the see an increase in the demand for wholesale reusable bags at stores and supermarkets. The rate at which cities are banning plastic in the United States is quite fast, and the small town ofGrayslakemay also face the ban soon. Switching to reusable bags is the safest and most convenient option under such circumstances.
Source: http://www.plasticsnews.com/headlines2.html?id=26058
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