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Californians for Extended Producer Responsibility
The Carryout Bag EPR ProgramIntroduction
Californians for Extended Producer Responsibility (CEPR) is a coalition of Californian plastic bag manufacturers who are taking a proactive and progressive approach to the environmental profile of plastic and paper carryout bags. We are pleased to present a strong and comprehensive EPR program that we believe deserves the support of all California stakeholders as well as the Legislature and the Governor.
Program description
Manufacturers or suppliers would pay an EPR fee for each carryout bag sold in the state.
Banning items just because they may enter the litter stream is an excessive and unnecessary response. Plastic and paper bags have been singled out as a major source of litter when in fact they are a minor percentage of litter. In our program, manufacturers and/or suppliers of carryout bags take responsibility by sharing the cost of removing litter.
Manufacturers or suppliers would be required to pay an EPR fee for every "single-use" plastic or paper carryout bag sold to a "store" in California.
If a fee or rules are applied to just one kind of carryout bag, there will simply be a switch to another kind and nothing beneficial will have been achieved. All carryout bags present the same kinds of issues. Therefore, our proposed carryout bag EPR program treats plastic and paper carryout bags equally.
A "store" means (i) a supermarket or (ii) a retail store with over 10,000 square feet of space that includes a pharmacy.
The state would receive revenues of $100 million annually.
CEPR proposes an EPR Fee of $0.007 (seven-tenths of a cent) per bag.
It is estimated that about 12 billion plastic carryout bags and about 3 billion paper carryout bags are distributed each year by such "stores." Our proposed EPR fee will generate more than $100 million per year.
The proceeds would be used to cleanup litter along highways, coastlines, and elsewhere.
The proceeds would be collected by the state and spent on the following:
- Litter abatement programs to lead to reduced release of carryout bags into the environment.
- Litter cleanup programs to clean up carryout bags.
- Investments in equipment, technologies, and practices designed to lead to enhanced carryout bag containment at landfills and other solid waste disposal facilities, including garbage and recycling collection vehicles.
- Mitigation projects relating to stormwater pollution caused by carryout bag litter, including devices to prevent carryout bag litter from entering storm drain systems.
Entities eligible for funding would include cities, counties, special districts, nonprofit organizations, the California Conservation Corps, and local conservation corps.
Communities with coastlines, rivers, creeks, other areas of water, demonstrated high levels of carryout bag litter, or trash Total Maximum Daily Loads would receive additional funding consideration.
Any city, county, or public agency that prohibits or limits the use or distribution of carryout bags by stores, or imposes a fee on carryout bags distributed by stores, would be ineligible for funding.
No consumer tax or fee means no consumer resentment.
Public opinion polls show that a majority of Californians are opposed to a consumer fee on plastic or paper carryout bags. The citizens of Seattle recently voted against a 20 cent fee on plastic and paper carryout bags. Any fee or tax would create consumer resentment. Moreover, in these difficult economic times, many people are counting every nickel and a consumer fee would disproportionately affect them.
A consumer tax or fee means major job losses.
Many thousands of people in California and nationwide are employed by carryout bag manufacturers. Our program will result in no job losses. A consumer fee or ban would result in thousands of job losses.
The program retains consumer freedom of choice.
For American consumers, freedom of choice is sacred. Under this program, they will retain the full freedom to choose plastic, paper or reusable.
The program makes reduction a priority.
Many plastic bag manufacturers share the belief that too many plastic and paper carryout bags are provided at the checkout. The waste reduction component of the program, which includes mandatory elements, addresses the issue. For example, double bagging would be prohibited.
The program would give a major boost to plastic bag recycling.
The waste reduction component of the program also contains initiatives that would substantially increase the number of plastic bags deposited by consumers in store plastic bag recycling bins.
If a store is unable to sell or transfer the contents of a plastic bag recycling bin to a recycler, that store's supplier of single-use plastic bags would be required to make arrangements for recycling or take back the contents. The supplier would be prohibited from disposing of the contents of those bins in a solid waste stream or in a landfill.
There is a strong market for plastic bags deposited in store plastic bag recycling bins. Plastic lumber manufacturers already buy virtually all of the contents of the bins from stores. Demand will soon increase because plastic bag manufacturers have launched a major new initiative to include 40% recycled content in all plastic bags by 2015.
Suspension of other initiatives during a trial period.
A statewide approach is more efficient than a patchwork of differing local ordinances. We will be consulting with California cities and counties and asking them to agree to suspend carryout bag ban and fee initiatives during a trial period. The program should be given a chance to work.
There is a bill already pending in Legislature.
CEPR is the sponsor of Senate Bill SB 531 which is pending in the California Legislature. The author of the bill is Senator Mark DeSaulnier (D-Martinez).
Stakeholder discussions are underway.
In June 2009, Senator DeSaulnier convened a meeting of stakeholders to discuss the program. The meeting was well attended by representatives of cities and counties, grocers, retailers, and environmental organizations. Numerous plastic bag company CEOs also attended demonstrating the industry's willingness to be part of an EPR program.
CEPR believes that it is time to collaborate on a comprehensive solution.
We are hoping to reach an agreement with major stakeholders on amending SB 531 with a view to moving the bill forward as quickly as possible. This is a collaborative effort and we welcome all stakeholders who wish to participate in the process.
Copyright 2009 Californians for Extended Producer Responsibility
Freedom of choice at the Berkeley Bowl market
