Let us ban plastic bags
- by: Group 1 - Information Technology and the Law (UC College of Law)
- recipient: Everyone
To our targets (everyone): Legislators, businesses, and citizens of the world who are not aware of this overwhelming problem...
In June 2006 United Nations Environmental Program report estimated that there are an average of 46,000 pieces of plastic debris floating on or near the surface of every square mile of ocean.
The world uses over 1.2 trillion plastic bags a year. That averages about 300 bags for each adult on the planet. That comes out to over one million bags being used per minute.
On average we use each plastic bag for approximately 12 minutes before disposing. It then lasts in the environment for decades.
Recently, a plastic bag was found floating in space by Nasa!
We call upon SM Supermarket, Robinsons Supermarket, Metro Gaisano, Rustans, Ayala Malls, Ever Gotesco, Isetann, Plaza Fair, Araneta Malls, Waltermart, and ALL other shopping malls and centers to safeguard the health of our citizens and to promote a healthier environment where solid waste management and flooding is not always a problem by offering a nationwide program to forever ban the use of plastic bags.
80% of pollution in seas come from land-based activities. Let us put a stop to the indiscriminate disposal of waste in general. Let us strengthen the capability of the State to protect the environment and at the same time make better use of the resources such as plastic packaging to deliver goods to our people.
Recently, a bill imposing an excise tax of P2.50 for every plastic bag used in business establishments has been filed at the House of Representatives. House Bill 4134 filed by Albay Representative Al Francis Bichara provides automatic allocation of the revenue generated from this proposed tax to the annual budget of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources "to fund efforts to protect the environment."
In pushing for the bill, Bichara said these plastic bags, which are non-biodegradable and are found littered along roadside drains, have caused flooding during heavy rainfall. Plastic bags, likewise, kill one million sea birds, 100,000 sea mammals and countless fish every year, he said. "A person's use of plastic bags may be counted in minutes but a plastic bag takes between 15 to 1,000 years to be broken down by the environment," he said.
But instead of just taxing, why not just completely ban the use of plastic bags in major stores? Why not get to the root of the problem and prevent stores from giving out plastic bags to prevent people from throwing them away. P2.50 is disproportionate to the environmental and climate impacts of irresponsible plastic bag disposal.
They%u2019re doing it in China! From Sunday, June 1, 2008 and onwards, all Chinese retailers, including supermarkets, department stores and grocery stores, no longer provide free plastic shopping bags. China is trying to reduce the use of plastic bags in a bid to reduce energy consumption and polluting emissions. At least 1,300 tons of oil is consumed daily to produce the shopping bags for supermarkets alone. Retailers providing free plastic bags can be fined up to 10,000 Yuan (or $1,466).
They%u2019re doing it in Ireland! Ireland has been successful in dramatically reducing plastic bag pollution with the introduction of the plastic bag levy in March 2002. Ireland%u2019s Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government, the EcoWaste Coalition reported that plastic bag per capita usage in the country dropped by over 90% from 328 bags to 21 when the levy took effect. Before the levy commenced, retail shops gave out more than 1.2 billion plastic bags free of charge to consumers or 328 bags per person per year.
They%u2019re doing it in San Francisco! The city's Board of Supervisors approved groundbreaking legislation in March of 2007 to outlaw plastic checkout bags at large supermarkets in 6 months and large chain pharmacies in a year. The ordinanceis the first such law in any city in the United States and has been drawing global scrutiny. It takes 430,000 gallons of oil to manufacture 100 million bags. Compostable bags can be recycled in the city's green garbage bins and will make it more convenient for residents to recycle food scraps.
They%u2019re doing it in Los Angeles! The City of Angels will ban all plastic bags from retail stores by July 1, 2010. A new regulation was passed to this effect by the City Council. Los Angeles is the second largest American city after New York.
And where are we now in the Philippines? Although there have been steps made in addressing such a problem (H.B. 4134), but just how real is this solution? We have been cited as a country taking steps in addressing this problem, but are we REALLY addressing it? One only needs to look outside and see that this problem has not even been recognized by hundreds and thousands of our own citizens.
Let us show our support for the House Bill as well as our support for any other legislation that would tackle the problem head-on.
Sign this petition and be a part of the solution now!
In June 2006 United Nations Environmental Program report estimated that there are an average of 46,000 pieces of plastic debris floating on or near the surface of every square mile of ocean.
The world uses over 1.2 trillion plastic bags a year. That averages about 300 bags for each adult on the planet. That comes out to over one million bags being used per minute.
On average we use each plastic bag for approximately 12 minutes before disposing. It then lasts in the environment for decades.
Recently, a plastic bag was found floating in space by Nasa!
We call upon SM Supermarket, Robinsons Supermarket, Metro Gaisano, Rustans, Ayala Malls, Ever Gotesco, Isetann, Plaza Fair, Araneta Malls, Waltermart, and ALL other shopping malls and centers to safeguard the health of our citizens and to promote a healthier environment where solid waste management and flooding is not always a problem by offering a nationwide program to forever ban the use of plastic bags.
80% of pollution in seas come from land-based activities. Let us put a stop to the indiscriminate disposal of waste in general. Let us strengthen the capability of the State to protect the environment and at the same time make better use of the resources such as plastic packaging to deliver goods to our people.
Recently, a bill imposing an excise tax of P2.50 for every plastic bag used in business establishments has been filed at the House of Representatives. House Bill 4134 filed by Albay Representative Al Francis Bichara provides automatic allocation of the revenue generated from this proposed tax to the annual budget of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources "to fund efforts to protect the environment."
In pushing for the bill, Bichara said these plastic bags, which are non-biodegradable and are found littered along roadside drains, have caused flooding during heavy rainfall. Plastic bags, likewise, kill one million sea birds, 100,000 sea mammals and countless fish every year, he said. "A person's use of plastic bags may be counted in minutes but a plastic bag takes between 15 to 1,000 years to be broken down by the environment," he said.
But instead of just taxing, why not just completely ban the use of plastic bags in major stores? Why not get to the root of the problem and prevent stores from giving out plastic bags to prevent people from throwing them away. P2.50 is disproportionate to the environmental and climate impacts of irresponsible plastic bag disposal.
They%u2019re doing it in China! From Sunday, June 1, 2008 and onwards, all Chinese retailers, including supermarkets, department stores and grocery stores, no longer provide free plastic shopping bags. China is trying to reduce the use of plastic bags in a bid to reduce energy consumption and polluting emissions. At least 1,300 tons of oil is consumed daily to produce the shopping bags for supermarkets alone. Retailers providing free plastic bags can be fined up to 10,000 Yuan (or $1,466).
They%u2019re doing it in Ireland! Ireland has been successful in dramatically reducing plastic bag pollution with the introduction of the plastic bag levy in March 2002. Ireland%u2019s Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government, the EcoWaste Coalition reported that plastic bag per capita usage in the country dropped by over 90% from 328 bags to 21 when the levy took effect. Before the levy commenced, retail shops gave out more than 1.2 billion plastic bags free of charge to consumers or 328 bags per person per year.
They%u2019re doing it in San Francisco! The city's Board of Supervisors approved groundbreaking legislation in March of 2007 to outlaw plastic checkout bags at large supermarkets in 6 months and large chain pharmacies in a year. The ordinanceis the first such law in any city in the United States and has been drawing global scrutiny. It takes 430,000 gallons of oil to manufacture 100 million bags. Compostable bags can be recycled in the city's green garbage bins and will make it more convenient for residents to recycle food scraps.
They%u2019re doing it in Los Angeles! The City of Angels will ban all plastic bags from retail stores by July 1, 2010. A new regulation was passed to this effect by the City Council. Los Angeles is the second largest American city after New York.
And where are we now in the Philippines? Although there have been steps made in addressing such a problem (H.B. 4134), but just how real is this solution? We have been cited as a country taking steps in addressing this problem, but are we REALLY addressing it? One only needs to look outside and see that this problem has not even been recognized by hundreds and thousands of our own citizens.
Let us show our support for the House Bill as well as our support for any other legislation that would tackle the problem head-on.
Sign this petition and be a part of the solution now!
To legislators, businesses, and citizens of the world who are unaware of this overwhelming problem......
In June 2006 United Nations Environmental Program report estimated that there are an average of 46,000 pieces of plastic debris floating on or near the surface of every square mile of ocean.
The world uses over 1.2 trillion plastic bags a year. That averages about 300 bags for each adult on the planet. That comes out to over one million bags being used per minute.
On average we use each plastic bag for approximately 12 minutes before disposing. It then lasts in the environment for decades.
Recently, a plastic bag was found floating in space by Nasa!
We call upon SM Supermarket, Robinsons Supermarket, Metro Gaisano, Rustans, Ayala Malls, Ever Gotesco, Isetann, Plaza Fair, Araneta Malls, Waltermart, and ALL other shopping malls and centers to safeguard the health of our citizens and to promote a healthier environment where solid waste management and flooding is not always a problem by offering a nationwide program to forever ban the use of plastic bags.
80% of pollution in seas come from land-based activities. Let us put a stop to the indiscriminate disposal of waste in general. Let us strengthen the capability of the State to protect the environment and at the same time make better use of the resources such as plastic packaging to deliver goods to our people.
Recently, a bill imposing an excise tax of P2.50 for every plastic bag used in business establishments has been filed at the House of Representatives. House Bill 4134 filed by Albay Representative Al Francis Bichara provides automatic allocation of the revenue generated from this proposed tax to the annual budget of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources "to fund efforts to protect the environment."
In pushing for the bill, Bichara said these plastic bags, which are non-biodegradable and are found littered along roadside drains, have caused flooding during heavy rainfall. Plastic bags, likewise, kill one million sea birds, 100,000 sea mammals and countless fish every year, he said. "A person's use of plastic bags may be counted in minutes but a plastic bag takes between 15 to 1,000 years to be broken down by the environment," he said.
But instead of just taxing, why not just completely ban the use of plastic bags in major stores? Why not get to the root of the problem and prevent stores from giving out plastic bags to prevent people from throwing them away. P2.50 is disproportionate to the environmental and climate impacts of irresponsible plastic bag disposal.
They are doing it in China! From Sunday, June 1, 2008 and onwards, all Chinese retailers, including supermarkets, department stores and grocery stores, no longer provide free plastic shopping bags. China is trying to reduce the use of plastic bags in a bid to reduce energy consumption and polluting emissions. At least 1,300 tons of oil is consumed daily to produce the shopping bags for supermarkets alone. Retailers providing free plastic bags can be fined up to 10,000 Yuan (or $1,466).
They are doing it in Ireland! Ireland has been successful in dramatically reducing plastic bag pollution with the introduction of the plastic bag levy in March 2002. Irelands Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government, the EcoWaste Coalition reported that plastic bag per capita usage in the country dropped by over 90% from 328 bags to 21 when the levy took effect. Before the levy commenced, retail shops gave out more than 1.2 billion plastic bags free of charge to consumers or 328 bags per person per year.
They are doing it in San Francisco! The city's Board of Supervisors approved groundbreaking legislation in March of 2007 to outlaw plastic checkout bags at large supermarkets in 6 months and large chain pharmacies in a year. The ordinanceis the first such law in any city in the United States and has been drawing global scrutiny. It takes 430,000 gallons of oil to manufacture 100 million bags. Compostable bags can be recycled in the city's green garbage bins and will make it more convenient for residents to recycle food scraps.
They are doing it in Los Angeles! The City of Angels will ban all plastic bags from retail stores by July 1, 2010. A new regulation was passed to this effect by the City Council. Los Angeles is the second largest American city after New York.
And where are we now in the Philippines? Although there have been steps made in addressing such a problem (H.B. 4134), but just how real is this solution? We have been cited as a country taking steps in addressing this problem, but are we REALLY addressing it? One only needs to look outside and see that this problem has not even been recognized by hundreds and thousands of our own citizens.
Let us show our support for the House Bill as well as our support for any other legislation that would tackle the problem head-on.
Sign this petition and be a part of the solution now!
Sign PetitionSign PetitionIn June 2006 United Nations Environmental Program report estimated that there are an average of 46,000 pieces of plastic debris floating on or near the surface of every square mile of ocean.
The world uses over 1.2 trillion plastic bags a year. That averages about 300 bags for each adult on the planet. That comes out to over one million bags being used per minute.
On average we use each plastic bag for approximately 12 minutes before disposing. It then lasts in the environment for decades.
Recently, a plastic bag was found floating in space by Nasa!
We call upon SM Supermarket, Robinsons Supermarket, Metro Gaisano, Rustans, Ayala Malls, Ever Gotesco, Isetann, Plaza Fair, Araneta Malls, Waltermart, and ALL other shopping malls and centers to safeguard the health of our citizens and to promote a healthier environment where solid waste management and flooding is not always a problem by offering a nationwide program to forever ban the use of plastic bags.
80% of pollution in seas come from land-based activities. Let us put a stop to the indiscriminate disposal of waste in general. Let us strengthen the capability of the State to protect the environment and at the same time make better use of the resources such as plastic packaging to deliver goods to our people.
Recently, a bill imposing an excise tax of P2.50 for every plastic bag used in business establishments has been filed at the House of Representatives. House Bill 4134 filed by Albay Representative Al Francis Bichara provides automatic allocation of the revenue generated from this proposed tax to the annual budget of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources "to fund efforts to protect the environment."
In pushing for the bill, Bichara said these plastic bags, which are non-biodegradable and are found littered along roadside drains, have caused flooding during heavy rainfall. Plastic bags, likewise, kill one million sea birds, 100,000 sea mammals and countless fish every year, he said. "A person's use of plastic bags may be counted in minutes but a plastic bag takes between 15 to 1,000 years to be broken down by the environment," he said.
But instead of just taxing, why not just completely ban the use of plastic bags in major stores? Why not get to the root of the problem and prevent stores from giving out plastic bags to prevent people from throwing them away. P2.50 is disproportionate to the environmental and climate impacts of irresponsible plastic bag disposal.
They are doing it in China! From Sunday, June 1, 2008 and onwards, all Chinese retailers, including supermarkets, department stores and grocery stores, no longer provide free plastic shopping bags. China is trying to reduce the use of plastic bags in a bid to reduce energy consumption and polluting emissions. At least 1,300 tons of oil is consumed daily to produce the shopping bags for supermarkets alone. Retailers providing free plastic bags can be fined up to 10,000 Yuan (or $1,466).
They are doing it in Ireland! Ireland has been successful in dramatically reducing plastic bag pollution with the introduction of the plastic bag levy in March 2002. Irelands Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government, the EcoWaste Coalition reported that plastic bag per capita usage in the country dropped by over 90% from 328 bags to 21 when the levy took effect. Before the levy commenced, retail shops gave out more than 1.2 billion plastic bags free of charge to consumers or 328 bags per person per year.
They are doing it in San Francisco! The city's Board of Supervisors approved groundbreaking legislation in March of 2007 to outlaw plastic checkout bags at large supermarkets in 6 months and large chain pharmacies in a year. The ordinanceis the first such law in any city in the United States and has been drawing global scrutiny. It takes 430,000 gallons of oil to manufacture 100 million bags. Compostable bags can be recycled in the city's green garbage bins and will make it more convenient for residents to recycle food scraps.
They are doing it in Los Angeles! The City of Angels will ban all plastic bags from retail stores by July 1, 2010. A new regulation was passed to this effect by the City Council. Los Angeles is the second largest American city after New York.
And where are we now in the Philippines? Although there have been steps made in addressing such a problem (H.B. 4134), but just how real is this solution? We have been cited as a country taking steps in addressing this problem, but are we REALLY addressing it? One only needs to look outside and see that this problem has not even been recognized by hundreds and thousands of our own citizens.
Let us show our support for the House Bill as well as our support for any other legislation that would tackle the problem head-on.
Sign this petition and be a part of the solution now!
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