Pennsylvania Must Ban Plastic Bags
Target:
Gov. Rendell, Senator Casey, and Sen. Specter
Sponsored by:
Dear Gov. Rendell, Sen. Casey, and Sen. Specter,
As a concerned citizens and constituents of Pennsylvania, I am writing to ask you to introduce legislature for a tax on disposable, single-use plastic bags. Introduced 25 years ago, these bags are now consumed at an astounding rate of approximately 500 billion per year globally, or 1 million per minute. It is estimated that 1% or 5 billion of these bags end up as wind blow litter each year. These bags that take up to 1,000 years to biodegrade, often wind up in waterways or the landscape, becoming eyesores and eventually degrading water and soil as they break down into tiny toxic bits.
Their manufacture and disposal also uses large quantities of non-renewable resources, especially petroleum, a key ingredient in plastic. Large amounts of global warming gases are released during their production, transportation, and disposal. Environmentally, disposable plastic bags are a serious problem. Hundreds of thousands of marine animals, including endangered sea turtles, die every year when they eat plastic bags mistaken for food. Paper bags are not the answer, since independent studies show they have roughly as many negative impacts as plastic ones. These problems could be avoided by advocating the use of reusable bags instead, and the consumption of fewer disposable bags.
The negative impacts of disposable bags could be reduced easily and significantly by charging for their usage at the point of purchase. In cooperation with retailers, the Irish government introduced a plastic bag tax (PlasTax) last year that has slashed consumption over 90% and raised $9.6 million for environmental and waste management projects. Another benefit is that stores save money on bag purchases and improve their public image. For example, Superquinn, one of the largest Irish grocery chains, says the number of bags it distributes for free has dropped by 97.5%.
The PlasTax is a win-win solution to the disposable bag problem. It also helps create the foundation for consumer environmental responsibility and market-based solutions to environmental problems.
Thank you for your careful thought on this matter, and I hope, your support for a PlasTax.
As a concerned citizens and constituents of Pennsylvania, I am writing to ask you to introduce legislature for a tax on disposable, single-use plastic bags. Introduced 25 years ago, these bags are now consumed at an astounding rate of approximately 500 billion per year globally, or 1 million per minute. It is estimated that 1% or 5 billion of these bags end up as wind blow litter each year. These bags that take up to 1,000 years to biodegrade, often wind up in waterways or the landscape, becoming eyesores and eventually degrading water and soil as they break down into tiny toxic bits.
Their manufacture and disposal also uses large quantities of non-renewable resources, especially petroleum, a key ingredient in plastic. Large amounts of global warming gases are released during their production, transportation, and disposal. Environmentally, disposable plastic bags are a serious problem. Hundreds of thousands of marine animals, including endangered sea turtles, die every year when they eat plastic bags mistaken for food. Paper bags are not the answer, since independent studies show they have roughly as many negative impacts as plastic ones. These problems could be avoided by advocating the use of reusable bags instead, and the consumption of fewer disposable bags.
The negative impacts of disposable bags could be reduced easily and significantly by charging for their usage at the point of purchase. In cooperation with retailers, the Irish government introduced a plastic bag tax (PlasTax) last year that has slashed consumption over 90% and raised $9.6 million for environmental and waste management projects. Another benefit is that stores save money on bag purchases and improve their public image. For example, Superquinn, one of the largest Irish grocery chains, says the number of bags it distributes for free has dropped by 97.5%.
The PlasTax is a win-win solution to the disposable bag problem. It also helps create the foundation for consumer environmental responsibility and market-based solutions to environmental problems.
Thank you for your careful thought on this matter, and I hope, your support for a PlasTax.
Dear Gov. Rendell, Sen. Casey, and Sen. Specter,
As a concerned citizens and constituents of Pennsylvania, I am writing to ask you to introduce legislature for a tax on disposable, single-use plastic bags. Introduced 25 years ago, these bags are now consumed at an astounding rate of approximately 500 billion per year globally, or 1 million per minute. It is estimated that 1% or 5 billion of these bags end up as wind blow litter each year. These bags that take up to 1,000 years to biodegrade, often wind up in waterways or the landscape, becoming eyesores and eventually degrading water and soil as they break down into tiny toxic bits.
Their manufacture and disposal also uses large quantities of non-renewable resources, especially petroleum, a key ingredient in plastic. Large amounts of global warming gases are released during their production, transportation, and disposal. Environmentally, disposable plastic bags are a serious problem. Hundreds of thousands of marine animals, including endangered sea turtles, die every year when they eat plastic bags mistaken for food. Paper bags are not the answer, since independent studies show they have roughly as many negative impacts as plastic ones. These problems could be avoided by advocating the use of reusable bags instead, and the consumption of fewer disposable bags.
The negative impacts of disposable bags could be reduced easily and significantly by charging for their usage at the point of purchase. In cooperation with retailers, the Irish government introduced a plastic bag tax (PlasTax) last year that has slashed consumption over 90% and raised $9.6 million for environmental and waste management projects. Another benefit is that stores save money on bag purchases and improve their public image. For example, Superquinn, one of the largest Irish grocery chains, says the number of bags it distributes for free has dropped by 97.5%.
The PlasTax is a win-win solution to the disposable bag problem. It also helps create the foundation for consumer environmental responsibility and market-based solutions to environmental problems.
Thank you for your careful thought on this matter, and I hope, your support for a PlasTax.
As a concerned citizens and constituents of Pennsylvania, I am writing to ask you to introduce legislature for a tax on disposable, single-use plastic bags. Introduced 25 years ago, these bags are now consumed at an astounding rate of approximately 500 billion per year globally, or 1 million per minute. It is estimated that 1% or 5 billion of these bags end up as wind blow litter each year. These bags that take up to 1,000 years to biodegrade, often wind up in waterways or the landscape, becoming eyesores and eventually degrading water and soil as they break down into tiny toxic bits.
Their manufacture and disposal also uses large quantities of non-renewable resources, especially petroleum, a key ingredient in plastic. Large amounts of global warming gases are released during their production, transportation, and disposal. Environmentally, disposable plastic bags are a serious problem. Hundreds of thousands of marine animals, including endangered sea turtles, die every year when they eat plastic bags mistaken for food. Paper bags are not the answer, since independent studies show they have roughly as many negative impacts as plastic ones. These problems could be avoided by advocating the use of reusable bags instead, and the consumption of fewer disposable bags.
The negative impacts of disposable bags could be reduced easily and significantly by charging for their usage at the point of purchase. In cooperation with retailers, the Irish government introduced a plastic bag tax (PlasTax) last year that has slashed consumption over 90% and raised $9.6 million for environmental and waste management projects. Another benefit is that stores save money on bag purchases and improve their public image. For example, Superquinn, one of the largest Irish grocery chains, says the number of bags it distributes for free has dropped by 97.5%.
The PlasTax is a win-win solution to the disposable bag problem. It also helps create the foundation for consumer environmental responsibility and market-based solutions to environmental problems.
Thank you for your careful thought on this matter, and I hope, your support for a PlasTax.
Dear Gov. Rendell, Sen. Casey, and Sen. Specter,
As a concerned citizens and constituents of Pennsylvania, I am writing to ask you to introduce legislature for a tax on disposable, single-use plastic bags. Introduced 25 years ago, these bags are now consumed at an astounding rate of approximately 500 billion per year globally, or 1 million per minute. It is estimated that 1% or 5 billion of these bags end up as wind blow litter each year. These bags that take up to 1,000 years to biodegrade, often wind up in waterways or the landscape, becoming eyesores and eventually degrading water and soil as they break down into tiny toxic bits.
Their manufacture and disposal also uses large quantities of non-renewable resources, especially petroleum, a key ingredient in plastic. Large amounts of global warming gases are released during their production, transportation, and disposal. Environmentally, disposable plastic bags are a serious problem. Hundreds of thousands of marine animals, including endangered sea turtles, die every year when they eat plastic bags mistaken for food. Paper bags are not the answer, since independent studies show they have roughly as many negative impacts as plastic ones. These problems could be avoided by advocating the use of reusable bags instead, and the consumption of fewer disposable bags.
The negative impacts of disposable bags could be reduced easily and significantly by charging for their usage at the point of purchase. In cooperation with retailers, the Irish government introduced a plastic bag tax (PlasTax) last year that has slashed consumption over 90% and raised $9.6 million for environmental and waste management projects. Another benefit is that stores save money on bag purchases and improve their public image. For example, Superquinn, one of the largest Irish grocery chains, says the number of bags it distributes for free has dropped by 97.5%.
The PlasTax is a win-win solution to the disposable bag problem. It also helps create the foundation for consumer environmental responsibility and market-based solutions to environmental problems.
Thank you for your careful thought on this matter, and I hope, your support for a PlasTax.
As a concerned citizens and constituents of Pennsylvania, I am writing to ask you to introduce legislature for a tax on disposable, single-use plastic bags. Introduced 25 years ago, these bags are now consumed at an astounding rate of approximately 500 billion per year globally, or 1 million per minute. It is estimated that 1% or 5 billion of these bags end up as wind blow litter each year. These bags that take up to 1,000 years to biodegrade, often wind up in waterways or the landscape, becoming eyesores and eventually degrading water and soil as they break down into tiny toxic bits.
Their manufacture and disposal also uses large quantities of non-renewable resources, especially petroleum, a key ingredient in plastic. Large amounts of global warming gases are released during their production, transportation, and disposal. Environmentally, disposable plastic bags are a serious problem. Hundreds of thousands of marine animals, including endangered sea turtles, die every year when they eat plastic bags mistaken for food. Paper bags are not the answer, since independent studies show they have roughly as many negative impacts as plastic ones. These problems could be avoided by advocating the use of reusable bags instead, and the consumption of fewer disposable bags.
The negative impacts of disposable bags could be reduced easily and significantly by charging for their usage at the point of purchase. In cooperation with retailers, the Irish government introduced a plastic bag tax (PlasTax) last year that has slashed consumption over 90% and raised $9.6 million for environmental and waste management projects. Another benefit is that stores save money on bag purchases and improve their public image. For example, Superquinn, one of the largest Irish grocery chains, says the number of bags it distributes for free has dropped by 97.5%.
The PlasTax is a win-win solution to the disposable bag problem. It also helps create the foundation for consumer environmental responsibility and market-based solutions to environmental problems.
Thank you for your careful thought on this matter, and I hope, your support for a PlasTax.
We signed the "Pennsylvania Must Ban Plastic Bags" petition!
# 57:
7:58 am PDT, Oct 31,
Helle Collin, Denmark
# 56:
1:45 pm PDT, Oct 18,
Matt Evangelista, Pennsylvania
# 55:
4:03 pm PDT, Oct 11,
Thomas LoRusso, Florida
plastic bags are not necessary in our world. sure theres commercials saying "recycle, help the world" well why don't we help the world by not making or using plastic bags. we can just use green bags which are bigger and stronger. so 10,15 would suffice on a big grocery list. i believe everyone can afford to spend an extra 15 dollars to save the world millions of dollars wasted on plastic bags. and save our environment from waste that's not being recycled
plastic bags are not necessary in our world. sure theres commercials saying "recycle, help the world" well why don't we help the world by not making or using plastic bags. we can just use green bags which are bigger and stronger. so 10,15 would suffice on a big grocery list. i believe everyone can afford to spend an extra 15 dollars to save the world millions of dollars wasted on plastic bags. and save our environment from waste that's not being recycled
# 54:
10:54 am PDT, Oct 8,
Evangelia Manthoyianni, Greece
# 53:
8:43 pm PDT, Sep 30,
Glenn Brown, Nebraska
# 52:
11:11 am PDT, Sep 29,
Jason K., Pennsylvania
Plastic bags are worthless. They blight our world. A craftsperson could make re-usable textile bags to bring spirit to a community. Or even if you forget yours you could have a challenge of how to carry home stuff in the belly of your shirt...
Plastic bags are worthless. They blight our world. A craftsperson could make re-usable textile bags to bring spirit to a community. Or even if you forget yours you could have a challenge of how to carry home stuff in the belly of your shirt...
# 51:
6:25 am PDT, Sep 17,
Melissa Wanner, Pennsylvania
# 50:
5:30 am PDT, Jul 26,
Octavian Paul Draja, Romania
# 49:
6:46 am PDT, Jul 25,
Sylwia Podgórska, Poland
# 48:
1:46 am PDT, Jul 23,
Name not displayed, Finland
# 47:
2:48 am PDT, Jul 4,
Elaine Robinson, United Kingdom
# 46:
7:31 pm PDT, Jul 2,
Steve Dale, Australia
# 45:
8:54 am PDT, Jul 1,
Carl Rosenstock, Wisconsin
# 44:
1:16 am PDT, Jul 1,
Razvan V., Romania
# 43:
2:00 am PDT, Jun 28,
Gail Dair, Australia
# 42:
10:50 am PDT, Jun 27,
Denise Lytle, New Jersey
# 41:
12:53 pm PDT, Jun 25,
Lynn Barnes, Michigan
# 40:
8:58 am PDT, Jun 25,
Gabriela Zambrana, Bolivia
# 39:
8:59 am PDT, Jun 24,
Erika Armoa Martínez, Paraguay
# 38:
6:13 am PDT, Jun 24,
Pamela LoGioia, Pennsylvania
There is really so much at stake here, when we stop to consider the immensity and complexity of this problem. Please continue with this proactive position representing your excellent stewardship for the environment of PA and a model for all to emulate.
There is really so much at stake here, when we stop to consider the immensity and complexity of this problem. Please continue with this proactive position representing your excellent stewardship for the environment of PA and a model for all to emulate.
# 37:
8:30 am PDT, Jun 23,
Jacqueline Robinson, Georgia
Georgia needs to do the same! People don't seem to get it - Plastic is not recycleable - ever!! Every state should ban plastic bags.
Georgia needs to do the same! People don't seem to get it - Plastic is not recycleable - ever!! Every state should ban plastic bags.
# 36:
11:38 pm PDT, Jun 21,
Pam Boland, Georgia
# 35:
2:24 pm PDT, Jun 21,
Daphna Jindrich, Mexico
# 34:
9:32 am PDT, Jun 21,
Tristan Fallis, Montana
# 33:
9:27 am PDT, Jun 21,
David Meiser, Pennsylvania
# 32:
7:59 am PDT, Jun 21,
Jennifer Gardner, Florida
# 31:
7:46 am PDT, Jun 21,
Kristina Borisova, Bulgaria
# 30:
2:11 am PDT, Jun 21,
Steve Klein, Virginia
For more impact, add a personal comment here
For more impact, add a personal comment here
# 29:
8:17 pm PDT, Jun 20,
Anthony Montapert, California
# 28:
7:12 pm PDT, Jun 20,
Stephanie Leineweber, Virginia
# 27:
5:24 pm PDT, Jun 20,
Elise Roddy, Massachusetts
# 26:
2:08 pm PDT, Jun 20,
Kimberly Duboise, Missouri
# 25:
12:09 pm PDT, Jun 20,
Samantha Kanelstein, Pennsylvania
Not only would banning plastic bags improve our environment, it would clean up our streets. I see so many plastic bags on the ground and in garbage cans all over Philadelphia and it is wasteful and unnecessary. I would like to have children one day and i want them to be able to live in a world where they can be free from the effects of climate change.
Not only would banning plastic bags improve our environment, it would clean up our streets. I see so many plastic bags on the ground and in garbage cans all over Philadelphia and it is wasteful and unnecessary. I would like to have children one day and i want them to be able to live in a world where they can be free from the effects of climate change.
# 24:
11:32 am PDT, Jun 20,
Celia Vera-Cruz, Oregon
# 22:
7:11 am PDT, Jun 20,
David N Moore, Connecticut
# 21:
6:22 am PDT, Jun 20,
Mieke Bernaards, Belgium
# 20:
4:03 am PDT, Jun 20,
Denisszia Gerocz, Romania
# 19:
3:13 am PDT, Jun 20,
Bill C, Germany
# 18:
2:08 am PDT, Jun 20,
Bertil Saukkoriipi, Sweden
# 17:
12:26 am PDT, Jun 20,
Marcin Sztwiertnia, Poland
# 16:
11:59 pm PDT, Jun 19,
Paulina Zukowska, Poland
# 15:
11:57 pm PDT, Jun 19,
Izabela Kaszuba, Poland
# 14:
11:50 pm PDT, Jun 19,
Slawomir Renda, Poland
# 13:
11:49 pm PDT, Jun 19,
Radoslaw Renda, Poland
# 12:
11:46 pm PDT, Jun 19,
Joanna Renda, Poland
# 11:
10:52 pm PDT, Jun 19,
Kathleen Hilliker, Arizona
I would love to see plastic used a whole lot less as a choice for shopping. If it takes a ban to get people to use cloth bags, then let it bew banned in every state!!!!
I would love to see plastic used a whole lot less as a choice for shopping. If it takes a ban to get people to use cloth bags, then let it bew banned in every state!!!!
# 10:
10:29 pm PDT, Jun 19,
Bj Hedahl, Washington
MORALS or MONEY; what runs this country and YOUR life??
MORALS or MONEY; what runs this country and YOUR life??
# 9:
6:31 pm PDT, Jun 19,
David Dunkleberger, Pennsylvania
# 8:
5:35 pm PDT, Jun 19,
Stacy Renee, Florida
I do think they should stop making plastic bags that do not bio-degrade. It is a waste, and most ppl use them as trash bags. So they do come in handy, but too much plastic is wasted to carry groceries, and half the time the bags rip.
I do think they should stop making plastic bags that do not bio-degrade. It is a waste, and most ppl use them as trash bags. So they do come in handy, but too much plastic is wasted to carry groceries, and half the time the bags rip.
# 7:
3:17 pm PDT, Jun 19,
Jemma Browning, United Kingdom
# 6:
2:53 pm PDT, Jun 19,
Name not displayed, Illinois
# 5:
2:49 pm PDT, Jun 19,
Mervi Rantala, Finland
# 4:
12:53 pm PDT, Jun 19,
Sherry Leung, Canada
# 3:
10:38 am PDT, Jun 19,
Name not displayed, New Jersey
# 2:
8:30 am PDT, Jun 19,
Stefani Shepherd, California
Please ban plastic bags! It is so much better using reusable ones. Thank you.
Please ban plastic bags! It is so much better using reusable ones. Thank you.
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