What you should know about plastic bags

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Allyson Wilson
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This section provides news ideas from the American Chemistry Council's Plastics Division and selected news stories of interest.

WJLA On Your Side: Reusable Bag Dangers [ABC 7 News, 3/1/2010]
Plastic bag makers support consumers’ right to choose the right bag to help meet their needs. Plastic shopping bags can be easily reused and recycled. For some shoppers, reusable bags can be a convenient way to reduce overall bag use. For shoppers who choose reusable bags, some health experts recommend washing reusable shopping bags and allowing them to dry thoroughly between uses to minimize bacterial growth.

MEDIA REPORTS AND EDITORIALS

Opinion: $20 Billion in Debt, 12% Jobless, No Budget—and We Ban Grocery Bags? [Capitol Weekly, 7/29/2010]

[VIDEO]: A Bag's Life Recycling Contest [Bay News 9]

The Unintended Consequences of a Plastic Bag Ban [L.A. Times, 6/29/2010]

Paper, Plastic, or a Dirty Bag? [Cal Watchdog, 6/3/2010]

Bag Taxes Disappointing in Debut [Tax Foundation, 5/7/2010]

Recycle—But Don't Tax—Plastic Bags [Los Angeles Times, 4/30/2010]

Suffolk Students Recycle 354,000 Plastic Bags [The Virginian-Pilot, 4/29/2010]

A Bag's Life: Campaign Aims to Make Recycling Easy [WCTV, 4/22/2010]

Kennydale Students in Renton Collect Plastic to Help Save the Environment [Renton Reporter, 4/21/2010]

Student Recycling Program Rewarded With Cash [Alexandria News, 4/19/2010]

Target Goes for Eco-credibility By Adding Recycling Bins to All Stores [Environmental Leader, 4/6/2010]

[VIDEO]: What Happens to Those Plastic Bags? [Clean Skies News, 3/25/2010]

Plastic Bags Withstand the Test of Time...and Politicians [CFACT News, 3/12/2010]

Can People Afford "Feel-Good" Bag Laws? [AOL News, 2/15/2010]

Plastic-bag Legislation Can't Solve Hawaii's Problems [The Honolulu Advertiser, 2/14/2010]

Do You Need a Bag? Yeah, Make it Plastic [PlasticsNews.com, 2/5/2010]

Hawaii County Strikes Down Bid to Ban Plastic Bags [The Washington Post, 2/4/2010]

D.C. Shoppers Opt for Roughing It Over Paying 5-Cent Tax [Honolulu Star-Bulletin, 1/23/2010]

Recycling Beats Plastic-bag Bans, Taxes, ACC Official Says [Noozhawk.com, 1/17/2010]

Iowa Grocers Encourage Bag Recycling [PlasticsNews.com, 1/13/2010]

Officials Say Plastic Bag Recycling Has Strong Response [Channel3000.com, 12/28/2009]

ACC Provides Support for Philadelphia's Plastic-recycling Initiative [Recycling Today, 12/7/2009]

Sack the Plastic-bag Levy [The Washington Times, 10/12/2009]

Bagging a Successful Recycling Program [San Diego Union Tribune, 10/10/2009]

Laws Targeting Plastic Don’t Achieve Intended Goal [San Francisco Examiner, 10/5/2009]

Biodegradable Waste Bags "More Damaging" [Waste & Recycling News, 9/14/2009]

Voters Reject Disposable-Bag Fee [The Seattle Times, 8/19/2009]

Seattle's Bag Tax is a Bad Idea Without Substantive Environmental Impact [The Seattle Times, 8/4/2009]

Who's Left Holding the Bag Fee [The Seattle Times, 7/29/2009]

No to the Bag Tax [The Baltimore Sun, 6/18/2009]

Paper or Plastic? A New Look at the Bag Scourge [The Wall Street Journal, 6/12/2009]

NEWS RELEASES

California Assembly Votes for Billion Dollar Consumer "Tax" on Bags [6/2/2010]

Stop the $1 Billion Bag Tax [6/2/2010]

Plastics Industry Testifies in Support of New York City Recycling Program Expansion [4/27/2010]

"A Bag's Life" Campaign Encourages Floridians to Change Habits, Creates Buzz for Plastic Bag Recycling [4/22/2010]

King County Launches Recycling Campaign: "Bag Your Bags! Bring'em Back" [4/20/2010]

Recycling Coalition Kicks off "Bring it Back Philly Campaign" [4/13/2010]

Plastic Bag Makers Kick Off Series of Plastic Bag Recycling Events to Celebrate Earth Month [4/12/2010]

New National Report Shows Plastic Bag Recycling Reaches Record High [3/16/2010]

Virginia Legislature Rejects Tax on Plastic, Paper Bags [2/9/2010]

Florida Retail Bags Report a “Step in the Right Direction” Say Plastic Makers [2/5/2010]

Brownsville, Texas, Bag Policy Ignores Environmental and Economic Impacts [1/7/2010]

Plastic Bag Makers Support Plastic Bag Recycling Program in Philadelphia [12/3/2009]

“Got Your Bags?” Campaign Kicks Off in Los Angeles [10/29/2009]

San Jose City Council Ignores Recycling Offers; Current Plan Would Derail Growing Drop-off Bag Recycling Program [9/25/2009]

Plastic Makers Support California Coastal Cleanup Day [9/19/2009]

“Got Your Bags?” Campaign Kicks Off in Sacramento [9/18/2009]

Delaware Bag Law Widens Plastics Recycling Opportunities [8/19/2009]

Voters Reject Seattle Bax Tax [8/19/2009]

Plastic Bag Makers Support Recycling Program in Isle of Wight County, Virginia [8/5/2009]

ACC Supports "Got Your Bags?" Campaign in California [7/31/2009]

Coalition to "Stop the Seattle Bag Tax" Surpasses 1,000 Members, Continues to Grow [7/22/2009]

ACC Supports Plastic Bag Recycling Pilot Program in Lake County, Illinois [7/20/2009]

Delaware Legislature Passes Recycling Program for Plastic Bags [7/2/2009]

Philadelphia Rejects Tax and Ban on Plastic Bags [6/18/2009]

D.C. Tax on Recyclable Plastic Shopping Bags Misguided and Unnecessary [6/16/2009]

North Carolina Bag Debate Ignores Environmental and Economic Impacts [6/9/2009]

Plastic Makers Welcome United Nations' Marine Litter Report, Support Call for Solutions Based on Integrated Waste Management [6/8/2009]

Philadelphia Rejects Tax on Recyclable Plastic Grocery Bags [5/18/2009]

Plastic Bag Makers Respond to "Plastic Bag Reduction Act of 2009" [4/22/2009]

Plastic Bag Manufacturers Set Aggressive Recycled Content Goal [4/21/2009]

D.C. Bag Tax Would Derail Plastic Bag Recycling [4/01/2009]

Plastic Bag Makers Respond to Recent Apple Decision, Support Efforts to Reduce Waste [3/23/2009]

Palo Alto, CA, Rejects Partnership to Increase Recycling, Outlaws Plastic Bags [3/16/2009]

U.S. Recycling of Plastic Bags and Film Reaches Record High in 2007 [2/5/2009]

New York City Grocery Tax Hurts Families and the Environment [1/30/2009]

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