SACRAMENTO, Calif. - (Business Wire) In recognition of this week
’s
Earth Day celebrations, the
American Chemistry Council (ACC) today called on Californians to focus on recycling more plastic shopping bags and plastic containers.
“Earth Day is the perfect time to promote environmentally responsible habits and remind people of the expanded options they have to recycle,” said Sharon Kneiss, ACC’s Product Division Vice President. “Returning plastic bags to grocery stores is a simple step all Californians can take to help improve the health of our planet.”
“A lot of consumers still don’t realize this is something they can and should do,” said Kneiss. “We want to let them know it helps keep bags out of landfills and off our beaches. Demand among recyclers for plastic film exceeds the available supply. Simply put, plastics are too valuable to waste. They don’t belong in our environment; they belong in the recycle bin.”
Under a recent state law, large California grocery stores and pharmacies are now required to offer recycling bins for plastic bags, but many shoppers aren’t aware of this opportunity. ACC is actively working to raise awareness about plastic bag recycling.
Tips & Resources
ACC has been instrumental in developing public education materials to help consumers and businesses identify convenient plastic bag and film recycling opportunities. For example, ACC has developed the most comprehensive on-line database of local plastic bag recycling opportunities that is available free of charge to the general public. This information can be accessed at www.PlasticBagRecycling.org.
In keeping with its mission, ACC today encourages Californians to:
- Return all dry, clean plastic bags – grocery, dry cleaning, newspaper, etc. – to any large grocery store or pharmacy for recycling;
- Reuse plastic bags whenever possible;
- Contact their city or county about proper ways to dispose of polystyrene foam packaging used to package TVs, printers and other appliances;
- Identify and implement recycling programs in their business or workplace;
- Stay up to date by periodically checking which plastic materials you should put in your bin or take to collection facility. A variety of plastics are being added to recycling programs in communities throughout California.
Ongoing Commitment
The Earth Day recycling message is just one example of ACC’s commitment to California’s environment. The industry has also formed a partnership with Keep California Beautiful (KCB) and the State Department of Parks and Recreation to place more than 600 recycling bins for plastic containers in state parks throughout California.
Last year, ACC joined forces with KCB to promote the widespread use of reusable bags. In Los Angeles, ACC provided a $300,000 grant to Keep Los Angeles Beautiful. It also has provided funding to extend the “New-to-Blue” education campaign in Los Angeles to inform city residents about items that can be accepted in curbside recycling bins.
ACC partnered with Aquarium of the Pacific to install a permanent education interaction display to teach young people about the watershed and importance of recycling, as well as the proper disposal of plastics. Legislatively, ACC actively supported passage of a new law that mandates best management practices to keep pre-production plastic pellets out of the environment and oceans. The law was fashioned after a voluntary program put in place by the plastics industry, Operation Clean Sweep.
“Our Earth Day message centers on encouraging positive behavior to combat the litter problem, especially along the California coastline,” Kneiss said. This emphasis echoes a position held by many that the best approaches are not bans on containers and bags, but public education and stricter enforcement of existing litter laws.
Such a strategy “can help remind Californians and the thousands of visitors who come here each year that it is their personal responsibility and civic duty to keep the state clean,” said Jean-Michel Cousteau in a 2006 article he wrote called "People (Not Products) Pollute."
The renowned explorer, environmentalist, educator, film producer and Founder of the California-based Ocean Futures Society wrote that “bans have no effect on such people and irresponsible human behavior cannot be addressed by eliminating certain products in society, although we should continue to endeavor to reduce our environmental footprint. Instead, people need to be aware that what they do—or fail to do—can harm the very planet where we all reside.”
“We look forward to working with local and state governments to boost participation rates so that plastic recycling continues to increase,” said Kneiss. “Our commitment to this goal reflects a belief that Earth Day should be celebrated every day of the year.”
www.americanchemistry.com/newsroom
The American Chemistry Council (ACC) represents the leading companies engaged in the business of chemistry. ACC members apply the science of chemistry to make innovative products and services that make people's lives better, healthier and safer. ACC is committed to improved environmental, health and safety performance through Responsible Care®, common sense advocacy designed to address major public policy issues, and health and environmental research and product testing. The business of chemistry is a $635 billion enterprise and a key element of the nation's economy. It is one of the nation’s largest exporters, accounting for ten cents out of every dollar in U.S. exports. Chemistry companies are among the largest investors in research and development. Safety and security have always been primary concerns of ACC members, and they have intensified their efforts, working closely with government agencies to improve security and to defend against any threat to the nation’s critical infrastructure.
For the American Chemistry Council
Stevan Allen, 916-448-1336
