Plastic Bag Reduction Bill Veto Mesage

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Review of Plastic vs.Paper Bag LCA Studies Page 4 2. Plastic bags consume less than 6% of the water needed to make paper bags. It takes 1004 gallons of water to produce 1000 paper bags and 58 gallons of water to produce 1500 plastic bags.' 3. Plastic grocery bags consume 71% less energy during production than paper bags.5 Significantly, even though traditional disposable plastic bags are produced from fossil fuels, the total non-renewable energy consumed during their lifecycle is up to 36% less than the non-renewable energy consumed during the lifecycle of paper bags and up to 64% less than that consumed by biodegradable plastic bag s.6 4. Using paper sacks generates almost five times more solid waste than using plastic bags.' 5. After four or more uses, reusable plastic bags are superior to all types of disposable bags --paper, polyethylene and compostable plastic -- across all significant environmental indicators.' C. Litter While the data appear to indicate that paper and compostable plastic bags may account for less litter, data also indicates that this finding is offset by the increased environmental impacts these bags produce versus traditional plastic bags: 1. The manufacture of paper bags consumes twice as much water and emits about 60% more greenhouse gases than the production of plastic bags.9 2. Compared to disposable plastic bags, biodegradable plastic bags generate higher levels of greenhouse gas emissions, atmospheric acidification and eutrophification (a process whereby bodies of water receive excess nutrients that stimulate excessive plant growth, such as algae blooms).10 V. CONCLUSIONS/INDICATED ACTIONS The conclusion to be drawn about how to reduce the environmental impacts and litter associated with grocery bags is very much in line with both lonQstandinQ EPA guidelines and the ULS Report philosophy: the issue is not paper or plastic, but rather finding ways to reduce, reuse, and recycle both of them - in that order. By putting more items in fewer bags, avoiding double bagging, switching to durable tote bags, and reusing and recycling disposable bags, significant reductions in material and non- renewable energy consumption, pollution, solid waste, greenhouse gas emissions, and litter, will occur. And, while recycling can help save resources, its real value lies in the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, and the minimization of waste going to landfills. Also, recycling helps reduce litter, as bags are contained and stored. Containment reduces the potential for them to be left in open spaces, where they become eyesores. 28 March 2008