Continuing with the latest trends in legislation concerning paper/plastic bag bans and packaging requirements, it appears that paper and plastic recyclers should not let their guard down in 2017 as we are already observing new legislation by sponsors advocating the need to rid the environment of what is perceived as a nuisance and landfill magnet.
Following the approval of California's bag ban by
referendum last year, 13 bills either banning, imposing a fee, or otherwise
encouraging retailers to abandon paper and/or plastic shopping bags have
already been introduced. Many of these bills also impose labeling and minimum
recycled content requirements.
As
the concept of extended producer responsibility (i.e. manufacturer take-back) continues
to attract legislators' attention as a way to deal with the costs of landfill
operations and solid waste matters, paper and plastic materials are
increasingly being drawn into the discussion. Despite the fact that viable
markets exist for these valuable commodities, legislators often fail to see
through the fog of the EPR attraction. The state of Indiana is the latest to
enter the fray with the introduction of SB 326, which proposes that producers
take command of the recycling of various paper products as well as beverage
containers, bags and film, and other metals, paper, and plastics. In the State
of New York, SB 1935 sets standards and minimum recycling rates for packaging.
These types of producer responsibility bills would interfere with the free
market flow of many recyclable commodities by giving manufacturers
All
is not bad news, though. The focus on paper and plastic seems to be originating
from local government concerns and some states have stepped in to stop this
ill-advised movement. Last year Arizona, Idaho, and Michigan all passed
"auxiliary container" legislation, which preempts local ordinances
seeking to ban, tax, or otherwise regulate the use of bags, bottles, and other
packaging, while Missouri in 2015 banned local action on paper and plastic bags
specifically. This year South Carolina was the first out the gate with HB 3529
banning local regulation of auxiliary containers, while companion bills in the
New York Assembly and Senate seek to prohibit New York City from banning or
taxing merchandise bags. However, preempting local law is not a popular or easy
thing to accomplish in state government and so ISRI members need to be involved
to keep the discussions from being hijacked by other interests.
ISRI opposes bans and
fees
on paper and plastic bags that are being manufactured into useful, commodity
grade materials and sold into viable, commercial markets without subsidies or
noncompetitive, fixed pricing. While states continue to jockey over whether or
not to impose market restrictions on bags and packaging, ISRI will continue to
advocate for free and fair, competitive, market-based systems for the trade of
recyclable materials.
SPAN Main