City Council's Committee on the Environment is now meeting on measures by Councilmen Frank DiCicco and Jim Kenney to cut down on littering by placing a fee on the use of plastic bags by stores or out right banning the bags. DiCicco decided today to not move forward with the plastic bag fee, which previously found support on the committee and was prepared for a vote by the full Council.
DiCicco pulled that bill from consideration last week after some of his colleagues had second thoughts. PhillyClout hears Councilman Curtis Jones Jr. led that call for reconsideration.
That leaves DiCicco and Kenney this morning with their other bill, which calls for a "mandatory use of recyclable and compostable" bags at stores. That would add up to a full ban on plastic bags. DiCicco is now debating the issue in Council with a lobbyist from the plastic bag industry, who is saying that compostable bags cause just as much trash and use as much energy to produce and recycle as plastic bags.
UPDATE, 10:10 am: Shari Jackson of Progressive Bag Affiliates -- an arm of the American Chemistry Council -- drew Kenney's ire when she spoke of the industry's efforts against litter. Kenney noted that the city still has plastic bags blowing around on streets, stuck in trees and floating in rivers.
"Obviously, more needs to be done," Jackson said.
"Like banning them," Kenney retorted.
UPDATE, 10:40 am: The committee just unanimously approved the legislation banning the type of plastic bags typically used at supermarkets and pharmacies in the city. Those bags will have to be replaced after July 1, 2011 with recyclable paper bags, compostable plastic bags or reusable bags. An amendment also calls for education programs in consultation with retailers and environmental advocacy groups to explain the measure to consumer before it is enforced. DiCicco is aiming for a final vote by the full Council next week, before the start of a three-month recess.
or fining people for littering. walk around and watch people dump trash with reckless abandon. dreinterests
What about deli bags? The little black plastic take out bags the kids just throw on the ground the moment they get their soda and chips out. CleanupPhilly
But seriously, Council is about to go into summer recess, and the haven't proposed legislation to fix the BRT, haven't fixed the $1 billion in forfeit bail, passed Nutter's requested ethics legislation, or even talked about how to legislatively fix the collection of half a billion in overdue property taxes. There's been no revisiting the budget since the new revenue numbers have come out, or a revision of the plan for the budget if the sales tax hike doesn't pass. Doesn't that strike people as reckless to the point of insanity? CleanupPhilly
The state is going to have to take over the row offices charged with assessing and collecting revenue for the city. Council simply can't face the task. CleanupPhilly
Every taxpayer in PA pays for Philly, so everyone has an interest in having Philly get its budget and revenue matters right. It has to fix property tax assessments and collection, and collect forfeit bail, and Council is obsessed with banning bags as if this would give the city the gloss of progress. Everyone who doesn't live in Philly has an interest in getting the message to their state legislator that the state has to be more proactive in solving Philly's financial crisis by not giving Philly more money or bailing it out, and mandating state legislative solutions to long-term Philly patronage and mismanagement. Council is not able. They are screaming it loud and clear. CleanupPhilly
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from the same group that banned nuclear carriers at the PNY centercitysam
I guess I'll be leaving my dogs sh*t on the street... my3cents- Great now nobody in my neighborhood will pick up after their dog!!!! bird11
Good to see Council wasting their time fighting over plastic bags, while ignoring the many real problems facing the city. jfar86
Thats it as promised I will be filling my SUV with plastic bags from the Acme and driving all thru the city letting them stream out my windo in retaliation, all the while I run over polar bears. That certainly is not more rediculous than the whack job with all the bags he/she made an entire outfit out of. I hope they inhale one of those and choke on it....City council should be ashamed for passing such a meaningless law. God I am glad I live just outside the city- don't pay taxes to the money suckhole that is Philadelphia. So they are going to spend money educating people to recycle/reuse bags- are you f'n kidding me. Typical Dem's throw money at it that will solve the problem. Criz2020
god forbid people have self-accountability and dont throw their trash around. typical dem bs. democratsruinedthecity
I love when the best solution people can come up with for something they don't like is "ban it!" Bud Fox
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libs are pathetic!!!! gnit2
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