HOUSE BILL REPORT

HB 972

BYRepresentatives Lux, Nelson, Jacobsen, Valle, Meyers and Crane

Prohibiting the use of plastic grocery bags.

House Committe on Environmental Affairs

Majority Report:     The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass.  (9)

     Signed by Representatives Rust, Chair; Valle, Vice Chair; Brekke, Ferguson, Jesernig, Lux, May, Unsoeld and Walker.  (9)

Minority Report:     Do not pass.  (1)

     Signed by Representative Schoon.

House Staff:Susan Gulick (786-7116)

AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS

JANUARY 27, 1988

BACKGROUND:

Many grocery stores provide plastic grocery bags as an option to paper bags for customers to carry out their groceries.  There is increasing concern about the usage of plastics, primarily because plastic is not as frequently recycled as paper, is not biodegradable, and is produced from nonrenewable resources.

SUMMARY:

SUBSTITUTE BILL:  After January 1, 1989, it is illegal to provide plastic grocery bags at the check out stands of grocery stores, unless the bag is smaller than twelve inches by eighteen inches and is used to bag individual items such as meats or frozen products. Ecology may waive this requirement for plastic bags that can easily be recycled.

Owners of grocery stores violating this provision are subject to a fine of $100.

SUBSTITUTE BILL COMPARED TO ORIGINAL:  The substitute bill adds provisions allowing the Department of Ecology to waive the requirements for certain plastic bags.

Fiscal Note:    Requested January 28, 1988.

House Committee ‑ Testified For:     Chuck Dorgan; Jim Peterson; Nancy Pearson, Washington Citizens for Recycling; Kathleen Collins, Association of Washington Cities; Councilwoman Virginia Galle, Seattle City Council; Joan Edwards, Sierra Club; Joni Charboneau, Washington Public Interest Research Group.

House Committee - Testified Against: Frank Keller, Washington Bottlers of Carbonated Beverages; Mike Brand, Greggs Foods, Incorporated; Gerald Johnson, West Coast Plastics.

House Committee - Testimony For:     Numerous species of marine wildlife ingest plastic bags with fatal consequences, including dolphins and turtles.  Plastic is made from petroleum by-products and paper is made from a renewable resource; therefore we should rely on paper products.  Paper use enhances the northwest economy and creates local jobs.

House Committee - Testimony Against: It's counterproductive to ban certain products.  This bill will not solve disposal or packaging products.  The legislature should continue to work with industries to develop effective solutions to our solid waste problems instead of banning plastic bags.