With the newest Delaware Shop Rite grocery store as a backdrop, Gov. Jack A. Markell signed legislation into law on Monday that will promote the recycling of plastic bags and reduce the harmful environmental impacts created by the bags.
House Bill 15, sponsored by House Majority Whip Rep. Valerie J. Longhurst, will require that retail stores with at least 7,000 square feet of retail space or three or more Delaware locations must establish an at-store recycling program for plastic bags. Those stores also must provide reusable bags, which customers may purchase. By August 1, 2010, stores must include a message encouraging recycling on all plastic bags. Restaurants are excluded from the law.
The law will take effect on December 1, 2009.
“By encouraging Delawareans to recycle now, we can reduce pollution, preserve our natural resources and set an example for future generations,” Governor Markell said. “This new store where we make this law today is not only putting people to work to help our economy – it’s putting customers to work helping the environment.”
A mother of two, Rep. Longhurst said she sees how many plastic bags a family uses in any given week and how quickly they can pile up. More than 1 million plastic bags are used worldwide each minute – 500 billion to 1 trillion each year – and millions of barrels of oil are used yearly to make bags.
“We only get one environment for us, our children and our grandchildren to enjoy,” said Rep. Longhurst, D-Bear. “While I ideally would have liked to have done more, this is a good first step in moving Delaware forward with recycling and reducing harm to the environment. Encouraging plastic bag recycling through this law will help cut down on trash and make our environment just a little cleaner. “
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