Plastic-Bag Free Illinois

According to the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency), over 380 billion plastic bags are consumed each year in the United States alone. These free" bags, however, have a high cost:

The Dangers:

1. Plastic bags will never biodegrade. They will pollute our land and water indefinitely.
2. Less than 3\% of plastic bags are recycled. Also, the cost of recycling bags is hundreds of times higher than producing new bags.
3. Plastic bags break down into smaller toxic debris which contaminate our soil, lakes, rivers and water reservoirs.
4. Eventually the toxic debris will enter into the food chain.
5. Each year hundreds of thousands of water animals such as sea turtles and whales die from ingesting plastic bags, mistaking them for food.
6. Plastic bags are made from petroleum, further increasing our dependency on foreign oil.

A Realistic Solution:

1. In 2002, Bangladesh became the first country to ban plastic bags.
2. Also in 2002, Ireland placed a tax on plastic bags and has now reduced its consumption of bags by 90\%.
3. In 2003, Taiwan banned the free distribution of plastic bags.
4. Also in 2003, South Africa made plastic bags illegal.
5. In 2005 Eritrea, Rwanda and Somalia banned plastic bags.
6. In 2007, San Francisco became the first US city to ban plastic bags.
7. As of April 22, 2008 (Earth Day), Whole Foods will end the use of disposable plastic bags at all of its stores.
8. China will save 37 million barrels of oil each year by banning free plastic bags ban in 2008.

We feel that if entire countries and a large U.S. city have taken initiatives with positive results, we, as a state can benefit as well as set an example for the rest of our nation.

We, therefore, petition to ban the use of plastic bags in supermarkets, pharmacies, and other stores in the State of Illinois.