Statement From American Progressive Bag Alliance on Los Angeles City Council's Vote to Ban Plastic Retail Bags

LOS ANGELES, May 23, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- The Los Angeles City Council today voted to impose a draconian policy to ban plastic retail bags, a move that puts hundreds of Los Angeles area jobs at risk, without providing any benefit to the environment. The ordinance put in motion by the city council includes a ban on plastic retail bags and a ten cent tax on shoppers for the use of paper bags.       

The following is a statement from Mark Daniels, Chair of the American Progressive Bag Alliance, an organization representing the United States' plastic bag manufacturing and recycling sector, which employs 30,800 workers in 349 communities across the nation, 1,900 of whom are in California.

"By voting to ban plastic shopping bags, the City of Los Angeles put in motion a misguided and onerous policy that threatens the jobs of hundreds of Angelenos employed by the industry, and nearly 2,000 statewide, while pushing residents to less environmentally friendly reusable bags which are produced overseas and cannot be recycled. Los Angeles residents should be further concerned as this ordinance also calls for a regressive, hidden tax to be imposed without voter approval.

"Singling out and banning one product does not reduce litter and with this bag ban, the city chose to take a simplistic approach that takes away consumer choice instead of pursuing meaningful programs that encourage greater recycling of plastic bags and wraps, while preserving jobs."

About the American Progressive Bag Alliance (APBA)

The American Progressive Bag Alliance was founded in 2005 to represent the United States' plastic bag manufacturing and recycling sector, employing 30,800 workers in 349 communities across the nation. APBA promotes the responsible use, reuse, recycling and disposal of plastic bags and advocates for American-made plastic products as the best environmental choice at check out—for both retailers and consumers.

SOURCE American Progressive Bag Alliance

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