[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 1161 Introduced in House (IH)]







110th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. RES. 1161

   Encouraging State and local governments to establish plastic bag 
                          recycling programs.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             April 29, 2008

 Mrs. Lowey submitted the following resolution; which was referred to 
                  the Committee on Energy and Commerce

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
   Encouraging State and local governments to establish plastic bag 
                          recycling programs.

Whereas it is estimated that residents of the United States use approximately 
        100,000,000,000 plastic bags per year, but only an estimated 0.6 percent 
        of such bags will be recycled;
Whereas the production of plastic bags and film plastic worldwide uses over 
        12,000,000 barrels of oil per year, accounting for more than 4 percent 
        of the world's total oil production;
Whereas the Environmental Protection Agency has found that the average plastic 
        bag takes up to 1,000 years to decompose; and
Whereas because plastic bags do not easily biodegrade, such bags ultimately 
        break down into smaller pieces that contaminate soil and waterways and 
        cause injury, illness, or death to animal and marine life: Now, 
        therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) recognizes voluntary recycling programs initiated at 
        retail locations throughout the country and supports the 
        expansion of such programs;
            (2) commends those State and local governments that have 
        taken steps to establish or require plastic bag recycling 
        programs; and
            (3) encourages State and local governments to continue to 
        pursue such recycling programs.
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