IV 111th CONGRESS 2d Session H. RES. 1506 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES July 1, 2010 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

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.