Government Eco-Action Monday: BYOB (Bring Your Own Bag)

BYOB (Bring Your Own Bag) or Pay the Price… DC Legislation is Step in Right Direction

No one can disagree that the Anacostia River is in dire straits. Anyone who’s volunteered to help clean up the local waterway has seen the massive debris washed up on its shores. Chief among the myriad pollutants are plastic bags. Bags that take up to 1,000 years to decompose, literally choking animal and plant life in the interim. Fish and other marine life often mistake the bags for food, which leads to a slow and painful — if not immediate — death. Once the animal dies and decays after ingesting plastic, the plastic is then freed back into the river to continue killing other wildlife.

While change can’t come soon enough, the District recently enacted legislation that will require DC businesses to charge five cents for every disposable paper or plastic carryout bag, with proceeds going to the newly-created Anacostia River Cleanup and Protection Fund. The law becomes effective January 1, 2010 but won’t apply to bags used for newspapers, produce, hardware, frozen foods, plants, bakery items or prescription drugs.

In any case, let’s not underestimate the impact of the District’s new law, as it will undoubtedly lead to a substantial reduction in the Anacostia’s trash stream… It’s just that there’s so much more we can all do…

Photo Credit: Flickr CC User eflon