Want to get directly involved in educating lawmakers about litter, and how they can help stop it at the source? Join us for the Trash Free Maryland Lobby Night on Monday, February 27! We'll set up meetings for you and give you the training you need to visit your representatives and have your moment in the sun.
We'll convene for training in the Miller Senate Building (11 Bladen Street, Annapolis) from 5 pm until whenever you can stay. To sign up for the event, fill out the form here, and we'll be in touch!
If you can't make it on Monday, you'll have additional chances on March 5 and March 12. Fill out the same form and make a note where appropriate.
Friday, February 24, 2012
Monday, February 13, 2012
Introducing the Community Cleanup and Greening Act of 2012
Last Thursday Delegate Mary Washington (D-District 43, Baltimore City) introduced the Community Cleanup and Greening Act in the House of Delegates of the Maryland General Assembly. Senator Brian Frosh (D-District 16, Montgomery County) introduced the same bill in the Senate on February 2.
The Community Cleanup and Greening Act aims to reduce litter in Maryland's neighborhoods and environment by imposing a five-cent fee on disposable plastic and paper bags. One to two cents stays with the retailer. The remaining proceeds will be split three ways: to purchase and distribute free reusable bags to low-income and elderly residents; for counties to apply to water quality improvement projects; and for the Chesapeake Bay Trust to administer as environmental restoration grants.
"A bag fee can have a substantial impact on litter, because it encourages shoppers to use reusable bags," said Julie Lawson, Organizer of the Trash Free Maryland Alliance. "If the program never collects a nickel, because everyone switches to reusables, we will have achieved our goal."
The legislation is modeled on successful programs in place in Washington, DC and Montgomery County. In the two years since the implementation of the Anacostia River Cleanup & Protection Act, 75 percent of DC residents say they have reduced their use of plastic bags, leading to reduced costs for retailers and fewer bags picked up at river cleanup events. Proceeds of the fee have been used as grants for green businesses and nonprofit organizations working to restore the Anacostia River, as well as for distributing thousands of reusable bags to those in need.
"There is no such thing as a free bag," said Laurie Schwartz, Executive Director of the Waterfront Partnership of Baltimore. "Retailers could see significant cost savings as they will not have to buy as many bags to then give away. Even a small mom-and-pop shop might save over $1,000 a year."
"Litter brings down the quality of life for residents," added Halle Van der Gaag, Executive Director of Blue Water Baltimore. "It is not only visually ugly but contaminates our waterways. Baltimore City spends more than $10 million each year to clean it up, so preventing it in the first place is more sustainable in the long-term."
The Community Cleanup & Greening Act, SB511, will be heard by the Education, Health, and Environmental Affairs Committee on February 28. The hearing on HB1247 has not yet been scheduled.
The Community Cleanup and Greening Act aims to reduce litter in Maryland's neighborhoods and environment by imposing a five-cent fee on disposable plastic and paper bags. One to two cents stays with the retailer. The remaining proceeds will be split three ways: to purchase and distribute free reusable bags to low-income and elderly residents; for counties to apply to water quality improvement projects; and for the Chesapeake Bay Trust to administer as environmental restoration grants.
"A bag fee can have a substantial impact on litter, because it encourages shoppers to use reusable bags," said Julie Lawson, Organizer of the Trash Free Maryland Alliance. "If the program never collects a nickel, because everyone switches to reusables, we will have achieved our goal."
The legislation is modeled on successful programs in place in Washington, DC and Montgomery County. In the two years since the implementation of the Anacostia River Cleanup & Protection Act, 75 percent of DC residents say they have reduced their use of plastic bags, leading to reduced costs for retailers and fewer bags picked up at river cleanup events. Proceeds of the fee have been used as grants for green businesses and nonprofit organizations working to restore the Anacostia River, as well as for distributing thousands of reusable bags to those in need.
"There is no such thing as a free bag," said Laurie Schwartz, Executive Director of the Waterfront Partnership of Baltimore. "Retailers could see significant cost savings as they will not have to buy as many bags to then give away. Even a small mom-and-pop shop might save over $1,000 a year."
"Litter brings down the quality of life for residents," added Halle Van der Gaag, Executive Director of Blue Water Baltimore. "It is not only visually ugly but contaminates our waterways. Baltimore City spends more than $10 million each year to clean it up, so preventing it in the first place is more sustainable in the long-term."
The Community Cleanup & Greening Act, SB511, will be heard by the Education, Health, and Environmental Affairs Committee on February 28. The hearing on HB1247 has not yet been scheduled.
Sunday, February 12, 2012
More on the Prince George's campaign
I told you there would be more. Greater Greater Washington ran this article of mine on Friday, laying out the whole scenario. Please read, and leave a comment!
If you want to put more skin in the game, and have some time on Monday, please send me an email. We are actively working on outreach to supporters and need your time and energy.
Thursday, February 9, 2012
The report of the bill's death was an exaggeration
The Prince George's County bag bill (PG 402-12) got the Mark Twain treatment from the Washington Post and elsewhere yesterday. More to come, but the County Affairs committee vote yesterday has merely slowed--not stopped--the bill's progress in the General Assembly. It is a powerful reminder that supporters need to speak up, though! The plastics industry is paying for hundreds of robocalls, giving a false impression about support in the County.
Email--or even better, call--your delegates (especially Delegate Veronica Turner of District 26) today and tell them that you support a fee on disposable plastic and paper bags, and that they should too. More specifics about the campaign are posted on our County Campaign tab.
Email--or even better, call--your delegates (especially Delegate Veronica Turner of District 26) today and tell them that you support a fee on disposable plastic and paper bags, and that they should too. More specifics about the campaign are posted on our County Campaign tab.
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