Plastic bag bill draws ire of environmentalists

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Catlin Bogard

Story Created: Wed Jul 4, 2012 7:29 AM

Story Updated: Wed Jul 4, 2012 8:22 AM

CHICAGO — Environmentalists are urging Gov. Pat Quinn to veto a bill requiring plastic bag manufacturers to set up collection and recycling programs.

They say it's a ploy by industry to make sure the state keeps using plastic bags because it would prohibit individual communities from adopting more stringent recycling or reduction programs - or banning the ubiquitous bags altogether.
The proposed law would require plastic bag manufacturers to set up recycling programs with the goal of increasing the recycling rate by 12 percent by 2015.
Industry officials say manufacturers might not be able to meet the recycling goals if individual communities started banning or charging shoppers a fee for plastic bags.
Quinn hasn't' said if he'll sign or veto the bill, only that he'll do what's right for the environment.