ACTION ALERT: Carryout Bags

Bag Bill Action Alert!

The Senate Environmental & Preservation Committee is going to hear a good plastic bags bill this Thursday morning!

SB 0830 Carryout Bags by Sen. Bullard will allow local governments to adopt ordinances that prohibit stores from handing out free plastic bags, and will require a ten-cent charge for each recyclable paper bag. Customers are free to supply their own bags.

The bill sets uniform statewide standards for cities and counties that want to implement plastic bag rules. At least half of the 10 cent fee will go to education with the remainder to go to the store to cover expenses.

The bill provides that the bag ordinance can only apply to large stores meeting at least $2 million in gross annual sales, or that have at least 10,000 square feet of floor space.

Talking Points:

• It is estimated that Americans go through about 100 billion plastic bags a year, or 360 bags per year for every man, woman, and child in the country.
• Plastics comprise up to 90% of floating marine debris, and up to 80% of the plastic in our oceans comes from land-based sources.
• An estimated 100,000 marine mammals and up to 1 million sea birds die every year after ingesting or being tangled in plastic marine litter.
• The bill will reduce litter and the problems caused by plastic bags in stormwater management systems (they clog them up).
• SB 830 gives authority back to local governments by allowing them to opt-in to these uniform standards.
• Support SB 830 and help Florida take the first step toward protecting our environment and wildlife from the harmful impacts of single use plastics.

Please CALL TODAY and urge Committee members to vote ‘YES’ on Carryout Bags.

YES ON 830 – CARRYOUT BAGS

Sen. Charles S. Dean, Chair
Baker,Citrus,Columbia,Dixie,Gilchrist,Lafayette,Levy,Marion,Suwannee,Union
(850) 487-5005
dean.charles.web@flsenate.gov

Sen. Joseph Abruzzo, Vice Chair
Palm Beach
(850) 487-5025
abruzzo.joseph.web@flsenate.gov

Sen. Thad Altman
Brevard, Orange, Seminole
(850) 487-5016
altman.thad.web@flsenate.gov

Sen. Dwight Bullard
Collier,Hendry, Miami-Dade, Monroe
(850) 487-5039
bullard.dwight.web@flsenate.gov

Sen. Jeff Clemens
Palm Beach
(850) 487-5027
clemens.jeff.web@flsenate.gov

Sen. Andy Gardiner
Brevard, Orange
(850) 487-5013
gardiner.andy.web@flsenate.gov

Sen. Denise Grimsley
Highlands,Martin,Okeechobee,Osceola,Polk,St. Lucie
(850) 487-5021
grimsley.denise.web@flsenate.gov

Sen. Jack Latvala
Pinellas
(850) 487-5020
latvala.jack.web@flsenate.gov

Sen. Wilton Simpson
Hernando,Pasco,Sumter
(850) 487-5018
simpson.wilton.web@flsenate.gov

Sen. Darren Soto
Orange,Osceola,Polk
(850) 487-5014
soto.darren.web@flsenate.gov