A Manitoba Solution for Plastic Bags
Multi-Material Stewardship Manitoba (MMSM) will launch a new industry program to manage packaging and printed paper, including plastic bags in spring 2010. Companies that provide carry-put plastic bags are required to support this program.
Manitoba was the first province in Canada to ban plastic bags in liquor stores and the second to set targets for plastic bag reduction. Manitoba's focus is a comprehensive approach to first reducing, then reusing and recycling single use plastic bags, modeled after successful programs in California and other jurisdictions. Options for ensuring all bags meet recycling or composting standards are being explored.
Your views on these issues will help in the design of an effective plastic bag program for Manitoba that establishes standards for plastic bags distributed and/or sold in the province.
Plastic Bag Guideline
In support of Manitoba's aggressive 50% reduction target, the Plastic Bag Guideline requires industry to undertake the following actions:
Measure and report on the use of single-use plastic bags in Manitoba annually.
Evaluate the opportunity to reduce the number of single-use bags used through setting of minimum thickness guidelines.
Increase promotion and availability of reusable bags as an alternative to single-use disposable plastic bags.
Increase the amount of recycled content in plastic bags.
Evaluate the use of bio-degradable bags and the need to increase their availability.
Promote and implement incentives to encourage consumers to reduce demand for plastic bags.
Promote and implement incentives to encourage consumers to use reusable bags.
Promote and implement best practices for plastic bags by Manitoba retailers.
Expand programs to encourage consumers to recycle plastic bags, including in-store and municipal recycling services.
Provide province-wide plastic bag recycling opportunities in stores that offer single-use plastic bags at check-out.
In partnership with the Manitoba Government and key stakeholders, launch an annual province-wide promotion and education program to encourage consumers to reduce the use of plastic bags, and to reuse and recycle bags already in circulation.
Establish a comprehensive litter reduction program for plastic bags.
Proposed Options
To further ensure plastic bags are reduced, reused and recycled the following options are proposed to strengthen plastic bag management under the new program:
Requiring plastic carry-out bags sold and/or distributed in Manitoba to contain a minimum of 25% postconsumer recycled material.
Increasing the requirement for postconsumer recycled content to increase to 50% within five years.
Requiring all carry-out plastic bags sold and/or distributed in Manitoba to be imprinted with wording such as: "Please recycle or reuse this bag".
Requiring all compostable or biodegradable plastic bags sold and/or distributed in Manitoba to meet national or international standards and be certified as such. A number of standards exist for compostable bags including ISO 17088, Specifications for compostable plastics and BNQ Compostable Plastic Bags standard 9011-911A.
Bags that do not conform to these standards would be banned from sale and/or distribution in Manitoba.
In addition, the following options are being considered:
Requiring stores over a certain size to have take-back programs for plastic bags.
Banning empty plastic bags from landfills.
Requiring municipalities over a certain size to collect and recycle plastic bags.
We welcome your views on these options and any other ideas to reduce, reuse and recycle plastic bags in Manitoba. Please fill out the following questionnaire and provide comments by January 15, 2010 to:
Manitoba Conservation
Pollution Prevention Branch
160-123 Main Street
Winnipeg MB R3C 1A5
Email: pollupreve@gov.mb.ca
Thank you for your contribution to this process.
Please watch for more opportunities to provide input into other key waste diversion issues...
BACKGROUND & QUICK FACTS
Plastic grocery bags represent less than 1% of the waste stream.
Almost 300 million plastic carry-out bags are used in Manitoba each year - 250 bags per person.
The grocery industry supplies about 50% of the bags.
Over 70% of grocery stores in Manitoba accept plastic bags for recycling in store - 118 locations.
An estimated 65% of bags are reused in the home.
Waste stream sampling in Manitoba shows 53% of the bags being discarded are empty.
Twenty-six per cent (175 Tonnes) of bags from grocery stores are recovered for recycling annually.
DEFINITIONS
Recyclable:
A plastic bag is considered to be recyclable if it displays the #2 or #4 recycling logo. Most grocery bags are comprised of high density polyethylene (HDPE #2). Plastic bags are recycled into new bags or other products such as plastic lumber.
Compostable:
Despite the fact they are called compostable plastic bags, these bags are actually made of cornstarch or other organic materials, which makes them compostable. The materials in these bags have been designed to transform into humus (compost) under commercial or industrial composting conditions over a period of 180 days and leave no visible, toxic or easy to distinguish traces of residue.
Biodegradable:
A chemical additive is mixed with traditional plastic to accelerate the breakdown of the bags. Biodegradable plastic will degrade from the action of naturally occurring microorganism, such as bacteria or fungi over a period of time, sometimes up to 10 years. Products labeled as biodegradable may not break down easily if they are buried in a landfill or are otherwise not exposed to sunlight, air and moisture, the key agents of biodegradation.
Non-Recyclable:
Some types of plastics are considered non-recyclable in certain jurisdictions because only small quantities are collected and it is not cost-effective to transport it to market. For example, certain types of plastic resins, such as bubble wrap/or that have food (cling wrap)/paint or agricultural contamination.
Compostable and biodegradable bags are considered non-recyclable and should not be deposited with other plastic bags in recycling bins as they will contaminate the recycling process.
RESIN CODE
CHARACTERISTICS AND EXAMPLES
HDPE#2 - High Density Polyethylene
(unpigmented films have some opacity, crinkle to the touch, low stretch, can tear easily, high strength)
Most grocery bags
T-shirt bags
Bags with sealed air for packaging (e.g., air cushion)
LDPE#4 - Low Density Polyethylene
(unpigmented films have high clarity, moderate stretch & strength characteristics)
Bags (e.g., thicker newspaper bags, bread bags)
Bubble wrap (may also contain nylon)
Note: Bubble wrap recycling can be difficult without local markets due to shipping constraints.
LLDPE#4 - Linear Low Density Polyethylene
(unpigmented films have moderate clarity, slightly tacky feel to the touch, stretchy)
Stretch wrap
Bags (e.g. clear, thin newspaper bags)
Dry cleaning film
Agricultural films (silage bags, greenhouse films, wraps for hay bales)
Note: Because agricultural films often come in contact with the ground or most farm products, many recyclers currently reject this material due to contamination. Residue and paint used for UV protection are other contaminants often found on agricultural films.
MDPE#4 - Medium Density Polyethylene
(unpigmented films have moderate clarity, poor stretch and strength characteristics)
Consumer paper packaging (i.e. toilet paper, paper towel)
Note: MDPE is a variation on the production of LDPE and is often labeled #4. It's generally used as an alternative to other resins in film applications where strength is not required.
For information on other plastic film: http://www.plasticbagrecycling.org/02.0/s02.11.php