Editor’s note: A previous version of this story incorrectly indicated the thickness of plastic bags allowed in Delaware. The thickness of the bag can exceed 2.25 mils, and the Democrats hope to introduce a bill to ban bags less than 10 mils.
After banning the use of plastic shopping bags at the beginning of this year, Delaware lawmakers promised to enact more restrictions after stores began to use thicker plastic bags instead of expected paper or cloth bags.
In 2019, legislators banned plastic shopping bags from being found at checkout. The measure took effect on January 1 this year. This is to encourage large stores and shoppers to switch to reusable bags to reduce environmental waste.
Although shops seem to comply with the regulations, many people have also discovered that simply replacing thinner plastic bags with thicker plastic bags will reveal what critics call “loopholes” in the law.
Officials had hoped that this restriction would encourage shoppers to use thicker bags after checkout. But shoppers don’t seem to remember to take the thicker bags back to the store next time. Many stores provide them at checkout just like sturdy, thinner bags.
State Representative Gerald Brady of Wellington D plans to introduce a bill to ban shopping bags less than 10 mils thick, and some exemptions based on reusability.
Brady said in a statement: “It is frustrating that some companies choose to take advantage of loopholes that run counter to the spirit of (the ban).”
Brady said he plans to submit the bill in the next few weeks. The conference will be held until June 30. After that, the parliamentarians rested for six months.
According to Shawn Garvin, the Minister of Natural Resources, thicker bags may be reused, depending on how often they are reused, as they generate more plastic waste.
Like thinner bags, these bags cannot be recycled at home. Shoppers can return it to a store with in-store recycling, but it is easy to forget that the service even exists.
The ban still allows Delaware to use several other types of plastic bags, such as newspaper delivery bags or garbage bags. Paper bags are still allowed at checkout.
In 2019, legislators tried to pass the proposed paper bag ban and failed attempts to ban plastic bags on the grounds that the manufacture of paper bags is also harmful to the environment.
Representative Michael Smith of R-Pike Creek first introduced the paper bag bill in 2019. He said he would not work hard for it this year because he hoped that Democrats would use their bill to solve this problem.
Brady’s spokesperson did not confirm whether the ban on paper bags will be part of this year’s bill, but did say that legislators are considering it.
Instead, the store must be 7,000 square feet or more, or, if there are three or more locations in Delaware, each store must be at least 3,000 square feet.
It is suitable for 7-11, Acme, CVS, Food Lion, Giant, Janssens, Walgreens, Redners Markets, Rite Aid, SaveALot, SuperValu, Safeway, ShopRite, Wawa, Weiss Markets, Macy’s, Home Depot, Big Lots, according to the law Requirements for the size of the store and the number of locations, “under five”, “famous footwear”, “Nordstrom” and “party city”.
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Sarah Gamard reports on government and political affairs for Delaware Online/News Magazine. Contact her at (302) 324-2281 or sgamard@delawareonline.com. Follow her on Twitter @SarahGamard.
Post time: Oct-13-2021