HR1139enr 99TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR1139 Enrolled LRB099 21332 MST 47124 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION 1139

WHEREAS, Paper and plastic disposable bags are distributed extensively throughout our society; and

WHEREAS, Improper disposal results in plastic bags becoming windblown through streets and parks, as sources of litter with the potential to clog storm drains and sewers and degrade soils and waterways; and

WHEREAS, Plastic bags are often the source of contamination in residential curbside recycling collections, yard waste collections, and food scrap composting, resulting in the jamming of the mechanical parts of recycling facilities and sewage treatment systems; and

WHEREAS, The economic value of recycled plastic bags as a commodity is lost when they are collected in conventional household recycling programs; plastic bags require handling in specialized programs outside of the normal household recycling stream; and

WHEREAS, An educational program needs to be established in order to promote the recycling of plastic bags and the use of reusable bags; and

WHEREAS, A unified and coordinated education, advocacy, and recycling program of this nature will reflect a meaningful and positive step forward towards reducing litter and plastic bag waste; and

WHEREAS, These measures will help educate schools that need to know about recycling waste; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-NINTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we designate the first Friday of May 2016 as "Recycle Thin Film Friday"; and be it further

RESOLVED, That "Recycle Thin Film Friday" is established in the State of Illinois as an effort to reclaim used thin-film plastic bags and to encourage consumers to use reusable bags; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to Pontiac High School in recognition of the efforts of its students to bring light to this issue.