Allan Gerlat, News Editor

August 27, 2012

1 Min Read
Illinois Governor Vetoes Plastic Bag Recycling Bill

Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn vetoed the state’s proposed plastic bag bill that would have required manufacturers to develop a collection and recycling plan for the bags.

Quinn said in a news release that Senate Bill 3442, sponsored by Sens. Terry Link and John Millner, would have kept individual communities from developing their own solutions to plastic bag litter. The Democratic governor said the bill is more restrictive on municipalities than any other plastic bag regulation in the country.

“While well-intentioned, this legislation is a roadblock to innovation that would do little to boost recycling in Illinois. We can do better," Quinn said.

The bill was opposed by the Illinois Municipal League and 150 municipalities that viewed it as undermining home rule.

Quinn said he will work with communities, businesses and environmental advocates to pass a better bill in the next legislative session to increase recycling.

Under the vetoed bill, which passed the state legislature in June, makers of plastic carryout bags would have had to register with the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency and submit to the agency a plan for the collection and recycling of the bags and plastic film product wrap. The act would also have created penalties for violations.

 In addition, the state would have encouraged manufacturers to include recycled content in the plastic carryout bags they produce. It would have outlawed the purchase of plastic bags from non-registered manufacturers and prohibited municipalities from enacting their own recycling programs or bans for plastic bags.

 

About the Author(s)

Allan Gerlat

News Editor, Waste360

Allan Gerlat joined the Waste360 staff in September 2011 as news editor. He was the editor of Waste & Recycling News for the first 16 years of its history, and under his guidance the publication won 27 national and regional awards.

Before Waste & Recycling News, Allan worked at another Crain Communications publication, Rubber & Plastics News, which covers rubber product manufacturing. He began with the publication as associate editor and eventually became managing editor, a position he held for nine years.

Allan is a graduate of Ohio University, where he earned a BS in journalism. He is based in Sagamore Hills, in northeast Ohio.

Stay in the Know - Subscribe to Our Newsletters
Join a network of more than 90,000 waste and recycling industry professionals. Get the latest news and insights straight to your inbox. Free.

You May Also Like