Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
Quezon City

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL no 4181

Introduced by HON. GUS S. TAMBUNTING

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This piece of legislation seeks to reduce or minimize the use of plastic bags which
destroy the environment. This Act shall be known as "The Plastic Bag Recycling Act of
2016."

What's wrong with plastic bags? Plastics bags are seen as a symbol of a wasteful society
as they are a form of packaging that is often not essential.

Plastic bags are a problem for various reasons. Plastic carryout bags and film plastic are
not biodegrade. The bags break down into smaller and smaller toxic bits that
contaminate soil and waterways.

There are many efforts being made around the world to combat this problem and reduce
the use of these bags. As a single use disposable form of packaging, plastic bags are
typically used for a short period of time but take hundreds of years to break down in
landfill. Plastic bags are an extremely visible and unsightly component of litter. If plastic
bags continue to be used, the number of bags littering the environment will increased
cover time.

Salient provisions of this proposal requires that retailers establish an at-store recycling
program and to offer reusable bags (such as canvas or cloth).

This representation further finds and determines that we must reduce the use of plastic
bags and encourage the use of reusable bags in order to reduce and decrease litter and
benefit the environment.

The proposed recycling program furthers and favors programs that maximize material
reuse and recycling and programs that use energy efficient recycling processes.

More so, it is policy of the State to protect and advance the right of the people to a
balanced and healthful ecology in accord with the rhythm and hat nature.

Hence, urgent passage of this legislation is urgently sought.


FACTS AND FIGURES
Which bags are proposed to be banned?

Light-weight plastic bags made of polyethylene polymer with a thickness of less than 35
microns (a micron is 1000th of a millimetre). These bags are generally used by
supermarkets and take-away food outlets.

Which bags will not be banned?

* Barrier bags - the type dispensed from a roll to hold items such as loose fruit and
vegetables

* Heavier style retail bags (boutique bags) - the type usually used by clothing and
department stores

¢ Bags designed for multiple use such as ‘green’ bags

+ Compostable bags that meet the Australian Standard and paper bags

«Bin liners for purchase

What about degradable bags?

A range of bags claim to be degradable in different conditions. Some degradable bags
are made partly or wholly of polyethylene. Only compostable biodegradable bags are
excluded from the proposed ban. These bags are usually made of some form of starch
or other compostable material.

Plastic bag bans around the world
South Australia joins an increasing number of countries that already restrict plastic
shopping bags or plan to do so:

AFRICA: Rwanda and Eritrea banned the bags outright, as has Somaliland, an
autonomous region of Somalia. South Africa, Uganda and Kenya have minimum
thickness rules, and Ethiopia, Ghana, Lesotho and Tanzania are considering similar
measures.

BANGLADESH: The first large country to ban bags in 2002. Bangladesh blamed millions
of discarded bags for blocking drains and contributing to floods that submerged much of
the country in 1988.

BHUTAN: The isolated Himalayan country banned plastic shopping bags, street
advertising and tobacco in 2007, as part of its policy of foster "Gross National
Happiness".

CHINA: The ban on ultra-thin bags that goes into force on June 1 will cut pollution and
save valuable oil resources, the State Council, or cabinet, says. In May 2007 Hong Kong
proposed a 50 cent "polluter pays” levy on plastic shopping bags.


ENGLAND: In May 2007 the village of Modbury in south Devon became Europe's first
plastic bag-free town, selling reusable and biodegradable bags instead. London's 33
councils plan to ban ultra-thin bags from 2009 and tax others.

FRANCE: In 2005, French lawmakers voted to ban non-biodegradable plastic bags by
2010. The French island of Corsica became the first to ban plastic bags in large stores in
1999,

INDIA: The western State of Maharashtra banned the manufacture, sale and use of
plastic bags in August 2005, after claims that they choked drains during monsoon rains.
Other states banned ultra-thin bags to cut pollution and deaths of cattle, sacred to
Hindus, which eat them.

IRELAND: A plastic bag tax was passed in 2002. The tax created an initial 90 percent
drop in bag use, according to the Environment Ministry, through usage gradually
rebounded.

TTALY: Outright ban to be introduced from 2010.

TAIWAN: A partial ban in 2003 phased out free bags in department stores and
supermarkets and disposable plastic plates, cups and cutlery from fast outlets. Most
stores charge people who don't bring their own T$1 ($0.03).

UNITED STATES: San Francisco became the first and only US city to outlaw plastic
grocery bags in April 2008. The ban is limited to large supermarkets.

Source: Planet Ark, May 28,2008


Republic of the Philippines.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
Quezon City

SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bit no.4181_

Introduced by HON. GUS S. TAMBUNTING

AN ACT
INSTITUTIONALIZING THE CREATION OF "THE PLASTIC BAG RECYCLING ACT
OF 2016" AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines of
Congress assembled:

SECTION 1. Short Title. — This Act shall be known as "The Plastic Bag Recycling
Act of 2016."

SECTION 2. State Policy. — It is the policy of the State to protect and advance the
rights of the people to a balanced and healthful ecology in accord with the rhythm and
harmony of nature.

SECTION 3. Purpose. - To encourage the use of reusable bags amongst
consumers and retailers and to reduce the consumption of single-use bags, and to
require an at-store recycling program for plastic bags.

SECTION 4. Objective. - To determine and implement programs that maximize
material reuse, recycling and programs that use energy efficient processes.

SECTION 5. Coverage. — A retail establishment that provides plastic carryout bags
to its customers as a result of the sale of consumer goods.

SECTION 6. At-Store Recycling Program. - The operator of a store shall establish
an at-store recycling program pursuant to the provisions of this Act that provides an
opportunity for the public to return to the store plastic carryout bags from retail store or
any other retail source.

SECTION 7. Penalties. - Any operator who violates any provision of this article
shall be punished by a fine not to exceed P100,000.00 for a first offence; by a fine not to
exceed P150,000 for a second offence; and by a fine not to exceed P200,000 for a third
and each subsequent offence committed in any twelve-month period. Each day that an
operator fails to comply with this article shall constitute a separate and distinct violation.

SECTION 8. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - The Department of
Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) together with the stakeholders and other


related government agencies and entities shall promulgate the rules and regulations as it
deems necessary and appropriate for the implementation and enforcement of the
provisions of this Act.

SECTION 9. Repealing Clause. - Any law, presidential decree or issuance,
executive order, presidential proclamation, rules, regulations or parts thereof
inconsistent with the provisions of this Act, are hereby repealed, modified, or amended
accordingly.

SECTION 10. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act is declared
unconstitutional, the same shall not affect the validity and effectivity of the other
provisions hereof.

SECTION 11. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,