Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
QUEZON CITY

‘SIXTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

House of Representatives
HOUSE BILL NO. _ 4762

INTRODUCED BY HONORABLE GUS S. TAMBUNTING

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This piece of legislation seeks to reduce or minimize the use of plastic bags.
This Act shall be known as “The Plastic Bag Recycling Act of 2014.”

What's wrong with plastic bags? Plastic 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 fora 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 increase over 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 the 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 harmony of nature,

Hence, urgent passage of this legislation is urgently sought.



Republic of the PI
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
QUEZON CITY

SIXTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

HOUSE BILL NO._4'762

Introduced by HONORABLE GUS S. TAMBUNTING

AN ACT
INSTITUTIONALIZING THE CREATION OF “THE PLASTIC BAG RECYCLING
ACT OF 2014”AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

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

Section 1. This Act shall be known as “The Plastic Bag Recycling Act of 2014.”
Sec. 2. State Policy. It is the 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 harmony of
nature,

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

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

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

Sec.6. At-store recycling program. The operator of a store shall establish a
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.

‘Sec.7. Penalties. Any operator who violates any provision of this article shall be
punished by a fine not to exceed P100,000 for a first offense: by a fine not to exceed
150,000 for a second offense; and by a fine not to exceed P200,000 for a third and each
subsequent offense committed in any twelve-month period. Each day that an operator fails
to comply with this article shall constitute a separate and distinct violation.


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 100th 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 to 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 reuseable 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, though usage gradually rebounded.

ITALY: 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 food outlets. Most
stores charge people who don't bring their own TS1 ($0.03).

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

Source: Planet Ark, May 28, 2008


‘See. 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 any provisions of this Act.

See. 5. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

Approved.