Plastic bag pollution is a huge problem. The average person uses a plastic bag for 12 minutes, but it will remain on earth for 1,000 years. Roughly, 5% of plastic bags are recycled. Many of the bags make their way to our waterways, particularly Lake Erie. An estimated 5.5 million pounds of plastic pollution contaminates Lake Erie each year.
There is a solution. A proposed Cuyahoga County Ordinance seeks to enact a ten cent fee on all carry-out disposable bags given to consumers at large retail establishments. The retailer may retain four cents for implementation costs, and the remaining six cents would go to an Environmental Remediation Fund. This fund will help to rid the county of litter and clean up Lake Erie and other waterways. Implementation of this legislation will provide an economic incentive that will increase the use of reusable bags and decrease the distribution of single-use bags, which will reduce the plastic pollution entering Lake Erie. Together we can create a cleaner, healthier Cuyahoga County and Lake Erie.
Ask Cuyahoga County Council to SUPPORT a Bag Fee!