HCR 17 – FINAL VERSION
06Feb2008… 0255h
2008 SESSION
08/05
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 17
A RESOLUTION encouraging the use of reusable shopping bags.
SPONSORS: Rep. Pierce, Graf 9; Sen. Reynolds, Dist 2
COMMITTEE: Environment and Agriculture
This house concurrent resolution encourages consumers and retailers to use reusable shopping bags.
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06Feb2008… 0255h
08-2407
08/05
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Eight
A RESOLUTION encouraging the use of reusable shopping bags.
Whereas, a family of 4 in the United States uses an estimated 1,000 disposable shopping bags each year, which means that there are over 320 million disposable shopping bags used each year in New Hampshire; and
Whereas, only 5 percent of plastic disposable shopping bags and 10 percent of paper disposable shopping bags are recycled, leaving the remaining 270 million bags to be dumped in landfills and littered on New Hampshire highways and roads and in New Hampshire rivers, lakes, and streams; and
Whereas, unrecycled disposable shopping bags can remain in landfills for as long as 1,000 years; and
Whereas, disposable plastic shopping bags do not biodegrade; and
Whereas, the manufacture of disposable shopping bags consumes approximately 12 million barrels of oil each year in the United States; and
Whereas, the manufacture of disposable paper shopping bags creates significantly more air and water pollutants than plastic shopping bags; and
Whereas, disposable paper shopping bags consume an estimated 14 million trees each year in the United States; and
Whereas, decomposing paper and plastic disposable shopping bags contribute to greenhouse gas emissions, making the problem of global climate change even worse; and
Whereas, retailers can significantly save on disposable bag costs by using reusable bags, providing a powerful market incentive to switch New Hampshire to the use of reusable bags; and
Whereas, research indicates that the use of reusable bags would have no negative impact on the New Hampshire timber and paper industry and would have little or no effect on New Hampshire plastic bag manufacturers, while creating markets for “New Hampshire Made” reusable bags; and
Whereas, a solution to the problems associated with disposable shopping bags can be achieved without spending any tax dollars and without government regulation, but instead with market incentives; and
Whereas, the New Hampshire-based youth group Kids for a Cooler Planet wants to help tackle the issue of global climate change by reducing the use of disposable shopping bags and encouraging the use of reusable shopping bags; and
Whereas, Kids for a Cooler Planet is working to help educate consumers on the problems associated with disposable shopping bags and to encourage New Hampshire retailers to sell and promote the widespread use of reusable shopping bags; now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the House of Representatives, the Senate concurring:
That the New Hampshire House of Representatives and the New Hampshire Senate endorse the Kids for a Cooler Planet campaign to help address the issue of global climate change by reducing the use of disposable shopping bags and encouraging the widespread use of reusable shopping bags; and
That the New Hampshire House of Representatives and the New Hampshire Senate encourage New Hampshire retailers to sell and promote reusable shopping bags; and
That the New Hampshire House of Representatives and the New Hampshire Senate urge Governor Lynch, the department of environmental services, and the department of resources and economic development, division of economic development to facilitate New Hampshire business awareness and understanding of the Kids for a Cooler Planet campaign to reduce the use of disposable shopping bags by helping businesses to promote reusable shopping bags; and
That the New Hampshire House of Representatives and the New Hampshire Senate encourage the education of the general public about the importance and benefits of using reusable bags and the disadvantages of using paper and plastic disposable shopping bags; and
That the New Hampshire House of Representatives and the New Hampshire Senate urge Governor Lynch and the department of environmental services to facilitate the broadcast of public service announcements in New Hampshire to educate the general public about the importance and benefits of using reusable bags and the disadvantages of using disposable paper or plastic shopping bags; and
That copies of this resolution be sent by the house clerk to the governor, the commissioner of the department of environmental services, and the commissioner of the department of resources and economic development.
Effective: April 17, 2008