Redefining the plastic bag ban
Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control staff are going through the process to amend, update and correct pages of regulations governing solid waste, including the plastic bag carryout ban, the at-store recycling program, transporters, transfer stations and resource recovery, recycling and composting facilities.
Delaware enacted a ban on carryout plastic bags in 2019 for all retail and grocery stores, exempting restaurants. Grocery stores are permitted to provide plastic bags for fruits, vegetables, meat and seafood.
Any store that has this exception must provide an at-store recycling program.
When the ban was enacted, many stores used a loophole to provide thick plastic bags at checkout. In 2022, the use of those types of bags was also banned. Retailers can no longer provide a plastic bag of any type and must provide access to a reusable bag.
Most stores have switched to paper bags. The law does not prohibit stores from charging a fee for paper bags.
The proposed amendments include a new definition of a reusable bag and the fact that all plastic film bags are banned in Delaware.
The amendments also deal with at-store plastic bag recycling programs. Stores are required to file annual reports, and the recycle box or bin must be clearly marked with the types of plastic accepted and be near the front entrance.
Reusable bags would be defined as PET non-woven fabric, nylon, cloth, cotton, jute, hemp or other washable fabrics or be made of durable fabric with stitched handles, which are machine washable or can be cleaned and disinfected.
Beach cleanups
There has been some decrease in plastic waste since single-stream recycling began and when the ban was enacted, at least based on coastal cleanup data.
According to Plastic Free Delaware, more than 3,700 tons of waste was collected during cleanups in 2009 compared to just over 2,100 tons in 2019, with much of that being plastic bags, bottles, straws and stirrers.
Incidentally, by far the most collected waste is cigarette butts, with more than 15,800 collected in 2009 and just over 13,000 in 2019.
Information
To view the proposed amendments, go to documents.dnrec.delaware.gov/dwhs/CAPS/Regulations/SAN-2018-16/20230412-Public-Workshop-Handout.pdf.
Public comments will be accepted through Friday, April 28, to Alison Kiliszek at Alison.Kiliszek@delaware.gov or by mail to DNREC – Division of Waste and Hazardous Substances, Compliance and Permitting Section, 89 Kings Highway, Dover, DE 19901.
About plastic
Americans throw away 100 billion plastic bags per year, equating to about 300 bags per person. Only 10% of plastic bags are recycled, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. That's 3 million tons in landfills each year.
Nearly 30% of all plastic bottles and jars are recycled.
Americans use 500 million straws per day.
