You don’t have to go far to see the ravages of plastic bags on our landscape. These ubiquitous buggers continue to pollute our environment and end up in our trees, front yards, open space and waterways. To see this trash blowing in the wind throughout the Township is absolutely disgraceful and as a society we need to change our behavior.
The numbers are staggering: Every minute, one million plastic bags exchange hands throughout the world; nearly one trillion are used — usually just once — each year before making their way into landfills, where they’ll remain forever.
In the U.S. alone, about 100 billion plastic bags are produced and subsequently discarded by consumers annually. The average family can amass 60 plastic bags in just four trips to the supermarket.
While I’m proud Cherry Hill is the number one recycler in Camden County, these plastic bags are not easily or cost-effectively recycled. In fact, FCR — the facility that processes Cherry Hill’s recyclable materials — can’t recycle the bags, and in fact, considers them a nuisance because they regularly jam equipment.
FCR, like many of its recycling-plant counterparts, sends the bags to the local landfill as waste. The same thing happens to the thick, plastic trash bags many homeowners used to use for their grass clippings, leaves and tree trimmings.
The Township has taken steps in the last year to cut down on the proliferation of these bags being dumped into landfills. In June, my administration implemented a ban on plastic yard-waste bags, a move that removed thousands of bags from the waste-stream each year, and has trimmed more than $100,000 from the Township’s budget annually. We’ve also placed large receptacles in the lobby at Town Hall and at the Department of Public Works, where residents can deposit the plastic bags they’ve accrued over time.
There’s much that you, as a resident, can also do to combat the seemingly endless stream of plastic bags that make their way into our hands and homes each day.
You’re welcome to deposit your bags at Town Hall, or return them to the stores themselves during your next shopping trip. Cherry Hill’s retailers have been well ahead of the curve on giving consumers ways to lessen the burden these bags are placing on our environment.
Local grocers like Genuardi’s, ShopRite, Pathmark and Wegmans offer plastic-bag recycling bins in their stores, as do large retailers like Walmart and Target. And most stores sell reusable tote bags for as little as $.99 each that shoppers can bring with them each visit. Wegmans, for instance, offers a variety of these bags — from traditional reusable bags to thermal totes to an organic cotton bag — ranging in price from $.99 to $9.99.
Several offer financial incentives, as well. Both Target and ShopRite offer their customers a 5-cent discount on their bill for each reusable bag they bring in and use. Similarly, Genuardi’s offers patrons a 10-percent discount on “Bright Green” items for using reusable bags.
There are some sources of pollution beyond our control, but plastic bags are not.
By taking advantage of the recycling opportunities that abound, the residents of Cherry Hill can help keep plastic bags out of the trash and, more importantly, keep a significant source of litter off our streets.
Additionally, concerned citizens can contact my office at 488–7878 or Earle Seneres in our Engineering Department at 424–4422 to volunteer their time and help me get these bags off in their proper place.
Together, we can help keep our community clean and beautiful.
Bernie Platt is the mayor of Cherry Hill. He can be reached at 488–7878 or mayorplatt@chtownship.com.
You don’t have to go far to see the ravages of plastic bags on our landscape. These ubiquitous buggers continue to pollute our environment and end up in our trees, front yards, open space and waterways. To see this trash blowing in the wind throughout the Township is absolutely disgraceful and as a society we need to change our behavior. The numbers are staggering: Every minute, one million plastic bags exchange hands throughout the world; nearly one trillion are used — usually just once — each year before making their way into landfills, where they’ll remain forever.In the U.S. alone, about 100 billion plastic bags are produced and subsequently discarded by consumers annually. The average family can amass 60 plastic bags in just four trips to the supermarket.While I’m proud Cherry Hill is the number one recycler in Camden County, these plastic bags are not easily or cost-effectively recycled. In fact, FCR — the facility that processes Cherry Hill’s recyclable materials — can’t recycle the bags, and in fact, considers them a nuisance because they regularly jam equipment. FCR, like many of its recycling-plant counterparts, sends the bags to the local landfill as waste. The same thing happens to the thick, plastic trash bags many homeowners used to use for their grass clippings, leaves and tree trimmings. The Township has taken steps in the last year to cut down on the proliferation of these bags being dumped into landfills. In June, my administration implemented a ban on plastic yard-waste bags, a move that removed thousands of bags from the waste-stream each year, and has trimmed more than $100,000 from the Township’s budget annually. We’ve also placed large receptacles in the lobby at Town Hall and at the Department of Public Works, where residents can deposit the plastic bags they’ve accrued over time. There’s much that you, as a resident, can also do to combat the seemingly endless stream of plastic bags that make their way into our hands and homes each day. You’re welcome to deposit your bags at Town Hall, or return them to the stores themselves during your next shopping trip. Cherry Hill’s retailers have been well ahead of the curve on giving consumers ways to lessen the burden these bags are placing on our environment. Local grocers like Genuardi’s, ShopRite, Pathmark and Wegmans offer plastic-bag recycling bins in their stores, as do large retailers like Walmart and Target. And most stores sell reusable tote bags for as little as $.99 each that shoppers can bring with them each visit. Wegmans, for instance, offers a variety of these bags — from traditional reusable bags to thermal totes to an organic cotton bag — ranging in price from $.99 to $9.99. Several offer financial incentives, as well. Both Target and ShopRite offer their customers a 5-cent discount on their bill for each reusable bag they bring in and use. Similarly, Genuardi’s offers patrons a 10-percent discount on “Bright Green” items for using reusable bags.There are some sources of pollution beyond our control, but plastic bags are not. By taking advantage of the recycling opportunities that abound, the residents of Cherry Hill can help keep plastic bags out of the trash and, more importantly, keep a significant source of litter off our streets. Additionally, concerned citizens can contact my office at 488–7878 or Earle Seneres in our Engineering Department at 424–4422 to volunteer their time and help me get these bags off in their proper place. Together, we can help keep our community clean and beautiful.Bernie Platt is the mayor of Cherry Hill. He can be reached at 488–7878 or mayorplatt@chtownship.com.
