April 2008

The Austin City Council unanimously approved a Resolution to reduce plastic bags entering the solid waste stream by 50% from current levels by June of 2009.

You can read the resolution here.

Participants in the voluntary program including Wal-Mart, H-E-B, Randalls, Target, Walgreen's, and Whole Foods, will have plastic bag recycling at their stores, make affordable reusable bags available for purchase, and report their levels of plastic bag use every six months.

Additionally, the City of Austin Solid Waste Services Department will launch a curbside plastic bag recycling pilot program for customers in selected neighborhoods.

Local non-profit Keep Austin Beautiful will coordinate a public education campaign entitled "Austin's Got a Brand New Bag" to encourage Austinites to shop with reusable bags.

The unanimous approval by the Austin City council shows a commitment to reducing the use and waste of plastic shopping bags. The program is a step in the right direction.

The Bag the Bags Coalition will work with all partners during the next 15 months to encourage more retailers to join the effort. Additionally, Bag the Bags will continue to advocate for a responsible ban that fully addresses the problems caused by disposable plastic bags.

Over the next 15 months, Bag the Bags will lend its full support to the voluntary reduction effort. But we will continue to highlight the pressing need for a responsible ban on disposable plastic bags.

In July 2009, the City Council will evaluate the success of the voluntary program. It is our hope that at that time, the city will recognize the value of a ban on plastic shopping bags.

More work remains to be done, but we can be proud of how far we have come.

Welcome to the Bag the Bags Austin Coalition

As Austinites we feel a moral obligation to be national leaders in protecting our environment.  While cities across the country are looking at potential bans, today is our opportunity to step up and lead.

This process started on April 19th, 2007 when Austin City Council Member Lee Leffingwell sponsored a Resolution along with Mayor Will Wynn and Council Member Mike Martinez to look at ways to reduce the use of plastic bags.

After months of stakeholder meetings, we have come together to urge the Austin City Council to pass an ordinance banning the use of plastic bags by large retailers and instead require those retailers to make compostable bags made of renewable organic material available to consumers. 

A ban is not enough.  We must fundamentally change our habits and culture.  That’s why we also strongly support a full-fledged public education campaign to promote the use of reusable bags and end our dependence on oil-based plastic bags.

We hope you’ll join our cause to make Austin an even better place to live. We can protect our environment, reduce our carbon foot print and do our part to make Texas a better place.