Wells Praises Efforts to Implement Anacostia River Cleanup and Protection Initiative |
Written by Charles Allen | |
Tuesday, 29 December 2009 | |
Councilmember Wells Praises Efforts to Implement Anacostia River Cleanup and Protection Initiative On January 1, 2010, the Anacostia River Cleanup and Protection Act will take effect – implementing a 5-cent fee on disposable plastic and paper bags at many stores in the District. The measure is expected to greatly reduce the number of bags that pollute the Anacostia River – pollution that currently makes up nearly half of the trash in the river’s tributaries and a fifth of the trash in the river’s main stem. Revenue generated by the fee will be deposited into a dedicated fund aimed to clean up the Anacostia River. The city’s Department of Environment has been distributing free reusable bags to District residents and partnering with businesses to prepare for the implementation date. Earlier this fall, DDOE launched a website promoting their Skip the Bag, Save the River campaign (link: http://green.dc.gov/). DDOE also plans to continue distribution events after the January 1 date to ensure residents make the switch. “I’m very proud that our city is at the forefront of taking responsibility for cleaning the Anacostia River and our waterways. It’s time we work to reverse the damage done by the polluted, dirty and neglected river bordering our neighborhoods,” stated Councilmember Tommy Wells. Wells added, “It’s not just our city government stepping up to the plate. Businesses in the District are showing that they care just as much about the health of the Anacostia River and are taking great steps to help their customers make a change.” Many businesses have launched initiatives in recent weeks to provide free reusable shopping bags and to create discounts when customers provide their own reusable bag. Below are several examples:
In addition to individual businesses providing reusable bags, associations are launching new efforts as well. CHAMPS, Capitol Hill’s Chamber of Commerce, just released the first run of the Capitol Hill Tote Bags. 17 local elementary and middle schools participated in the Tote Bag Project through which the Capitol Hill Green Schools Initiative facilitated in-school lessons related to plastic bag pollution in the Anacostia River. These lessons culminated in a poster contest and each school’s winning image is featured on the front of the Capitol Hill tote. The bags will be sold at local area merchants and proceeds from the bag sales will go to fund future projects of the Capitol Hill Green Schools Initiative and to fund the production of an additional run of bags. Background Facts: According to a recent report by the DC Department of the Environment, 20,000 tons of trash enters the Anacostia River each year. Plastic bags, bottles, wrappers and Styrofoam make up 85% of the trash. In the river’s tributaries, such as Watts Branch, nearly 50% of the trash is plastic bags. According to the report, placing a small fee on disposable bags could eliminate up to 47% of the trash in the tributaries and 21% from the river’s main stem. More information can be found at the following link: http://green.dc.gov/green/cwp/view,a,1248,q,463102.asp ### |
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Last Updated ( Wednesday, 30 December 2009 ) |
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