Florida may become first bagless state in nation

Florida environmental officials want to make the state the first in the nation to prohibit throwaway plastic and paper bags.

The proposed ban would follow a five-year phase-out during which escalating fees, starting at a nickel a bag, would be imposed whenever such bags were used. Such a statewide fee — which would also be a national first — is already drawing criticism as a type of tax.

The state Department of Environmental Protection thinks the manufacture of paper bags is as much of a pollution problem as the disposal of plastic bags. The thin plastic bags now used by most supermarket chains and other retailers are a source of litter across landscapes and on ocean currents, where they can kill marine animals and birds; they're also a headache for those who maintain storm drains and landfill machinery.

Still, use of throwaway bags would be a tough habit to break: Floridians churned through more than 5 billion disposable plastic and paper bags in 2003, the most recent year for which figures are available. But state environmental officials aren't deterred.

"There won't be any problem finding reusable bags," said Ron Henricks, the agency's recycling-program environmental manager in Tallahassee. "What we are hoping is that, as the fee ramps up over the years, people are going to find it as more incentive to use reusable bags."

The agency's proposal stems from the Energy, Climate Change and Economic Security Act of 2008, which calls for the DEP to propose regulations governing the use of disposal bags. The law also prohibits Florida cities from imposing their own rules for disposal bags, something store owners say would create chaos.

The DEP's solution is to follow the lead of San Francisco and a scattering of other communities by banning the bags. Several states have talked about adopting such a measure statewide, but so far none has adopted one.

Now it's the Florida Legislature's turn to act, with consideration of the DEP's proposal coming as early as next year's spring session. By then, lawmakers will have had an earful from supporters and critics.

"We need to stop using plastic bags for groceries," said Keep Seminole Beautiful Director Mike Barr.

"We used to have paper bags, and people would worry about chopping down trees. And then we got plastic bags, and now they worry about petroleum products and turtles," said Rick McAllister, president of the Florida Retail Federation.

The DEP's proposal, quietly released late Tuesday, targets the disposable bags provided by a wide variety of businesses, from supermarkets to fast-food restaurants, convenience stores to dry cleaners.