MASSACHUSETTS FOOD ASSOCIATION INCORPORATED IN 1907 PRODUCT STEWARDSHIP INSTITUTE WEBINAR December 11, 2012 VOLUNTARY INITIATIVES Presented by BRIAN HOUGHTON, VICE PRESIDENT MASSACHUSETTS FOOD ASSOCIATION 31 Milk Street, Suite 518, Boston, MA 02109 Phone #: (617) 542-3085 Fax #: (617) 542-3505 Email: mafood@mafood.com Website: www.mafood.com
MFA S MISSION STATEMENT: THE MASSACHUSETTS FOOD ASSOCIATION REPRESENTS AND PROMOTES THE INTERESTS OF THE COMMONWEALTH S GROCERY AND SUPERMARKET INDUSTRY AND SERVES AS ITS UNIFIED VOICE, ADVOCATING ON BEHALF OF ITS MEMBERS AND PROVIDING A BALANCED PERSPECTIVE AND CLEAR INFORMATION REGARDING ISSUES AFFECTING BOTH THE INDUSTRY AND THE PUBLIC AT LARGE.
MFA and DEP Collaboration MFA and DEP collaborated on many regulatory issues through Solid Waste Advisory Council, Organics Sub-Committee, etc. MOU for organics diversion became a model program for the national EPA MFA and DEP wanted to take a proactive approach to plastic bag litter. Collaborated to draft MOU on plastic and paper bag distribution.
MFA SIGNS MOU WITH MA DEP On March 12, 2009 the Massachusetts Food Association and the MA Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) signed a Memorandum of Understanding to launch a joint effort to decrease the number of disposable bags distributed (both paper and plastic) while increasing the recycling efforts of plastic bags and the use of reusable bags.
Implementation of Agreement Annual one-page survey distributed to participating members, requests information on: Company s plastic and paper bag purchases for the year Recycling efforts for plastic bags Distribution of reusable bags Measures taken to decrease distribution of disposable plastic and paper bags, including signage reminding use of reusable bags Incentive programs for purchasing/using reusable bags Training programs for baggers to minimize distribution of disposable bags Purchasing of products made from recycled bags
WHAT CAN/DOES OUR INDUSTRY DO? Many retailers already accept plastic bags for recycling in their establishments. Manufacturers of everything from patio decking to mops and carpeting are seeing the economic necessity of buying and recycling plastic bags, and consumers are on board with growing bag-recycling efforts; Many retailers run promotional programs, such as receiving a free reusable bag if you spent a certain amount on groceries, buy a certain number of reusable bags and get one free, discounts on purchases for those who brought their own bags to use, etc. Many MFA members continue to offer reusable bags for sale and the list is growing. Supermarkets and retailers already do a tremendous amount of recycling and are an integral part of the community. They keep shrink wrap and corrugated cardboard out of their waste stream by having it compressed and bundled in compactors in their stores for recycling;
Success of the Voluntary Initiative IN JULY 2010, DEP ANNOUNCED THE INDUSTRY HAD ALREADY REACHED A DECREASE IN THE DISTRIBUTION OF DISPOSABLE BAGS (BOTH PAPER AND PLASTIC) OF 25% COMPARED WITH 2007 BAG DISTRIBUTION DATA. the GOAL OF 33% REDUCTION IN THEIR DISTRIBUTION BY 2013 WAS THEN MET IN 2011. Any proposal to ban plastic bags or require them to be made of different substances would interfere with these recycling efforts and be counterproductive TO THE RECYLCING OF PLASTIC BAGS.
Challenges in Reducing Usage/Improper Disposal of Plastic Bags in Massachusetts Local Ordinances Education on proper recycling of plastic bags (as opposed to disposal) Education on bags themselves (plastic v. paper, % of waste stream, etc.) Reframing used bags as resource stream, not waste
WHAT IS THE REAL PROBLEM? The bags themselves are not the problem, but rather what consumers do with them after they are finished using them for carrying their grocery items home. Plastic bags are useful for the transportation of frozen products, raw meat, poultry and fish and other items that may tend to leak or create moisture. Although plastic bags can be harmful to the environment, the reason they become a problem is because of the improper disposal of them. AS STATED ON THE PSI WEBSITE FOR THIS WEBINAR: Although plastic grocery bags make up just 15% of overall film plastic discards in the U.S., and a small percentage of the overall waste stream, they have become a symbolic lightning rod for environmentalists and the target of a wide array of legislation and management strategies nationwide.
PAPER VS. PLASTIC, REAL SOLUTIONS: Proposals to ban or tax plastic bags would spur demand for paper bags. Although both paper and plastic bags both have their pros and cons, limiting a customer s option to just paper, or forcing them to purchase a reusable bag if they didn t have one is not fair to customers or the business operation; A wide ranging and all inclusive solution is needed to address the problem of litter instead of a tax which is not fair to customers and does not address the real issue of litter. MFA WILL CONTINUE TO ADVOCATE FOR INCREASED RECYCLING AND INCREASED PARTICIPATION FROM ITS MEMBERS IN ITS MOU WITH DEP TO THE EXTENT FEASIBLE WITH INCREASED PRESSURE FOR LOCAL PLASTIC BAG BANS AND TAXES.