PRO-RECYCLING GROUP ENCOURAGES PUBLIC SUPPORT OF STATEWIDE PLASTIC BAG

                               RECYCLING LAW



    LOS ANGELES, July 24 /EMWNews/ -- The Los Angeles City Council has

NOT voted to enact a ban on plastic bags. Some media reports have

mischaracterized a recent decision by the Council which amounts to little

more than a resolution that has no legal impact. Although we take this

action seriously, the council approved a policy recommendation contingent

upon certain actions and not an actual ban. The resulting confusion could

impact the success of a statewide law to promote plastic bag recycling at

large retail stores.



    The Progressive Bag Affiliates (PBA) of the American Chemistry Council

(ACC), which represents the nation's largest plastic bag manufacturers,

resin producers and plastic film recyclers, continues to join with

stakeholders throughout the state in supporting AB 2449, California's

current plastic bag recycling law, which went into effect in July 2007.



    "The success of California's pioneering statewide recycling law is

jeopardized by unfortunate misinformation conveyed to trusted news sources

by some opposed to plastic bag recycling. We need to work together to

encourage plastic bag recycling and make California a leader in the bag

recycling movement," said Shari Jackson, director of PBA.



    San Francisco remains the only major jurisdiction in the country that

has enacted a ban on plastic bags. This week a landmark law in New York

City went into effect providing plastic bag recycling at tens of thousands

of stores in all five boroughs. New York is just one city in a growing

national movement to adopt plastic bag recycling as sound and sensible

policy for major metropolitan areas. Chicago and other major cities are

also supporting recycling for their residents. Illinois, Rhode Island, and

New York are joining California in providing statewide access to plastic

bag recycling.



    http://www.americanchemistry.com



    The American Chemistry Council (ACC) represents the leading companies

engaged in the business of chemistry. ACC members apply the science of

chemistry to make innovative products and services that make people's lives

better, healthier and safer. ACC is committed to improved environmental,

health and safety performance through Responsible Care(R), common sense

advocacy designed to address major public policy issues, and health and

environmental research and product testing. The business of chemistry is a

$664 billion enterprise and a key element of the nation's economy. It is

one of the nation's largest exporters, accounting for ten cents out of

every dollar in U.S. exports. Chemistry companies are among the largest

investors in research and development. Safety and security have always been

primary concerns of ACC members, and they have intensified their efforts,

working closely with government agencies to improve security and to defend

against any threat to the nation's critical infrastructure.