Baltimore Beyond Plastic

COME OUT TO SUPPORT THE PLASTICS AND PACKAGING REDUCTION ACT

THURSDAY FEBRUARY 20th
10:30-12pm

Annapolis, MD
CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION

SIGN ONTO OUR WRITTEN TESTIMONY

“#1- A ban on plastic bags when paired with an imposed minimum price on reusable bags has been proven effective in changing the behavior of consumers. California, being the first state to ban plastic bags in 2016, has been wildly successful with their waste reduction. CalRecycle, the agency tasked with managing and enforcing California's laws related to waste management recently released a report showing the results of a survey among thousands of stores and grocers. The study found that in the six months after the bag ban went into effect, in 86% of transactions, customers brought their own bag and didn't purchase a paper or reusable bag. This study thoroughly proves that putting a ban on plastic bags, and a price on paper bags, is a highly effective solution to solve a portion of our states detrimental plastic usage.
#2- Plastics use and production fuels climate change, negatively impacts our health, and harms our environment. Fossil fuels are the basis of plastic production. Between production and disposal of plastics, archaic harmful industries are supported. These industries prioritize wealth over health. Climate change is terrifying, especially to our generation and it impacts our most vulnerable populations the hardest. As a coastal state with areas of concentrated poverty, Maryland is at high risk for the fury that is our changing climate. If we want to really work towards slowing down climate change, it is your responsibility to take these critical steps towards disbanding our single-use culture.
#3- We as youth have spoken. We are not disposable. Our generation is standing up across the planet to make our voice heard in the issue we face with the destruction caused by our wasteful single-use culture. The threat of inaction against climate change is real and our generation is uncertain that our future is promised. Millions of youth across the globe are calling on our elected leaders to act on the facts and work across party lines to work toward a secure future. We accept the challenge of rethinking our convenience culture that we were born into, realizing this legislation will have the longest impact on us. Some of us have been taught in our school groups to “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Repair, Refuse”. It is time to refuse, to reduce, and to repair our planet.
For these important reasons and many more that will be highlighted in other supportive testimony, we strongly urge the Committee to vote in favor of SB313.”

* Indicates required field

Name *

First

Last

Email *

Name of your school, organization or environmental club you are a part of: *

Submit

our mission

Logo created by Rachael Avidor, student at Western High School

BALTIMORE. BRIGHT. BEAUTIFUL.

Baltimore Beyond Plastic is a youth-led organization founded in 2016 to support a Maryland expanded polystyrene (Styrofoam) phase-out. Our work continues to grow to embrace a variety of environmental topics.

Mission Statement: Baltimore Beyond Plastic coordinates youth advocacy efforts around a diverse range of environmental problems facing Baltimore City, such as: