Ward 49

Chicago's 49th Ward | Alderman Joe Moore

TwitterFacebook
  • Home
  • Ward & City Services
    • Streets and Sanitation Services
      • Recycling: Blue Cart & Multi-Unit Building Services
      • Garbage Collection
      • Yard Waste Collection
    • CityKey: Chicago's ID Card
    • Winter Resources
    • Request City Services
    • Parking: Permits & Vehicle Stickers
      • Viaduct Clearance Map
    • Street Resurfacing
    • Street Sweeping Schedule & Map
    • Permits & Rebates
    • New Street Lights 2003-2015
    • Sidewalk Repairs & Replacements
    • Wildlife and Animal Care & Control
    • 49th Ward Map - And, What Ward Do I Live In?
    • Information on Ward Water Main Work
    • Information on Ward Sewer Main Work
  • Business & The Arts
    • Commercial Driveway Permits
    • Sign Regulations and Permits
    • Loading and Standing Zones
    • Public Art
    • Open or Expand Your Business
      • Examples of Successful, Attractive Businesses
    • Sidewalk Cafes
    • Follow Me on Friday
  • Zoning & Development
    • Zoning and Land Use Decision-Making in 49th Ward
    • "Concord on Sheridan" Construction Updates
    • 1323 W. Morse Construction Updates
    • Recent Significant Zoning Decisions
    • Community Review Procedures
    • Zoning Committee Members
    • Links to Zoning Code and Maps
    • Building Permits
  • Participatory Budgeting
    • Alderman Joe Moore's Introduction to Participatory Budgeting
    • Your Guide to How Participatory Budgeting Works in the 49th Ward
    • PB 2019 Project Updates
    • PB 2018 Project Updates
    • PB 2017 Project Updates
    • Updates on Past PB Projects
      • PB 2016 Projects
      • PB 2015 Projects
      • PB 2014 Projects
      • PB 2013 Projects
      • PB 2012 Projects
      • PB 2011 Projects
      • PB 2010 Projects
    • Results of 2018 Participatory Budgeting Election
    • Election Results in Previous Years
    • FAQ About PB in 49th Ward
    • What Others Are Saying About PB
  • Community Resources
    • Police & Public Safety
    • Community Organizations and Volunteer Opportunities
    • Annual events hosted by Ald. Moore
    • Biking in Rogers Park
      • Pedestrian and bicycle improvements in the 49th Ward Greenway
    • Schools
    • Parks
    • Senior Citizen Services
    • Divvy Locations in Ward
    • Jobs and Job Training Resources
    • Elected Officials, Public Services, Election and Voting Info
    • Community Gardening
  • News
  • Calendar & Events
  • About
    • About Alderman Joe Moore
    • Major Accomplishments and Ward Improvements
    • Committee on Housing and Real Estate
    • About the Staff
    • Internship Opportunities
  • Contact
Home / News / Bring your own bag! New ordinance seeks to reduce plastic bag waste

Bring your own bag! New ordinance seeks to reduce plastic bag waste

January 31, 2017

Dear Neighbor,

Starting Wednesday, February 1, all stores in the Chicago will charge customers seven cents per paper or plastic carry-out bag. You can avoid this tax by bringing your own bag to carry items from your favorite stores.

Chicago joins several cities across the country, including Seattle, Austin, Dallas, San Francisco and San Jose, in charging a tax on single-use plastic bags in stores. This past fall the seven-cent tax unanimously passed by the Chicago City Council, replacing a farce of a plastic bag ban that most retailers avoided by offering thicker plastic bags. Now shoppers in Chicago have the choice to pay for a plastic bag or take home groceries and other items in their own reusable bags.

reusable-grocery-bags

According to Surfrider Wisconsin the average American uses 360 plastic bags per year. Along with other types of plastic waste it is estimated that human activity leads to more than 10 million tons of plastic getting dumped in our oceans each year. San Francisco estimates it costs roughly 17 cents per bag to clean up and landfill plastic bag litter. In Chicago, single-use plastic bags are a major type of litter that clogs our sewers and can be seen “decorating” almost any tree in the neighborhood.

plastic-bag-in-tree

Several attempts have been made through laws and individual choice campaigns to reduce single-use plastic bag use and litter.  Since plastic bags clog machinery at recycling facilities, they must be recycled separately from all other materials. The State of Illinois requires grocery stores to offer customers a plastic bag recycling drop-off option, though it is estimated only a few percent of all bags get recycled using this method. In 2015 Chicago’s plastic bag ban took effect. Quickly we saw retailers respond with thicker plastic bags that adhered to letter of the law but not necessarily the spirit.

Since passage of this ordinance the city has been working with retailers to update their point-of-sale process so that the seven-cent tax is shown on every receipt. Retailers will retain two cents of the seven-cent tax to offset the costs of each bag. The remaining five cents will be used to pay for city service delivery. This revenue sharing agreement helped win the support of retailers across the city and gives them incentive to make shoppers aware of the tax.

Shoppers will not be charged the tax for bags used to gather products in a store or to hold prescription medications. The bag tax will be applied to both plastic and paper carry-out bags used at checkout.

Chi-Bag 01.31.17

Do you need a reusable bag? The City of Chicago is offering a limited number of bags for free. You can pick one up at my Ward Service Office, 7356 N. Greenview. But hurry! There’s a limited supply.

Please do not hesitate to contact my office at 773.338.5796 or email us at ward49@cityofchicago.org for any assistance with this new ordinance.

Sincerely,

Joe Moore

Filed Under: General Tagged With: community announcement, environtment, recycling, Streets & Sanitation

« Previous article
Next article »

Sign Up for the
Neighborhood Newsletter

Street Sweeping Schedule & MapFind your ward
  • Ward & City Services
  • Business & The Arts
  • Zoning & Development
  • Participatory Budgeting
  • Community Resources
  • News
  • Calendar & Events
Address: 7356 N. Greenview, Chicago IL 60626
Phone: 773.338.5796
Fax: 773.338.5989
Email: ward49@cityofchicago.org
This website is paid for by "Citizens for Joe Moore" and is not funded by taxpayer dollars
© 2019 Ward 49 - Alderman Joe Moore
Website Designed by Chicago's ePageCity.com