By Ajeenah Amir, River East Resident

Every year, 20,000 tons of trash enter the Anacostia River leaving a polluted, dirty and neglected river. According to the latest report from the District Department of the Environment (DDOE), plastic bags, bottles, wrappers and Styrofoam make up 85% of the trash.  The polluted waterways adversely affect the quality of life for Ward 7 & 8 residents – contributing to poor air and water quality and the destruction of local natural and animal habitat.

Earlier this summer, DC Council voted unanimously to assess a small fee on paper and plastic bags in an environmental effort to clean up the Anacostia River. The River East Emerging Leaders (r.e.e.l.) fully supports the passage of the Anacostia River Cleanup and Protection Act of 2009, which assess a $ 0.05 fee on every plastic and paper bag used for food items. The tax would apply to corner stores, grocery stores, pharmacies and other food-service providers.

As taxpayers, we spend over $50 million every year cleaning bags and trash out of the Anacostia River and off our streets. Looking forward, more expenses for taxpayers loom considering that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will soon establish heavy fines for the District every time trash exceeds its limit in the River, which happens almost every time we have a heavy rain. Even with a great recycling program, every bag recycled costs taxpayers money and bags still litter the River. The bags also cost stores money, raising the price of our groceries and other goods.

A portion of the funds collected would be provided as an incentive to retailers to encourage reusable bags and lessen operating costs of purchasing bags for customers.  The remaining fee per bag will be deposited into a new Anacostia River Cleanup & Protection Fund.

Protecting our river and keeping grocery costs down don’t have to be mutually exclusive.  We want to ensure a thriving riverfront community that can enhance the Kenilworth and Anacostia parks, as well as prove attractive to future economic and commercial investment in our neighborhoods.  We also want to build the healthiest communities in our wards, where our children can continue to grow and thrive.

However, we understand that the extra costs for continual use of disposable bags may particularly affect elderly and low-income Ward 7 & 8 residents.  We also know that this initiative will require a shift in priorities for everyone.  We’re revving up to support the outreach efforts of District agencies in providing free or low-cost reusable bags to residents.  We are working to ensure that every Ward 7 & 8 resident is prepared to make this change.  We’d love to hear your feedback on how we can all make this work.  Stay tuned for more news on our own bag supply efforts!

Sources:

The Washington Post - Paper or Plastic? D.C. Council Votes for 5-Cent Tax on Both.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wpdyn/content/article/2009/06/02/AR2009060201989.html

TrashFreeAnacostia.com

Website of Rep. Tommy Wells - http://www.tommywells.org/content/view/618/30/