INCORPORATED IN 1907

PRODUCT STEWARDSHIP INSTITUTE WEBINAR

December 11, 2012VOLUNTARY INITIATIVES

Presented by BRIAN HOUGHTON, VICE PRESIDENTMASSACHUSETTS FOOD ASSOCIATION

31 Milk Street, Suite 518, Boston, MA 02109Phone #: (617) 542-3085

Fax #: (617) 542-3505Email: mafood@mafood.comWebsite: www.mafood.com

MASSACHUSETTS FOOD ASSOCIATION

MFA’S MISSION STATEMENT:

THE MASSACHUSETTS FOOD ASSOCIATIONREPRESENTS 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 EPAMFA 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 FoodAssociation and the MA Department ofEnvironmental Protection (DEP) signed aMemorandum of Understanding to launch ajoint effort to decrease the number ofdisposable bags distributed (both paper andplastic) while increasing the recycling effortsof plastic bags and the use of reusablebags.

Implementation of AgreementAnnual one-page survey distributed to participating members,

requests information on:Company’s plastic and paper bag purchases for the yearRecycling efforts for plastic bagsDistribution of reusable bagsMeasures taken to decrease distribution of disposable plastic and paper bags, including signage reminding use of reusable bagsIncentive programs for purchasing/using reusable bagsTraining programs for baggers to minimize distribution of disposable bagsPurchasing of products made from recycled bags

WHAT CAN/DOES OUR INDUSTRY DO?Many retailers already accept plastic bags for recycling in theirestablishments. Manufacturers of everything from patio decking to mopsand carpeting are seeing the economic necessity of buying and recyclingplastic bags, and consumers are on board with growing bag-recyclingefforts;

Many retailers run promotional programs, such as receiving a freereusable bag if you spent a certain amount on groceries, buy a certainnumber of reusable bags and get one free, discounts on purchases forthose who brought their own bags to use, etc. Many MFA memberscontinue to offer reusable bags for sale and the list is growing.

Supermarkets and retailers already do a tremendous amount of recyclingand are an integral part of the community. They keep shrink wrap andcorrugated cardboard out of their waste stream by having it compressedand 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 OrdinancesEducation 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.