The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) is holding public hearings on regulating  plastic retail bags and will submit a report with conclusions and recommendations regarding the regulation of plastic bags to the Florida Legislature, no later than February 1, 2010. Comments concerning the regulation of retail plastic bags can be made at http://www.dep.state.fl.us/waste/retailbags/.

Manasota-88 has issued the "10 Reasons Why Florida Should Ban Plastic Retail Bags."  Access the link for more detail on each reason and, of course, to share with friends, but for a summary, the top ten reasons are:

1. Costs to taxpayers

2. Litter

3. Low recycling rates

4. Wildlife

5. Landfills

6. Storm-water management

7. Plastic bags are made from non-renewable resources

8. Plastic bags are non-biodegradable

9. Legislation

10. Alternatives exist