Communities around the world have seen cleaner streets and healthier environments when they eliminate these cheap unnecessary products" Robin Schneider Texas Campaign for the Environment Executive Director said. We are hopeful that the Supreme Court of Texas will respect the law and protect both business and the environment by preserving these effective local ordinances."The availability will feature a bag monster"--an advocate dressed in hundreds of single-use plastic bags speaking in favor of pollution--and advocates for environmental protection and (if available) industries impacted by single-use bag pollution. WHAT: Supreme Court of Texas Decision on single-use bag ordinances and pollution reduction advocate press availability WHEN: Decision at 9 AM on June 1 June 8 June 15 June 22 or June 29. Press availability 11:30 PM the same day. Out of town media can contact TCE for comment via phone or email. WHERE: Decision online at http://www.txcourts.gov/supreme/orders-opinions/. Press availability outside east entrance to Supreme Court Texas Capitol north mall. VISUALS: Bag monster speaking in favor of pollution activists and businesspeople advocating for plastic alternatives. BACKGROUND: Texas has more marine plastic pollution than any other state with our beaches home to ten times as much debris as those on the eastern Gulf Coast. As one means of attacking this serious environmental threat at least 11 Texas cities have restricted single-use plastic bags including Laredo. In 2015 Laredo retailers sued the city over their single-use bag ordinance with state district court declaring the law legal and a 2-1 appeals court decision declaring it illegal. The Supreme Court of Texas heard arguments on the matter in January and more than a dozen individuals and interest groups filed amicus briefs urging them to respect local rights to limit this pollution. These groups included:
- Black Bass Unlimited a fishing tour company whose business is threatened by bag pollution
- Texas Cotton Ginners Association a major Texas industry threatened by bag pollution
- Natural Grocers and Bicycle Sport Shop retailers that have benefited from single-use bag ordinances
- Jose Aliseda (R) Bee County District Attorney former State Representative and rancher whose livestock is threatened by bag pollution
- Texas Campaign for the Environment
- Environment Texas
- Rio Grande International Study Center
- Texans for Clean Water Inc
- Turtle Island Restoration Network a nonprofit engaged in conserving sea turtles threatened by bag pollution
- Senator Judith Zaffirini
- City of Galveston
- City of Houston
- Texas Municipal League and Texas City Attorneys Association
