MISSION & HISTORY

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In 2010, the Brandywine Sprouts, a Delaware Roots & Shoots youth chapter out of the Jane Goodall Institute, was inspired to take action regarding the single-use plastic bags which littered our communities and coasts, harming marine animals and birds.  The Roots & Shoots program out of the Jane Goodall Institute is about making positive change happen—for our communities, for animals and for the environment.   Roots & Shoots is made up of tens of thousands of young people in almost 100 countries, where the network connects youth of all ages who share a desire to create a better world.  Young people identify problems in their communities and take action.  Through service projects in youth-led campaigns, Roots & Shoots members are making a difference across the globe. 

Single-use plastic bags blight communities, enter watersheds and marine environments, are consumed by animals with tragic results, put toxins in our food chain, and contribute to climate change by needlessly perpetuating the oil and natural gas extraction and refinery industries, including fracking here in the U.S. BringYourOwnBag (BYOB) Delaware was launched to undertake educational outreach, awareness building, and policy change to address the issue of plastic bag pollution. In June 2019, with passage of House Bill 130, due to PFD's commitment and efforts, Delaware became the fourth state in the U.S. to pass a law banning single-use plastic bags, thereby fulfilling PFD's founding mission.

Even before HB130’s passage, BringYourOwnBag matured into Plastic Free Delaware as the organization began to address other plastic pollution issues beyond just single-use plastic bags. PFD's mission expanded to include all single-use plastic including straws, balloon releases, expanded polystyrene (Styrofoam), and bottles, and the mission expanded into the broader realm of cultivating a “zero waste” culture (Zero Waste First State). No longer the Brandywine Sprouts and their "done-in-a-day" project (which took almost a decade), PFD has evolved into a well-respected, statewide organization with a solid volunteer corps, programs and partners.

Operated initially under a fiscal sponsorship, in 2020 PFD became a standalone 501(c)(3) nonprofit. To date, PFD remains an all-volunteer corps, and the only organization in Delaware laser-focused on addressing the root causes of plastic pollution and securing a zero waste future. Early on, PFD formed and continues to lead the Delaware Plastic Pollution Action Coalition which includes other environmental organizations and stakeholder groups that work together to catalyze the collective power of advocacy on related policy initiatives.

In addition to classroom visits, tabling and exhibiting opportunities, talking to groups large and small up and down the state, our educational programs have included a Guinness Book of World Records world’s largest plastic bag ball project, outreach to Delaware’s restaurateurs which led to more than 100 restaurants voluntarily offering straws-by-request only, and a reusable bag sewing project using fabric remnants and providing handmade shopping bags to food banks and others least likely to be able to afford to their own reusable bags. With Covid-19 curtailing in-person outreach and educational programs, PFD initiated a monthly webinar series on various plastic pollution and zero waste issues which has been well received and will continue “post Covid”. School visits, festival and conference tabling, film screenings, presentations, and reusable bag giveaways are beginning to gear up again as the Covid concern abates.

Significant policy achievements to date include:

• 2011 - BringYourOwnBag (BYOB) led the drafting and passage of a state Senate resolution on plastic bags requesting a full report on the current at-store plastic bag recycling program as a first step toward “improving the program and bettering the environment”
• 2012 - BringYourOwnBag members led the establishment of a legislatively-appointed task force in to investigate and document issues surrounding single-use plastic bags and out of this task force the Delaware Plastic Pollution Action Coalition (DEPPAC) was born. The group agreed that the main objective was initially to focus on the issue of single-use plastic bags, but as capacity, support and achievements grew, to also address other single-use plastics and litter as well. 
• 2014 - BYOB/DEPPAC members led the effort to secure passage of legislation to extend Delaware’s current plastic bag recycling law which was set to sunset on December 2, 2014, and prevented the sunset from being permanently removed (thereby removing incentive to take the next step legislatively, banning plastic bags). 
• 2015 -  Partnership building by BYOB has led to agreement by the Food Industry Alliance in Delaware (large retailers – grocery stores and convenience stores) on general wording and approach of statewide legislation to place a fee on plastic and paper bags. By request of BYOB, Representative Deborah Hudson introduced House Bill 202 in late June 202, shortly before the Delaware legislature summer recess. BYOB is now leading efforts to expand the Delaware Plastic Pollution Action Coalition and build legislative and public support, hold a press event in early January 2016 when the legislature reconvenes, and work to support its successful journey through the House Natural Resources Committee, the House, the Senate Natural Resources Committee and the Senate by June 30, 2015. As of 12/14/15 Delaware could still be the first state to successfully pass such a bill in the U.S. although many other countries, cities and counties have already done so – 54% of the world’s population is estimated be under similar laws at this point.
• 2019 Delaware House Bill 130 – the fourth state in the U.S. to pass a law banning plastic bags
• 2019 Delaware House Concurrent Resolution 17 recognized the issue of plastic pollution and the role of plastic straws, and requires the Delaware Restaurant Association to report back by May 1, 2020, on voluntary efforts its members have taken to curb plastic pollution.
• 2021 Delaware Senate Bill 24 – designating balloon releases as littering and therefore banned
• 2021 Delaware House Bill 212 – “bag bill 2.0” to refine the definition of allowable reusable bags as having stitched handles, and expanding the bag ban law to all Delaware retailers, not just the largest ones, effective date of July 1, 2022
• 2021 - Delaware Senate bills 134 & 140, to address expanded polystyrene (Styrofoam©), plastic straws and picks, stalled but led to SB134  2022
• 2021 - House Bill 22, Right to Repair legislation - stalled
• 2021 - TABLED - New Castle County Ordinance 21-049 to reduce gypsum (drywall) in construction debris from being landfilled (a zero waste and air quality initiative)
• 2022 - Delaware Senate Bill 134 to ban expanded polystyrene (Styrofoam) and to make plastic straws by request only, sponsored by Senator Trey Paradee and House sponsor Paul Baumbach.  Passed the Senate.  Buried in the House by special interests. Look for reintroduction in 2023

Director of the City of Wilmington’s Public Works Department, Kelly Williams, recently reported that the plastic bag law which went into effect on January 1, 2021, has been the most impactful policy change ever in the City regarding trash reduction. “We have witnessed a huge decrease in the number of plastic bags littering Wilmington’s streets, caught in the trees, and clogging our wastewater and stormwater systems, and so we greatly appreciate the work of Plastic Free Delaware.”

Grounded in its founding as a youth group project, and recognizing the power of youth in advocacy successes, in 2020 PFD launched YES!, the Delaware Youth Environmental Summit, to engage, inspire and encourage Delaware’s high school students to become active in making a difference regarding environmental issues. More than 270 high school students and teacher-advisors attended in 2020 and 2021. Planning is now well underway for the third annual summit in February 2022. Student leaders involved in YES! are already having impact beyond the Summit, being invited to speaking engagements at climate change rallies, legislative hearings and other events.

With significant successes under our belt and momentum building, PFD has its sights set on continuing to grow its base of support and corps of advocates, expanding programs to educate the public and decision-makers, and achieving additional policy objectives, including e-waste and extended producer responsibility (EPR) legislation, expanding opportunities for composting in order to reduce food waste (which is 36% of Delaware’s landfill material), truth in labeling legislation, a green procurement policy in New Castle County to encourage the purchase of recycled and/or compostable content whenever possible, and undertaking a study on plastics and non-compostables in Delaware’s wastewater systems in partnership with Delaware’s local governments, the University of Delaware and Delaware Sea Grant.

We welcome you to join us!