WHEREAS in excess of one trillion disposable plastic retail bags, such as grocery, merchandise and dry cleaning bags, are used throughout the world each year These disposable plastic bags are often discarded improperly and consequently litter our communities and environment.; AND WHEREAS other countries that have imposed an eco-fee on all plastic retail bags have seen significant reductions in the use of such bags: THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Union of BC Municipalities support the idea of the provincial and federal government adding an eco-fee to all plastic retail bags issued in Canada, with the proceeds of the plastic bag eco-fees to be deposited into a Green Initiative Fund and used solely for the purposes of promoting, enhancing or implementing various green environmental initiatives.