By AFRO Staff
The DC City Council approved a bill aimed at cleaning up the heavily-polluted Anacostia River. (Courtesy Photo/nrdc.org)
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(June 24, 2009) - The District of Columbia City Council has unanimously voted to approve the Anacostia River Cleanup and Protection Act of 2009.
According to Ward 6 Councilmember Tommy Wells, the landmark measure brings the District of Columbia to the forefront addressing pollution caused by disposable bags and takes much needed action to clean the Anacostia River.
Safeway, the District’s largest grocery retailer, with 16 locations, will partner with the city in the river cleanup by donating reusable bags to local non-profits for distribution to 10,000 low-income families throughout the city.
The legislation, introduced in mid-February, was the subject of a public hearing this past spring where public testimony garnered overwhelming support. Since then, thousands more supporters have sent letters and postcards or called and signed petitions for both the bill and the Anacostia River.
"I’ve heard from supporters that run the gamut from school children to seniors, from environmentalists to developers, from clergy to boating enthusiasts, from grocers to food pantries," Wells said. "Many residents on both sides of the river supported this bill because they see it as a way to change our behavior to take greater responsibility for our environment."