Supports Bag Ban
Dear Editor: A year ago, the community was discussing many things in the lead up to municipal elections. Hot topics were the hospital merger, new mayors and Assembly members, and the introduction of a fee for disposable plastic shopping bags. Since then, our hospitals have merged, the Assembly has changed course in many ways, and now our ballot will have a measure to ban the distribution of disposable plastic shopping bags.
If this year has taught us anything, it is probably this: change happens whether we are ready for it or not. As two of 20 sponsors on this year’s ballot Proposition 1, we wanted to take this opportunity to answer a couple of frequently asked questions, and urge our fellow Sitkans to consider voting ‘‘yes’’ for a ban on disposable plastic shopping bags, a fee on alternative bags that are supplied by stores, and (standard) fines for ignoring the ordinance.
Why a Ban and Not A Fee? In early 2018, when Bags For Change conducted two surveys on the idea of a fee for disposable plastic shopping bags, or a ban, the general view seemed to be that a fee would allow people to make their own choice to pay for a bag at the checkout or bring their own bags. The ordinance sponsored in 2018 by the city reflected that view, but when it made it to the second reading (approval), a different view emerged. Some Sitkans thought that a ban would be more effective. We were happy to work with either approach because, as the study quoted in a recent NPR story notes, whether you implement a fee or a ban there is a drop of around 50% in the use of disposable plastic shopping bags. Yes, the same story that everyone has been talking about found that there was a 28.8-million-pound drop in the amount of plastic being used. Yes, EVEN with a jump in purchases of the thicker bags that people felt they needed for dog poo and trash can liners. Interesting, eh?
Why a Ban AND a Fee? Some have asked why the ballot measure has a ban on disposable plastic shopping bags AND a fee for alternative bags (alternative bag generally meaning a paper bag). There are two simple reasons. First, communities who impose a fee of at least 10 cents on disposable bags see a bigger increase in people bringing their own reusable bags. Second, communities that place a fee on alternatives to disposable plastic bags (usually paper) are able to fight off lawsuits from the makers of disposable plastic bags. The ordinance currently up for a vote allows the stores to keep and use the fees as they see fit. Perhaps they will remove bags from their ‘‘cost of doing business’’ and let their savings flow down to the customer? I guess we’ll see.
Why Not Work On Something More Important? Michelle and I are by no means convinced that a bag ban is the best thing we can do for the environment or ourselves, and we haven’t limited ourselves to this ballot measure. We have put some of our efforts into a bag ban because refusing to use disposable plastic shopping bags is simply the LEAST and EASIEST thing any of us can do to start making a difference on plastic. If we can’t do this then we will definitely have trouble doing more meaningful things to reduce the plastic pollution in our bodies, our oceans, and our planet.
Leah Mason and Michelle Putz,
Bag Nags and
Co-sponsors of Proposition 1
No on Bag Ban
Dear Editor: It seems to me that most of us are well aware of the dangers to our oceans and the climate changes taking place, and are concerned to make the best choices we can about these matters on a daily basis. I think Bags for Change should get a pat on the back for raising awareness and availability of non-plastic bags. Beyond the additional expense and inconvenience imposed by eliminating plastic bags, however, I think this proposition is quite like Nero fiddling while Rome burns. “Well, it’s a starting point” I am told. Well maybe so, but I think it is the wrong place to start.
I think a better place to start is to address the “imported trash” crisis we, like most island communities, have. I say “imported trash” because that is what we are creating every day, every week and every month of the year. The volume of plastic wrapping, bubble pack, air pillows, plastic packing, plastic envelopes, Styrofoam packing forms and pellets, not to mention cardboard by the tons and other trash that comes with off-island purchases has grown at an alarming rate, and we all pay every single month to have trash shipped off island since we have no means to handle it here. What happens when no one will take our exported trash?
Rather than empty gestures that seem good on the surface and make us feel virtuous, let’s DO something real with some real substance and important and lasting effect. There are other island communities in the Pacific, in Asia, in the Mediterranean, all over the world, facing this same “imported trash’ problem we are NOT facing here in Sitka. Research, resources and solutions already exist that we could draw on. Our teachers, students, organizations, community service groups, anyone in Sitka, could use the rich resources of the Internet and elsewhere to find these resources and bring them to Sitka so we can show the world what can be done by solving a very real problem just like the teenager who invented a vacuum to remove micro-plastics from beaches without removing sand and the scientists and manufacturers who are busy converting used plastic bags into clothing, shoes, and building materials. Let’s stop kidding ourselves – VOTE NO on the bag proposition and let’s move on to solve the real problems.
Karen Parker, Sitka
