Item C: Plastic Bag Ban - Laserfiche WebLink

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Attachment D: Text responses from consumer plastic bag ban survey Banning plastic bags is a stupid idea if the bags are recyclable and/or bio-degradable. First we were brow beaten for using paper bags because we were cutting down trees (which is a renewable resource!). Now plastic bags are under attack. This is ridiculous. One of these days the council will focus on what is important, but I'm not hopeful. I sincerely, hope that this ban goes through. I have been using my own bags since the early 70's after a long trip to Europe where there was no such thing. When I walk home from the grocery store, I can carry four plastic bags in each hand, nearly a weeks worth of groceries. When I ride my bike, I can hang plastic bags on the handlebars. No so with a paper bag. Also I use them in the house as trash liners, and carry them with me when I walk our dog. I work and shop in Eugene on occasion. As long as single-use plastic bags are available, people will be lazy and use them. Banning them is the only way to keep them out of landfills. It is a shame that consumers need a financial incentive (deposit or "per bag" fee) in order to meet another environmental objective. It is another example of selfish behavior by the pathetically ignorant and lazy who choose convenience over conscience. Do it ! Eugene should have been first todo it but late is better than not at all I think there are more important things for government to do than ban plastic bags. Many stores sell reusable canvas-like bags. I would encourage occasional "give-away" promotions by stores, especially if the store has its logo on the bag. I also can imagine video clips posted on the City's website and also stores' websites of customers stating the benefits of using reusable canvas-like bags. I use one bag to store (for recycle) the occasional print newspaper, and another one to tote garden tools around the yard. Promote, promote, promote! College campuses could also get into the act, promoting reusable bags in their stores. One of my first reusable bags came not from a retail store but from Sacred Heart Riverbend at their grand opening. Using reusable bags is not only cool, but it has to be perceived as cool, by everyone from kids to the blue-rinse crowd. Banning plastic bags is a good idea. If you can't get Board agreement on this, at least charge 5- 10 cents per plastic bag. When the dumps started charging a fee for uncovered loads, the number of such went way down. People listen to financial incentives. I do recyle the bags that I do not re use. I do re- use the bags for many things. If not availabe I would still have to go and buy the plastic bags to fulfill my uses, so they would still be in the enviroment. I think the grocery bags are a thinner bag and I hope that they break down faster than the bags I would have to buy at the store if these weren't availabe. I wish that the grocery bags could be enigeered to break down faster. I'm sure there are reasons that we can't put plastic bags in our home recycling but if we could I suspect far fewer would end up in landfills. A plastic bag ban is long overdue in Eugene. Plastic bags are second only to single-use beverage cups from convenience stores and fast food restaurants in terms of litter.