Item 4: Ordinance on Suspension of Paper Bag Pass-Through Charge

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By banning the bags, you’ve started a chain reaction for the people of Eugene. I cannot stress how important it is to realize these bags are NOT single use. People use them to line trash cans in their homes, to carry their lunch to work, to pick up dog droppings, to dispose of used kitty litter, in place of packing materials and for freezing food, just to name a few of the dual purposes of these now coveted bags. What they don’t use, they recycle. Sure some of the bags get thrown away by this, but isn’t it better than causing us to resort to buying trash bags, doggie bags and smaller trash can bags that really are completely intended for single use? When I clean my cat’s litter box, it makes me sick to think of how the bag I am using is partially wasted because it is too big for merely the contents of the litter box. The plastic grocery bags were just the right size and when I used them it was at least the second time they were used. It’s just silly to buy things that are intended to literally be thrown away. How’s that for eco-friendly? The City of Eugene’s personal website makes a failed attempt at trying to convince residents 2 that they can still conveniently “line the garbage can” and “deal with pet waste.” They claim using the plastic bags that are still in circulation is one solution. That’s a bit hypocritical, is it not? Other offered solutions include using produce bags, bread bags, bulk or cereal bags. The only slightly logical alternative in the lineup is produce bags, but it also seems a tad bit ironic that these bags are ok while the shopping bags aren’t. As for lining the trash can, it suggests newspaper and rinsing periodically, which is a disgusting substitute and a horrible mess to clean up. Most astonishing of all is the duplicitous suggestion of buying “thin, reusable bags.” There’s something missing here. The five cent expense for each paper bag used at the check out is atrocious. I see clearly that this is, once again, intended to encourage (force) us to use allegedly reusable bags, but they were free before. Not to mention, most people preferred plastic. So now you have two choices: conform to cloth bags or pay five cents for a bag that you never used to use and don’t even prefer. Plus paper is a byproduct from trees. That means more trees harvested than before. While I realize trees are crops, a renewable resource, there are so many more important things for which they should be used. The sole use of cloth or reusable bags is not the answer. While it might work for some people, these bags are not people-friendly to the majority because they require a lot more effort to maintain than what most people would like to put forth. While, due to their single use as a means of food transportation, it can be concluded that plastic and paper are the most sanitary grocery bags, whereas cloth/reusable bags can harbor harmful bacteria. This can be avoided by washing them…preferably 2 http://www.eugene-or.gov/index.aspx?NID=2390