HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem C: Plastic Bag Ban
ECC
UGENE ITY OUNCIL
AIS
GENDA TEM UMMARY
Work Session: Plastic Bag Ban
Meeting Date: July 23, 2012 Agenda Item Number: C
Department: Planning and Development Staff Contact: Ethan Nelson
www.eugene-or.gov Contact Telephone Number: 541-682-5224
ISSUE STATEMENT
This council work session is a continuation of the February 27, 2012, council discussion on banning
plastic bags from retail establishments in Eugene.
BACKGROUND
The council discussed a proposed plastic bag ordinance advanced by Councilor Alan Zelenka at the
February 27, 2012, work session. In particular, the council deliberated the inclusion of a City mandated
five-cent fee for single-use paper bags (included as Attachment A). Based on council discussion at the
work session and interviews with City of Portland and City of Corvallis, City staff revised the draft
ordinance to remove the five-cent fee (included as Attachment B).
To provide an opportunity for public input on the proposed ban, City staff created a project webpage:
www.eugene-or.gov/plasticbags. Links to a consumer and retail survey (included at the end of
Attachment C) were provided as well as the original agenda item summary (AIS), staff report, proposed
and revised ordinances, and links to plastic bag ban resource pages. Over 2,000 respondents identifying
as consumers, and over 80 respondents identifying as retailers, took part in the survey. Attachment C:
Plastic Bag Ban Survey Summary provides greater detail on the public and retailer’s position on a bag
ban and related issues. All comments from the consumer survey are provided in Attachment D and
comments from the retailer survey are provided in Attachment E (note: the consumer attachment is 127
pages).
RELATED CITY POLICIES
The City of Eugene regulates licensed garbage and recycling hauling activities within the city limits.
These activities are guided by Oregon Revised Statues as well as the Eugene City Code. In particular,
ORS 459a outlines the “Opportunity to Recycle” for all Oregonians and sets garbage diversion rates that
county’s and their municipalities should strive for. The Lane County goal is to achieve 54 percent
diversion on an annual basis by 2009. This level was reached for the first time in 2010 (57.4 percent).
Outside of this statewide policy, waste reduction and diversion is included as an action item within
Eugene’s Climate and Energy Action Plan.
TRIPLE BOTTOM LINE – SOCIAL, ENVIRONMENTAL, ECONOMIC IMPACTS
The staff analysis from the February 27, 2012, work session includes a detailed discussion on the triple
bottom line elements involved in a plastic bag ban. If the adopted ordinance includes a five-cent fee for
S:\CMO\2012 Council Agendas\M120723\S120723C.doc
single-use paper bags, the City would need to develop an outreach and assistance program for
disproportionately impacted populations to provide low- or no-cost reusable bags.
NEXT STEPS
Based on the council’s current interest and support for the plastic bag ban, staff has scheduled the item
to be part of the September 17, 2012, Public Hearing. The hearing will be focused on eliciting public
input on the proposed ban with two options. Option 1 will be an ordinance that includes a mandatory
five-cent fee for single-use paper bags and the accompanying regulation. Option 2 will be an ordinance
that bans single-use bags but does not include a five-cent fee for single-use paper bags.
COUNCIL OPTIONS
Option 1: Send the proposed ordinance with both options to the September 17, 2012, Public Hearing
Option 2: Send the proposed ordinance with only one option (fee or no fee) to the September 17, 2012,
Public Hearing.
Option 2: Remove the proposed ordinance from September 17, 2012, Public Hearing.
CITY MANAGER’S RECOMMENDATION
The City Manager recommends Option 1.
SUGGESTED MOTION
None required at this time.
ATTACHMENTS
A.Original Ordinance (with fee)
B.Revised Ordinance (no fee)
C.Plastic Bag Ban Survey Summary
D.Consumer Survey Text Results (note: 127 pages in length)
E.Retailer Survey Text Results
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Staff Contact: Ethan Nelson
Telephone: 541-682-5224
Staff E-Mail: ethan.a.nelson@ci.eugene.or.us
S:\CMO\2012 Council Agendas\M120723\S120723C.doc
%XXEGLQIRX%
%XXEGLQIRX& 6IZMWIH3VHMRERGI
ORDINANCE NO. _____
AN ORDINANCE ENCOURAGING THE USE OF REUSABLE BAGS,
BANNING SINGLE-USE PLASTIC CARRYOUT BAGS, AND ADDING
SECTIONS 6.760 AND 6.765TO THE EUGENE CODE, 1971.
THE CITY OFEUGENE DOES ORDAIN AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1.
The heading of “Environment and Health” and Sections 6.760 and
6.765of the Eugene Code, 1971, are added to provide as follows:
ENVIRONMENT AND HEALTH
6.760Plastic Bag Use -Definitions.
For purposes of sections 6.760 and 6.765 of
this code, the following words and phrases mean:
ASTM standard.
The current American Society for Testing and Materials
(ASTM)'s International current D-6400.
Carryout bag.
Any bag that is provided by a retailestablishment at the
point of sale to a customerfor use to transport or carry away purchases,
such as merchandise, goods or food, from the retail establishment. “Carryout
bag” does not include:
(a)Bags used by consumers inside retail establishments to:
1.Package bulk items, such as fruit, vegetables, nuts, grains,
candy or small hardware items;
2.Contain or wrap frozen foods, meat, fish, whether packaged or
not;
3.Contain or wrap flowers, potted plants, or other items where
dampness may be a problem;
4.Contain unwrapped prepared foods or bakery goods; or
5.Pharmacy prescription bags;
(b)Newspaper bags, door-hanger bags, laundry-dry cleaning bags, or
bags sold in packages containing multiple bags intended for use as
garbage, pet waste, or yard waste bags;
(c)Product bags.
City sponsored event.
Any event organized or sponsored by the cityor
any department of the city.
Customer.
Anyperson obtaining goods from a retail establishment or from
a vendor.
Food provider.
Anyperson within the city limits that provides preparedfood
for public consumption on or off its premises and includes, without limitation,
any retail establishment, shop, sales outlet, restaurant, grocery store,
delicatessen, or catering truck or vehicle.
Ordinance -Page 1of 3
Grocery store.
Anyretail establishment that sells groceries, fresh,
packaged, canned, dry, prepared or frozen food or beverage products and
similar items and includes supermarkets, convenience stores, and gasoline
stations.
Product bag.
Any bag provided to a customer for use within a retail
establishment to assist in the collection or transport of products tothe point
of sale within the retail establishment. A product bag is not a carryout bag.
Recyclable paper bag.
Apaper bag that meets all of the following
requirements:
(a)Is 100% recyclable and contains a minimum of 40% postconsumer
recycled content;
(b)Is capable of composting consistent with the timeline and
specifications of the ASTM Standard as defined in this section.
Retail establishment.
Any store or vendor located within or doing business
within the geographicallimits of the city that sells or offers for sale goods at
retail.
Reusable bag.
Abag made of any material with handles that is specifically
designed and manufactured for long term multiple reuse and meets the
following requirements:
(a)Is machine washable; and
(b)If plastic, has a minimum plastic thickness of 2.25 mils.
Vendor.
Any retail establishment, shop, restaurant, sales outlet or other
commercial establishment located within ordoing business within the
geographicallimits of the city, which provides perishable or nonperishable
goods for sale to the public. A vendor is a retail establishment.
Single-use plastic carryout bag.
Any plastic carryout bag made available
by a retail establishment to a customer at the point of sale. It does not
include reusable bags, recyclablepaper bags, or product bags.
6.765Plastic Bag Use –Provisions.
(1)
Regulations.Except as exempted in subsection (2) of this section:
(a)No retail establishment shall provide or make available to a
customer a single-use plastic carryout bag;
(b)No person shall distribute a single-use plastic carryout bag at
any city facility, city managed concession, or city sponsored
event.
(2)
Exemptions.Notwithstanding the regulations contained in this section,
single-use plastic carryout bags may be distributed to customers by
food providers for the purpose of safeguarding public health and safety
during the transportation of hot prepared take-out foods and prepared
liquids intendedfor consumption away from the food provider's
premises.
(3)
Rulemaking.The city manager shall adopt rules under section 2.019
of this code concerning the prohibition of single-use plastic bags. The
Ordinance -Page 2of 3
rules may addressbut are not limited to the establishment of
procedures, policies and operating practices which are required for
implementation of this section.
(4)
Penalties Collected.Alladministrative civil penalties collected
pursuant to section 6.995 of this code for violation of this section shall
be deposited into the city’s solid waste license fund to help defray the
cost of outreach, education, and enforcement.
Section 2.
The City Recorder, at the request of, or with the consent of the City
Attorney, is authorized to administratively correct any reference errors contained herein,
or in other provisions of the Eugene Code, 1971, to the provisions added, amended or
repealed herein.
Section 3.
The city manager is directed to: (1) offer low cost, reusable bags to
low income persons for up to 18 months from the effective date of this Ordinance; and
(2) establish an outreach and education initiative through the waste prevention program.
The outreach shall include the establishment ofa webpage containing information
concerning the provisions of this ordinance, the process for acquiring reusable bags,and
the location(s) at which reusable bags may be acquired.
Section 4.
Enforcement of this Ordinance shall begin 90 days after its adoption to
allow time for community education and to allow businesses sufficient time to implement
the program.
Passed by the City Council thisApproved by the Mayor this
___ day of _______________, 2012____ day of _______________, 2012
_________________________________________________________
City RecorderMayor
Ordinance -Page 3of 3
Planning & Development
ATTACHMENT C: PLASTIC BAG BAN SURVEY SUMMARY
Building & Permit Services
City of Eugene
th
99 West 10 Avenue
M
Eugene, Oregon 97401
EMORANDUM
(541) 682-5086
(541) 682-5593 FAX
www.eugene-or.gov
Date: July 16, 2012
To: Ethan Nelson, Building & Permit Services (x 5224)
From: Stephanie Scafa, Zero Waste Analyst (x5652)
Subject:Plastic Bag Ban Survey Summary
P
URPOSE
This analysis provides an overview of public input received during the survey period (June 18 –
July 11, 2012) for the plastic bag ban. The goal of the survey was to collect public input that
could help inform an ordinance to increase the use of reusable bags by prohibiting the use of
single-use plastic carryout bags.
B
ACKGROUND
Two surveys—one for consumers and one for retailers—were developed to gather information
and opinions from community members and retailers on the use of single-use plastic carryout
bags. The surveys were developed online using the Survey Monkey tool and “went live” on June
18, 2012. Alternative formats and hardcopy versions of the survey were also available. Both
surveys remained open until midnight on July 11.
During the week of June 18 a press release went out to all local news sources to help promote the
survey and encourage participation. As a result, city staff were interviewed by KLCC, KEZI,
KMTR, KVAL, the Register-Guard, and Jefferson Public Radio regarding the intention of both
survey tools. Eugene Area Chamber of Commerce emailed the retail survey link to 200 local
retailers and included information about the survey in an email newsletter that goes to over 2,000
businesses. In the weeks that followed, city staff fielded phone calls and emails from the public
and from retailers that had questions about the ban.
Consumer Survey
The consumer survey had nine questions (see Attachment A) asking for the public’s opinions on
the use of single-use plastic carryout bags. A total of 2,076 people responded to the consumer
survey. Of those, 2,048 (98.7%) completed the survey.
Retailer Survey
The retailer survey had eleven questions (see Attachment B) asking for the retailers’ opinions on
the usage of single-use plastic carryout bags. A total of 83 retailers responded to the retail
survey. Of those, 61 (73.5%) completed the survey.
1
CSA
ONSUMER URVEY NALYSIS
This analysis reflects the quantitative data received through the survey tool with a generalized
qualitative analysis based on text responses (if the question included a text response option). All
text responses will be available in a separate document. The analysis goes through each question
asked in the survey, provides a table or chart to show the breakdown of survey responses (if
applicable), and then follows with a short summary of text responses received.
1. When you go shopping in Eugene, what do you most often use to bring home your
groceries and retail merchandise?
The majority of respondents (1,129) stated that they most often bring their own reusable bag to a
store to bring home groceries and retail merchandise:
This question did not allow for respondents to choose more than one answer; many of the text
responses reflect this and give an explanation of what people do with the bags they reuse or
explain how they get their groceries home. Based on survey responses, many of the respondents
often use multiple methods to carry groceries home; often a combination of the choices listed
above.
2. When you go shopping in Eugene, how often do you use a single-use plastic carryout bag
provided by the retailer?
2
Response Response
Answer Options
PercentCount
Never13.2%272
Rarely33.5%692
Sometimes23.0%474
Often16.6%342
Always13.7%283
answered question2063
skipped question13
3. When you go shopping, how often do you take your own reusable bags?
The respondents indicated that 58.1% of them often or always take their own reusable bag:
4. What prevents you from using (and reusing) a REUSABLE bag?
Based on these survey results, there are many reasons that could prevent someone from using
and reusing a reusable bag:
Response Response
Answer Options
PercentCount
Don’t have any reusable bags2.4%46
Forget reusable bags at home or in vehicle51.4%974
Reusable bags are not clean10.8%204
Reusable bags are too expensive3.4%65
Nothing32.0%606
Other (please specify)278
answered question1895
skipped question181
Aside from forgetting reusable bags at home or in a vehicle, many people expressed that they
reuse their plastic bags for a variety of different uses including picking up pet waste, using them
in trash cans, and for convenience. The survey did not allow for the respondent to check all of
3
the reasons that prevent them from using and reusing reusable bags; there are many comments
that can be read regarding what prevents people from using reusable bags in the separate text
document.
5. Please describe what you do with single-use plastic carryout bags you receive.
Response
Answer OptionsAllMostManySomeFewNone
Count
Reuse then recycle4493951221471101431366
Reuse then throw away3053591291792431151330
Recycle2532561171471211671061
Throw away355027119335308874
Other (please specify)299
answered question1979
skipped question97
6. Where do you currently recycle your single-use plastic carryout bags?
Response Response
Answer Options
PercentCount
Retail or grocery stores54.0%1002
International Paper (IP) plastic bag collection site2.7%50
At one (or more) of the 16 Lane County transfer stations14.1%261
Don’t recycle plastic carryout bags29.2%542
Other (please specify)271
answered question1855
skipped question221
The majority of the text responses for this question describe where the respondents take their
bags to be recycled (see separate text document).
7. Do you think more recycling options are needed for single-use plastic carryout bags?
4
8. Do you live in the City of Eugene?
The majority of people that took the survey live in the City of Eugene. Most other respondents
live in Springfield and in surrounding areas within the Lane County:
Response Response
Answer Options
PercentCount
Yes81.2%1643
No18.7%379
I don't know0.1%2
If you do not live in Eugene, please tell us where you live:353
answered question2024
skipped question52
9. Please provide any additional comments here.
The final question in the survey asked respondents to provide any additional comments or
information they felt necessary. Roughly half (50.4%) of the total participants provided
feedback. Although the majority of survey respondents appear to be in favor of the ban, there
were also concerns expressed by respondents that say they need plastic bags; namely, reusable
bags are expensive and not readily available.
RSA
ETAILER URVEY NALYSIS
This analysis reflects the quantitative data received through the retailer survey tool with a
generalized qualitative analysis based on text responses (if the question included a text response
option). All text responses will be available in a separate document. The analysis goes through
each question asked in the survey, provides by a table or chart to show the breakdown of survey
responses (if applicable), and then follows with a short summary of text responses received.
5
1. What types of single-use plastic carryout bags do you currently offer to your customers
at checkout?
Although this table shows the majority of retailer respondents to primarily use plastic bags, 10
respondents wrote in that they use BOTH paper and plastic bags, or another type of carryout
source (such as cardboard boxes). This is not reflected in the results because respondents were
allowed to check only one box in the survey.
Response Response
Answer Options
PercentCount
Paper24.4%19
Plastic60.3%47
None15.4%12
Other (please specify)12
answered question78
skipped question5
2. Do your employees ask customers whether they would like a single-use plastic carryout
bag?
3. What percentage of your customers decline a single-use plastic carryout bag?
When asked what percentage of customers decline a single-use plastic carryout bag, seven
respondents stated that their stores do not carry plastic bags and were therefore not applicable.
This chart depicts a breakdown of the percentage of customers that decline a single-use plastic
carryout bag at the point of sale:
6
Response Response
Answer Options
PercentCount
0-10%30.6%22
11-20%12.5%9
21-30%11.1%8
31-40%5.6%4
41-50%5.6%4
51-60%2.8%2
61-70%1.4%1
71-80%5.6%4
81-90%5.6%4
91-100%2.8%2
Unknown16.7%12
Other (please specify)11
answered question72
skipped question11
4. What thickness in millimeters (mils) are the single-use plastic carryout bags you provide
to customers at checkout?
This table shows a breakdown of plastic bag thickness (in millimeters) provided to customers at
point of sale:
Response Response
Answer Options
PercentCount
0.0 - 1.0 mils9.4%6
1.1 - 2.0 mils21.9%14
2.1 - 2.24 mils1.6%1
2.25+ mils4.7%3
Don’t know31.3%20
Don’t offer plastic bags31.3%20
answered question64
skipped question19
5. Approximately how many single-use plastic carryout bags does your store provide to
customers in a year?
Forty-three respondents answered this write-in question. Answers ranged from “Unsure” (seven
respondents) to “Not Applicable” (two respondents) to specific numbers: zero (eight
respondents); from 500 to 4 million; most responses were in the 10,000 to 50,000 range.
6. If single-use plastic carryout bags were banned, describe any impacts to your business:
Forty-nine respondents provided information on this open-ended question. Eleven respondents
said that a ban on plastic bags would drive up their costs; 16 respondents said a ban on single-use
plastic carryout bags would have little or no effect on their business. These responses were
greatly mixed – some retailers are clearly for or against a ban; half of the survey participants
chose not to respond to this question.
7
7. Does your store take back single-use plastic carryout bags for recycling?
8. If your store does not take back single-use plastic carryout bags for recycling, why?
(Please check all that apply).
Of those that do not take back plastic bags, we asked why and received a range of answers
shown below. Additionally, 13 respondents wrote in to answer this question as well. Of those 13,
eight stated that they do not give out plastic bags so therefore they do not recycle them. Another
retailer wrote that there is no incentive to recycle plastic bags so people choose not to do it;
another retailer wrote that experience with customer recycling was inconsistent.
Response Response
Answer Options
PercentCount
Never thought about it30.0%9
Don’t know how20.0%6
Don’t have the resources23.3%7
Don’t want to26.7%8
Other (please specify)13
answered question30
skipped question53
9. What type of retail store do you operate?
8
Response Response
Answer Options
PercentCount
Grocery/Supermarket24.0%12
Department4.0%2
Convenience2.0%1
Hardware/home improvement8.0%4
Bakery2.0%1
Restaurant10.0%5
Clothing0.0%0
Specialty42.0%21
General/Retail8.0%4
Other (please specify)14
answered question50
skipped question33
10. How many full-time employee equivalents (FTEs) does your Eugene store(s) employ?
A total of 56 participants answered this question and responses ranged from zero employees to
400. About 47 of the responses came from retailers with 0-50 employees, two stores state that
they have 51-100 employees, three stores state that they have 100-200 employees, and two stores
state that they have over 201 employees.
11. Please provide any additional comments here.
The final question in the survey asked participants to provide any additional comments they had.
Out of the 83 respondents, 19 answered this question. Answers ranged from whether or not the
retailer supports a ban on plastic bags. All text responses can be viewed in the accompanying
document.
9
AA
TTACHMENT
City of Eugene Community Plastic Bag Survey
Greetings! In order to reduce waste and promote the use of reusable bags, the Eugene City
Council is currently considering a city-wide ban on single-use plastic carryout bags. You can
www.eugene-
learn more about this issue and review a proposed ordinance located at:
or.gov/plasticbags
. City staff is collecting input from consumers and business owners to provide
to the council on Monday, July 23. This consumer survey should take 10 to 15 minutes to
complete. Thank you for taking the time to fill it out!
1.When you go shopping in Eugene, what do you most often use to bring home your
groceries and retail merchandise?
a.Plastic bags provided by the retailer
b.Paper bags provided by the retailer
c.Reused plastic or paper bags from a prior trip to the store
d.My own reusable bag (cloth, plastic, etc.)
e.Other (please specify):
2.When you go shopping in Eugene, how often do you use a single-use plastic carryout bag
provided by the retailer?
a.Never
b.Rarely
c.Sometimes
d.Often
e. Always
3.When you go shopping, how often do you take your own reusable bags?
a.Never
b.Rarely
c.Sometimes
d.Often
e. Always
4.What prevents you from using (and reusing) a REUSABLE bag? Please check all that
apply:
a.Don’t have any reusable bags
b.Forget reusable bags at home or in vehicle
c.Reusable bags are not clean
d.Reusable bags are too expensive
e.Nothing
f.Other (please specify):
10
5.Please describe what you do with single-use plastic carryout bags you receive:
a.Reuse then recycle: All Most Many Some Few None
b.Reuse then throw away: All Most Many Some Few None
c.Recycle: All Most Many Some Few None
d.Throw away: All Most Many Some Few None
e.Other (please specify):
6.Where do you currently recycle your single-use plastic carryout bags? (Select all that
apply):
a.Retail or grocery stores
International Paper (IP) plastic bag collection site
b.
At one (or more) of the 16 Lane County transfer stations
c.
d.Don’t recycle plastic carryout bags
e.Other (please specify):
7.Do you think more recycling options are needed for single-use plastic carryout bags?
a.Yes
b.No
c.Please explain: (open ended)
8.Do you live in the City of Eugene?
a.Yes
b.No
c.I don’t know
d.If ‘No’, please tell us where you live:
9.Please provide any additional comments here:
Thank you for taking the time to fill out this survey! Your answers will help to inform City
Council on the best course of action to take regarding this issue. For more information, please
www.eugene-or.gov/plasticbags
visit:
11
AB
TTACHMENT
City of Eugene Retailer Plastic Bag Survey
Greetings! In order to reduce waste and promote the use of reusable bags, the Eugene City
Council is currently considering a city-wide ban on single-use plastic carryout bags. You can
www.eugene-
learn more about this issue and review a proposed ordinance located at:
or.gov/plasticbags
. City staff is collecting input from consumers and retailers to provide to the
council on Monday, July 23. This survey for retailers, should take 10 to 15 minutes to complete.
Thank you for taking the time to fill it out!
1.What types of single-use plastic carryout bags do you currently offer to your customers at
checkout? (select all that apply)
a.Paper
b.Plastic
c.None
d.Other (please specify):
2.Do your employees ask customers whether they would like a single-use plastic carryout
bag?
a.Yes
b.No
c.Unsure
d.Other (please specify):
3.What percentage of your customers decline a single-use plastic carryout bag?
a.0-10%
b.11-20%
c.21-30%
d.31-40%
e.41-50%
f.51-60%
g.61-70%
h.71-80%
i.81-90%
j.91-100%
k.Unknown
4.What thickness in millimeters (mills) are the single-use plastic carryout bags you provide
to customers at checkout? (Please select all that apply):
a.0.0 - 1.0 mils
b.1.1 - 2.0 mils
c.2.1 - 2.24 mils
d.2.25+ mils
e.Don’t know
12
f.Don’t offer plastic bags
5.Approximately how many single-use plastic carryout bags does your store provide to
customers in a year? (Open-ended)
6.If single-use plastic carryout bags were banned, describe any impacts to your business
(open-ended):
7.Does your store take back single-use plastic carryout bags for recycling?
a.Yes
b.No
c.Other (please explain):
8.If your store does not take back single-use plastic carryout bags for recycling, why?
(Please check all that apply):
a.Never thought about it
b.Don’t know how
c.Don’t have the resources
d.Don’t want to
e.Other (please specify):
9.What type of retail store do you operate?
a.Grocery/Supermarket
b.Department
c.Convenience
d.Hardware/home improvement
e.Bakery
f.Restaurant
g.Clothing
h.Specialty
i.General/Retail
j.Other (please specify):
10.How many full-time employee equivalents (FTEs) does your Eugene store(s) employ?
11.Please provide any additional comments here:
Thank you for taking the time to fill out this survey! Your answers will help to inform City
Council on the best course of action to take regarding this issue. For more information, please
www.eugene-or.gov/plasticbags
visit: .
13
Attachment D: Text responses from consumer plastic bag ban survey
Question 1: When you go shopping in Eugene, what do you most often use to bring
home your groceries and retail merchandise?
nothing if possible
If I don't have one of my reusable bags I try to do without.
Pannier from bicycle
Backpack on my bike.
Reused plastic and paper bags we already have and our own reusable bags - just depends what
we're buying.
I re-use thwm to clean the cat box
when I forget my bag I ask for paper!!
reused plastic bags for produce, my own bags for everything else
Some of all 4
combination
paper or plastic
and cellophane bags (which i buy from a supplier)
Re used cardboard box
ALWAYS! packed on my bike and in my car
and I have for years!
I bring paper bags back for reuse and the discount
Also, reusable bags with store logo, e.g., Market of Choice
Backpack
I'll use a paper bag provided by the retailer if I forget my own, but this happens rarely.
I couldn't check the box again, but I also use paper bags provided by the retailer.
I use my walker.
All of the above depending how many I brought with me and how much I shop. Paper bags suck -
they rip even and handles.
I couldn't check more than one, but I also use paper bags by retailer and my own reusable bag.
cloth and reused plastic
If I don't have a bag, I carry it in my hands.
Paper bags when available otherwise plastic provided by the retailer
Also plastic bags provided by retailer
A combination of my own bags & reused paper bags
A combo of my own reusable bags, reused paper bags from the store and new paper and plastic
bags from the retailer. It really is an even split.
Except at Costco, who uses cardboard boxes
If I forget I just pile it in my arms, with the receipt, and with a smile :)
I use both used paper bags and reusable cloth bags
Back seat of car has 3 stacks of large, med, small bags to grab
also reused from prior
no bag, bike paniers, backpack
always keep 3 backpacks in trunk of car with bags in them
I also have some plastic bags I reuse for bulk nuts and seeds
WHEN i REMEMBER
combination of reusable & plastic bags provided by retailer
pay 5 cents per bag at Sundance Foods,if no free customer returned paper bags are not in their
recycle paper bag bin out front of store.
Also bring cloth bag when I remember.
i object to the TERM SINGLE-USE BAGS-- they are reuseable!!!
Attachment D: Text responses from consumer plastic bag ban survey
ONLY if it is grocery shopping
Both store provided plastic and cloth bags
For weekly groceries, Monthly Fred Meyer trips, we use their plastic bags then use them for
garbage bags
I use a backpack.
boxes or no bag at all
home-made light canvas shopping bag
All of the above, but mostly plastic is preferred
Both reused bags, and cloth reusable bags.
If I happen to forget my cloth bags I always ask for paper.
i also take my own small reused plastic bags for veggies, and my own used plastic containers and
glass jars for bulk and deli foods.
combination of plastic provided & paper bags provided
whatever bags are provided by the retailer
Mostly plastic,some paper bags
I like paper bags if their heavy
Paper at trader joes
All of the above
I use both paper and plastic
Plastic or my own reusable if I remember them
retail=their bags, grocery=my bags
trader joe's bags are great, I also have a Fred Meyer wine carrier bag - holds six bottles,
separated by plastic
I frequently take no bags if I am just picking up a few items.
Although I use paper sometimes too
unless it is a fragile item or dripping meat,then plastic bag
Sometimes paper bags supplied by retailer
Often no bag at all. From cart to car. From car to kitchen.
I try not to use bags of any kind.
My own reusable bag or I just buy what I can carry.
If I have a choice, I choose paper over plastic.
We use a mix of both plastic and cloth bags
A combination. I often forget to bring my own
One or two wicker baskets
Usually buy few enough items to carry them.
I do most shopping in Springfield
I often use my own reusable bags
cardboard box
When I remember
occasionally also a reused store paper bag
About half paper bags provided and half my own.
I use my own reusable bag, if I remember to bring it. Otherwise I'll use a plastic bag
I use plastic and paper provided by the retailer when I forget my reusable.
cardboard boxes provided by the retailer
both
some paper most plastic
Either Paper bags provided or my own, plastic if it is only option
or no bag at all (my backpack, for instance)
Its none of the cities business.
Attachment D: Text responses from consumer plastic bag ban survey
my backpack & bicycle
or just carry them
cloth & used plastic veggie bags
frequently forget to bring my own bags, don't like getting the plastic ones
No bag - just carry the stuff
combination of above
Small trips/ no bag large trips/any of the above
When possible I use my bags also
If I forget my bags, I use the retailer's paper bags. This isn't often.
backpack
I try to remember my bags but most often use theirs....or I use mine but still need to use one or to
of theirs.
Paper bags put into a plastic bag
if i dont have my bags I carry my items or have help to car
either one if it is CLEAN
both plastic from store and ones I bring from home
What ever they provide
baskets, crates
empty shipping cartons (at costco) -sort of ok but not as green as plastic bags
Either my own or no bag.
if I forget my reusable bags, I use paper.
Both supplied by retailer, plastic for keeping meats & eggs eperate
About half-and-half my own cloth bags and reused paper bags from prior trip to store
and sometimes paper bags to reuse as garbage bags.
Husband uses cloth bags; I carry plastic bags in my purse.
Or paperbags to use for recycled items at home.
My backpack and bike rack
if I am out of reuseabeplastic bags at home I ask for plastic provided by the retailer..
but i use the small platic bags for veggies
i use retailer plastic bags when i have accidently forgot mine
Some of each of the first 3 options
BOTH my own bags and reused paper bags
Both Plastic/Paper bags
Either provided by retailer
Mixture: plastic bag from retailer or my own cloth bag
I have reusable bags but often use plastic bags as well. They aren't single use in my home as
they get used for diapers & also bathroom garbage & get recycled when I've accumulated too
many
I also use paper bags
mix of my bags and paper bags from retailer
all of the above
In Eugene I usually only shop at Costco & the re-use their boxes, which I then recycle.
That is all safeway offers
I always carry my things because I hardly get a large amount of items at once.
I also use reused paper bags
My own cloth plus retailer plastic
Sometime I only buy what I can carry.
Like plastic! Reuse around the house, kitty litter & garbage liners!
Attachment D: Text responses from consumer plastic bag ban survey
a mix of plastic bags from the retailer and reusable bags (grocery shop in large quantites and
don't have enough reusables to accomodate)
Groceries: I always try to use discarded store product boxes
unless paper is available
Question 2: When you go shopping in Eugene, how often do you use a single-use
plastic carryout bag provided by the retailer?
No text response option
Question 3: When you go shopping, how often do you take your own reusable bags?
No text response option
Question 4: What prevents you from using (and reusing) a REUSABLE bag?
I don't like to use any bag
we use plastic bags for dog waste, and paper bags for home kitchen trash bags
I forget to take them into places like clothing stores.
Cynicism
use other non-reusable bags for other things including garbage disposal
Don't want to bother with remembering them each trip. Also know I can recycle brown paper bags
so I don't feel bad about using them.
I reuse grocery bags at home as trash bags and recyling bags, so I want the bags
Not really that interested in using reusable bags. We reuse the plastic bags as garbage bags
and/or recycle them.
I use plastic bags for kitty litter disposal
made in china, unsanitary, I sometimes shop inpromptu, don't need them at home, don't know
how many I'll need per trip, waste of my personal resources
Concenience/laziness
The only time I don't use the reusable bags is if I forget to bring them.
reusable tote (carry-out) bags fail early or are too small; reusing store paper tote bags multiple
times is much cheaper than commercial reusable totes because one can get a 5-cent store rebate
if i dont have one I carry out the groceries and put them in my car rather than using plastic bags
Being understocked--or needing something for damp vegies
ineed paper bags for garbage and plastic bags for dog waste when I take the dog on walks
It is inconvenient to pack bags from home when they are readily available fom the retailer
I reuse them at home
Pain in the ass
Not always practicable for certain products
we use the plastic bags to dispose of the 4 soiled Depends my husband needs each day
I have some of the same bags I have used for 20 years here and in other northwest cities
Also, reusable bags are not clean
Sometimes I stop at the store unexpectedly and the one I carry always already is full.
Buy more then anticipated
I use the plastic bags to pick up dog poop.
Convenience and the reusable concept is another waste of energy, an expense, and landfill item
at some point
We use resuable bags for pet waste.
reusable not always best for raw meat/chicken = prefer those to be in a plastic bag
Occasioanally I forget at home. But often when that happens I take stuff without a bag.
I choose to use those provided me by the retailers. My choice being the operative word there.
Attachment D: Text responses from consumer plastic bag ban survey
The carbon footprint for the reusable bags is worse than for the plastic bag, besides I reuse the
plastic bag
it's a pain in the ass
if I don't have a reusable bag on me, I'll choose to carry out my purchase in my arms or grab a box
from the store
spontaneous trips to store--don't have bags
I use paper or plastic grocery bags for my garbage and cat poop. Otherwise, I would have to buy
plastic bags. That seems silly.
Reuseable bags can be a source of food contamination and they waste energy.
all the above
I re-use the plastic bags provided by the retailer and I like them.
I do reuse and reuse . . .
I reuse primarily paper bags till they cant take another load
Qualify answers: ALMOST NEVER take a plastic bag from store
Again, I rarely forget my bags
I rarely forget my reusable bag. When I shop in Eugene, I use plastic bags for small items at say,
Down to Earth or Freddie's; I should always carry my own.
Forced on me/my civil liberties.
Walker works.
Also, reusable bags are too expensive. They fall apart after one or two uses.
I don't have enough bags and I often forget them at home as well. Additionally, I believe they are
too expensive.
When a store bags things without giving me a choice
I always use a reusable bag that I bring from home.
I just carry the groceries without a bag if I forget or ask the store for a box. They always have
boxes.
we most often use reuseable bags
I use the plastic bags again later to pick up dog waste
I reuse them at home instead of garbage bags.
Sometimes use a plastic bag for single hot food items
Reusable bags will pay for themselves at Winco, I've used my reusable bags for 25 years, and
have washed them a few times a year--it's no big deal. Everythings in plastic anyway :)
Sometimes need paper bags for garbage use at home
Sometimes my reusable is unnecessary, because I can carry a couple of items in my hands.
forget to bring bag
Don't have enough for the big shopping day at Walmart. But use on smaller runs
I forget to take to,Sundance some times.
Reusable bags can't be sealed, aren't rainproof and aren't clean. My groceries ride in an open
pickup bed.
There's nothing wrong with plastic bags and they are convenient.
i prefer to get plastic bags from the grocery stores because i reuse them. That way i do not have
to buy plastic small garbage bags,liners for wastebaskets or plastic bags to pick up dog poop.
inconvenient to remember to take them; impulse shopping rules them out, too.
Fresh vegetables should not be put in reusable bags
Except for the need for garbage bags at home.
I use the paper bags for trash and recycling at home
I also use them for garbage.
I re use the plastic grocery bags for garbage and all kinds of things so I need them.
Attachment D: Text responses from consumer plastic bag ban survey
I've been using a backpack for over 20 years. It keeps my hands free, unlike the typical reusable
bags.
I need the retailers' plastic bags to line my trashcans, carry items to other locations, etc. I never
discard them as litter.
I don't want to. It should be my choice.
use the paper bags in my waste paper containers to take out my garbage instead of plastic liners.
Better for recycling
I use them to pickup pet waste. Try it sometime with a paper bag.
Also use plastic bags to pick up dog doo, so occasionally need to bring some home for that
purpose.
I use a reusable bag for grocery/food shopping, but not for clothing shopping or take-out food.
forgetfulness
Just more stuff to remember and carry - purse, umbrulla, coat.
If I'm buying something that smells bad
Becoming more of a habit to remember them. Will take my groceries out to car and bag there if I
forget.
Part of the cost of the goods I buy includes the cost of the bag. I'm paying for the damn bag. I
want it.
Plastic bags easier to carry. Means few trips up my stairs for my weak and sore knees.
To have them all the time is not possible.
i live in an rv & use grocery bags as trash bags
I use them but also like paper and plastic
I use reusable bags but also like plastic bags and they should not be banned
Use the plastic bags to return bottles to the store
I use both paper and plastic to store and dispose of my waste at home - so to me they are MULTI-
USE
I do use reusable bags, especially when they are pretty
I reuse the plastic bags for cat litter box and disposing of ostomy pouches
I always recycle with other uses my plastic bags
I recycle paper and plastic bags for various household uses.
When I walk to the store, I take a reusable bag. I only carry home a few groceries.I use
I forget to bring it in.
NEED MORE PLASTIC GARBAGE BAGS; WE USE THE STORE BAGS RATHER THAN
BUYING
I believe that the retailer should provide all bags to consumers.
i use the paper grocery bags to line our trash can
lazy
This question does not allow me to "check all that apply". Only allows one check.
Simply convenience
convenience
I can't choose more than one option here
This option says "check all that apply", but this survey only allows you to select one option
it would be very helpful to have the Register Guard to cillect their plastic bags for reuse over
newspapers
I want to reuse the plastic bags for disposing of clumping cat litter.
i do reuse all of them at home as garbage bags and what doesn't get used is recycled.
Above question does not allow multiple choices as instructions say is possible
A need at home for plastic bags for other purposes. Mostly I re-use my own bags.
I use them at home for other things
Attachment D: Text responses from consumer plastic bag ban survey
Sometimes my purchases exceed capacity of my reuseable bags.
I reuse plastic bags for a myriad of second and third purposes.
they need to be washed to keep food clean
Convenience and personal choice
The juice from packages of raw chicken and other meats leaks on the inside, impossible to clean
correctly.
i have more or larger items that can fit in my bags
If I have them, I reuse them
Always use reusable bags
make an unexpected trip
If I am only buying a couple I things I just carry them.
This format DID NOT allow me to check all that apply!
We use plastic bags to line our trash cans under the sink and in the bathrooms
They give me a plastic bag before I can show that I have my backpack or that I can carry the
items myself.
Don't usually need them.
Didn't take bag because I didn't intend to shop.
Opportunistic shopping while out and about - not prepared with bags
Have used up what I brought along that day or my purchases exceed the size of my bags.
I forget to bring a bag with me. They are difficult to clean, If the reusable bag is soiled by a
bacterial friendly substance they are really impossible to clean.
Only forgetting to take the bag with me
It's not required. I'd use them if it was the policy.
can't be certain that a reusable bag is free of contaminants just from laying around in my house -
might get sick
Mine usually come to me free.
I used to be able to get really high-quality bags in maryland (these have lasted 30-plus years.)
Most of the reusable bags available now are just flimsy and/or hard to clean.
i use the bags for dog poo pickup
I re-use bags for garbage
on ocasion I forget to take one in with me ?Usally I do with out when that happens
i want to use the plastic bags provided
I like getting bags to reuse at home.
i reuse them for home rubbish bags
I use the paper bags for trash can liners
Sometimes I WANT at shirt type bag so I can take it home to REUSE!
I am not (yet!) in the habit of always using re-usables for non-grocery trips like hardware and
clothing stores
once in a while I realize I don't have my reusable bag and I feel badly that I might get a plastic
bag. This is rare however.
I prefer plastic or paper bags. I will not use reusable bags.
The life cycle assessments of most bags are worse than typical plastic bags.
I put meat in a separate bag. Sometimes I buy more than my bags can hold.
I keep about 10 reusable bags in my car. When I unload my groceries, I hang them on my
doorknob to take out to my car. I never use plastic bags and when I see other people use them, I
have to refrain from saying something.
I like the plastic bags because they are convenient. We reuse or recycle them.
Plastic bags are much easier to use.
Really all of the above here (except "nothing")
Attachment D: Text responses from consumer plastic bag ban survey
I use them when I remember to take them to the store.
My backpack always has my water bottle and current book anyway.
nothing
I re-use the bags, plastic and paper that I bring home for kitchen garbage and recycling and pet
poop
Single' use plastic bags are important in keeping dog crap out of my yard. Guess I could just
throw the dog crap in the street for someone else to clean up.
i use plastic for my garbage
I reuse the plastic bags that I receive from retail stores around the house, like as lunch bags and
garbage bags.
Studies have shown they breed germs, can be toxic, surely don't want to buy healthy foods and
then get toxic germs in them
I like to free trash bags
Prefer convenience of getting them at the retailer when shopping.
reusable bag not big enough for size of items I'm buying, or I buy more than I expected
I WANT to use re-usable bags, it needs to be made easier.
I like the free waste basket liners
They are unsanitary
Use paper bags to for household recycling bags
I like to reuse these plastic bags at home, otherwise I'd be buying plastic bags to use.
Reusable bags are problematic to haul around and are not sanitary
I reuse plastic bags for non-compostable or recyclable kitchen garbage and the paper bags to
corral my recycling; but usually use my canvas bags
Also, they are expensive and
inconvient
Sometimes the sales clerks are too fast with the plastic bags or don't see my cloth bags (not at
grocery stores - they are good at using cloth bags.)
I reuse the plastic bags at home for cat litter and "wet" garbage
Old habits
The only time I use plastic bags is when grocery shopping. The rest of the time I use reusable
bags.
Use them at home to pick up dog poop and clean out the cat liter.
I also don't like lugging around the bags as I'm filling my shopping cart.
Though it took me some time to get to "always!"
I reuse every plastic and paper bag I get at the store for other things. Who wants someone's bag
dirt on their food?
I now keep a reusable bag in my purse, which I almost always have with me. On rare occasions I
don't carry my purse and will sometimes need a plastic bag.
Item type or Kids
Also many reusable bags are made in sweatshops
Reuse the "single-use" bags when I would otherwise purchase a bag.
I re-se plastic and paper bags-Do not assume they are single-use!!!!!!!
In most cases I prefer and desire the plastic bags because I use them for many, many other
things. They are NEVER single use in my household.
I walk everywhere, no where to stash bags for unplanned shopping trips.
I hate them! Dirty, clumsy, never the right size, disgusting!
bought more than expected
I use the paper bags I collect.
I use them for household trash cans
Attachment D: Text responses from consumer plastic bag ban survey
biggest source of bacterial contamination between production and consumption of raw food
I'm pretty good at remembering to bring my own bag, but sometimes I forget, at which point I use
no bag or plastic bags.
Your form does not allow "Check All That Apply" to be used. Items 1, 3 and 4 apply for me.
I want the plastic bags to carry out the garbage. None are wasted.
The store does not ask what type of bag I want, and then pops it in a plastic bag before I can stop
them (e.g. Safeway)
Sometimes buy more than my reusable bag(s) will hold.
The bags are unsanitary.
i reccyle them and use them at home with carrying things to and from friends houses
Sometimes i forget them in the car but I am making an effort to buy more reusable bags and
getting in the habit of always using them.
I re-use the plastic bags
take out food from restaraunts
there stupid, i don't want to carry a re-useable bag
If I forget it I always ask for paper and then use this for my recyclables at home
I have seen people with filthing bags, I just leave the store and all the germs behind.
i use store plastic bags to pick up after the dog, carry things to friend's, temporary storage
I reuse the plastic bags for household use to line my trash cans, pick up dog waste, carry things to
other locations, to name a few uses.
cant check all that apply... forget reusable bags at home or in vehicle
Most reusable bags are not washable, and when washed they quickly fall apart.
I like using plastic bags....................Hate reuseable (not clean and a pain to use.........
Reusable bags are inconvenient. I like having the single-use plastic bags at home for other uses.
I use the plastic bags as trash and dog waste bags. Otherwise I would then have to buy plastic
bags for these purposes.
I don't drive so put some items in plastic bags in my backpack, and the rest in one canvas bag. I
put the plastic bags inside the canvas bag, othewise it would often be a huge mess of melted ice-
cream, leaking watermelon juice, etc. Plastic bags make shopping on foot easier. Much easier to
carry than paper. Seems like not using cars is better for the environment, than not using plastic
bags. They do make biuodegradable ones, why not use those?
I have them and use them.
Not clean, cost money, take up too much space, forget them at home or in car, like to reuse
plastic bags from grocery store at home
Forget them and they are not clean
I use reussable bags over and over.....Garbage, holding items to take to St. Vincent. Good will.
etc.
I don't carry bags around with me in case I decide to shop in Eugene.
Nothing prevents me. I keep bags in my car and have a system to get bags back to the car once
bags used.
I have other uses for the plastic bags. Most are used as trash bags.
unplanned shopping
None of your business
I reuse the plastic bags from the store in my garbage cans and for many other things. They are
multi-use for me.
expense
Plastic and paper bags provided by the retailer are a free resource for us to reuse for garbage, cat
litter etc.
Attachment D: Text responses from consumer plastic bag ban survey
have dogs and the bags get used
I carry re-usable bags in my car
CDC found that reusable bags are a major threat to public health due to cross contamination.
Have more food than one bag; buying meat; need plastic bags at home to use as trash bags
More convenient to use the bags at the store than to drag bags along while out shopping.
I dont have a desire to
Not sanitary
Because I like them and I can use them for other purposes!
The fact that a new one is FREE.
I use the plastic bags to pick up dog pop.
dont bring in enough bags from car
I reuse the single-use plastic bags in my home, so I prefer to use those.
Inconvient and health concerns
unable to click all that apply...I do have concerns about reusable bags being germ carriers as I've
seen a few people with some nasty looking bags being used to bag up their food
Not many people clean their reuseable bags. GERMS
buy too much to fit i9n my bag or bags
I use them for my household trash, what else? Is this considered reusing?
Large inconvience, limits my purchases, too difficult to negotiate carrying in extra baggage,
storage of bags while at home
Reusable bags are worse than "not clean" they can be dangerously contaminated. I used them for
years until I saw studies on the germ and bacteria counts on reusable bags.
They usually have holes in the bottom and I don't want them to drop my stuff through the bottom!
Oil needed to make bags
In FireFox Browser. this Q only allows one answer. My answer is 1 + 3 + 4
Reuseable bags are unsanitary and dangerous to our health!!!!!!!!!!
Availability of plastic one time use bags
or the reusables are made too flimsy so they rip easily...not saving money at all...
All of the above!
highly inconvenient
I like the plastic bags, I use them for many other uses.
always have them in my car and it has become a habit
possibility of germs, food-borne illnesses
I WANT some plastic bags to reuse at home.
did not let me check more than one
I use reusable bags
your question says ..,."Please check all that apply:" then for the answer it only accepts 1
response. you forgot the question of convenience.
do not want them
it is NOT anyone's business what I use.
I reuse plastic bags at home.
Reusable bags have been proven to carry germs
I reuse my plastic bags for items the garbage company requires be bagged, like vacuum cleaner
dirt.
Reusable bags are expensive, unhygienic, and tear easily.
Reusable bags absorb leaking items, such as ice cream and meat juice.
Plastic bags pose no problem, the hysteria over plastic bags is nothing but more leftist control!
Bags don t stand up when loading them
Attachment D: Text responses from consumer plastic bag ban survey
Plus women at the Luthern Church are crocheting them into sleeping mats for the homeless,
hopefully this will catch on.
Occasionally employees are so fast to bag I feel like a jerk making them take it out...so I take the
bag :(
My reusable bags are already occupied at the moment. This happens only rarely.
Most are manufactured in China. Also I do reuse the single-use bags.
inconvenient and potentially dangerous bacterial contamination
Formatting will not allow multiple selections. I don't have reusable bags, they are too expensive,
and are not clean.
check all that apply doesn't seem to keep the selections
but forgetting occurs very seldom, and we usually hand carry purchases when it does happen
need disposable bags for garbage, litter box clean-up, etc.........not everyone can compost, etc.
I reuse plastic bags for garbage bags in my cans at home, then I don't have to buy additional
plastic bags for that purpose.
They are unsanitary!
They are unsanitary.
Question 5: Please describe what you do with single-use plastic carryout bags you
receive:
the only ones I throw away contain my household trash!
We ocassionally use them when we clean our chinchilla's cage. We put the old bedding inside
and then dispose.
Use as garbage bags instead of buying plastic for purpose
use them for pet poo then into the garbage
Dog poo!
I have dogs. I pick up after them when traveling. I know alot of folks with dogs.
I'm saving them for after the collapse
only throw away if damaged or torn - normally recycle
I reuse grocery bags at home as trash bags and recyling bags and then recyle them
use for dog poop bags as needed (I do this only when necessary)
i use them to clean up after my dog.
Use to clean-up after dogs when in the park and/or on a walk
Pick up dog waste
Reuse as small trash can liners
reused for pet waste collection
When I receive them from others, I save them and use them for packaging wet things or cat poop
from the garden to get put into the outside trash.
Use for cat litter - then throw away
Burn
Reuse for garbage bags at home
Reuse is often doggy poop bags!
the ones I throw away are used for pet waste
We never purchase plastic garbage bags, but use 100 % of our one time use bags for ALL our
trash. If these are banned, I will have to BUY plastic bags that are heavier and costly, then use
them instead. It would be completely wasteful, and defeating the whole purpose!
use in place of garbage bags
I use them for garbage bags and I recycle them
Emptying waste baskets, cleaning up after pets - they are handy for anything you want to use
them for.
Attachment D: Text responses from consumer plastic bag ban survey
reuse and reuse
use for dog waste
Use for pet waste- cats and dogs
I didn't know they could be recycled.
They make great trash bags for bathrooms
use smaller bags for dog poop
Use them to pick up dog poop and put them in the garbage.
We use resuable bags for pet waste.
use for kitchen garbage and animal waste collection while walking
I reuse plastic bags many, many, many times before recycling them - prevents me from having to
purchase plastic garbage bags for multiple uses.
I don't get many plastic bags. I re-use most of them, but could be more pro-active in recycling
them after re-using one or more times.
give them to the Eugene Public Library and give them to MECCA
I don't think they are recyclable
We reuse some a lot. We reuse some for cat litter and thrown out.
I reuse these bags for trash bag liners or for dog poop. If these are banned, I will need to buy
other bags for these uses.
I donate them all to the ALE thrift shop for them to reuse for their customers
I throw away non recyclable bags after reuse.
I give them to friends who sell organic vegies
what few of these bags I have are leftover from AFTER I vowed to not accept them anymore into
my life
BUT! I try not to have them. I also reuse plastic packaging bags instead.
I am known to wash single-use bags to reuse them. I don't by plastic trash bags, but use single-
use bags for some trash.
use for dog waste
Use for garbage bags and cat poop bags.
Garbage bags
I often reuse the same bag several times
for plastic initially hold to pass on to the food bank, I mostly use paper multiple times
Use as garbage bags
Use to line small garbage can and reuse several times. Also litter bag in car.
I reuse them as garbage bags.
I also reuse them at the Saturday Farmers' Market
I use many to pack boxes of books for the Eugene Library Friends' annual book sale. I recycle
many of the plastic bags I receive if they are clean.
Bags with holes - go
Garbage wrap required - apt. complex
Use as trash bag
Use for small trash can bags
I don't accept single-use plastic carryout bags.
hard to recycle a bag full of dog poop
store vegetables in fridge
use for pet & pet waste &litter so can't recycle
I always try to reuse bags. most bags do not recycle.
reuse as a garbage bag
I use them for trash can liners
I use them for pet waste and to hold garbage.
Attachment D: Text responses from consumer plastic bag ban survey
Donate to women who crochet sleeping mats for the homeless
Reduce, reuse, recycle. Reusing is just as good as recycling!
There shouldn't be single-use with anything. Something that lasts hundreds of years should not
be single-use
Reuse as wast bags for wast cans
I use them to bag up cat litter and the occasional disposable diapers.
use as trash liners
some are used to hold kitchen garbage, then go in garbage can
reuse as many times as possible
re-use and then use as a garbage bag
I refuse them.
tear both handle open, tear bag into two flat pieces, throw away
I hardly use single-use plastic bags. I don't like them. Terrible for the environment.
If they are contaminated with a possible pathogen (poultry blood from store) they go to the trash.
Otherwise I reuse reuse reuse then recycle.
I mostly reuse the bags until their unusable. Then they're recycled.
Often reuse for cleaning up pet waste
I try to use them once then recycle or throw away until they are too gross
I don't use them but I occassionally have company that might bring some over and depending on
what I use them for then I reuse and throw away or reuse and recycle.
Throw away ,to much hassel to recycle at store.
reuse in the home for everything! use in wastebaskets,for garbage for cat litter etc.
I like to use them as trash bag liners.
sometimes the bag is too dirty to recycle or reuse
once in a blue moon my husband will bring home a plastic bag, I put dog poo in it and trash it.
always reuse if I don't rip them, then they go in recycling at store
use for domestic garbage, for dog waste at dog parks
Use as trash liners in my apartment. Also use for cat litter clean up.
This applies to things purchased in plastic, such as bread.
All get reused (as garbage bags), then thrown away full of garbage
only throw away ones in contact w/raw meat
a. to being groceries home & b. to use for garbage.
my dog (scoop the poop)
don't use
Use them as trash bags in small trash cans
Sanipac claims they can't recycle the bags. We wash & reuse (repeat).
Use for cat litter, garbage bags, etc.
uSE THEM TO TAKE OUT THE GARBAGE
pick up pet poop
Since I am reusing them to pick up dog doo, I throw them away with the dog doo.
picking up dog poop on walks
reuse as under the sink garbage bag
We use them for dirty diapers when outside the home. Otherwise we recycle them.
if i ever accumulate too many, i take them to White Bird or to the library for reuse.
My top 3 reuses - why it results in them finally being trashed: Reuse as trash can liners, as dog
poo scoopers, & to put items in I give to others (e.g. St Vinnies)
How can they be recycled? Sani pac doesn't take them & dog poop is throw away
refuse them
Attachment D: Text responses from consumer plastic bag ban survey
1) use them for my garbage bags, so I don't have to buy plastic 2)take them to a retailer who
uses used clean bags ( I get them from people who have clumps of them they don't know what to
do with)
Use several times to carry household items from floor to floor and final use is holding garbage
scraps.
Pick up after dogs-never just throw them away
use for trash, give to Good Will, use for muddy shoes
On my daily walk, I pick up litter, so use the bags for that--I take them from the recycle containers
in the grocery stores
grocery=throw away, retail=storage, carrying other things
Use plastic bags to pick up dog poop.
i use them for garbage containers
use as garbage bag
If I get these bags often, I end up with many more than I can use - then I throw them away
use to hold cleaned out kitty litter and then toss
AS GARBAGE BAGS AT HOME AND IN CAR/ RECYCLEE IF UNUSABLE
Reuse has as much value as recycling
I get them from others and use for dog waste
You cannot recycle these plastic bags in the sanipac commingled recycle bin, these bags get
caught in the recycle sorting equipment they use
Use them for putting cat pan debris in, then throw away
Use for dog poop bags
Reuse until they're dead
use for dog feces picked up in park
i just throw away the ones that have filthy garbage inside.
use for dog waste
Soiled and torn bags are thrown away.
some reuse doesn't allow recycling.
use as trash bags
use as doggy bags
Use it as a garbage bag
Reuse until too many holes in them
I reuse them until they are very dirty, then throw them away
I often use them for garbage bags or picking up after my dogs.
Use as trash can liners
re-use then use as trash bag
I use them as garbage can liners and for dog waste.
Also use and throw away for cat litter
I reuse some for dog poop
Usually use in small garbage can or to cleanup after dog on walks.
Depends on how I resuse them; if I reuse them as garbage bags, then they get thrown away; if I
reuse them for other purposes then they might end up being recycled.
Use as trash bags in car/home
London Transfer Station doesn't take plastic bags.
Put in dog poop bag dispensers in the parks
Use for garbage and dog poo
I use them in place of trash bags in my home.
keep in a paper bag which is full by now
trash basket liners
Attachment D: Text responses from consumer plastic bag ban survey
Use for trash.
A few become trash liners and then are put in garbage can
I reuse some for veggie fridge storage, but mostly I use them to pick up dog poop. I am trying to
switch over to a cornstarch-based bag but ma on a fixed income and they can be expensive. I
also use all sorts of scrap plastic to pick up dog poop, not tjust single-use bags.
most I reuse by filling with garbage then throw away
Store them under my sink indefinitely.
use as garbage bags
use as a disposable instead of a brand now bag
we use the non-clear bags as dog poop pickup bags
reuse as home rubbish bags
I bring them to child care centers for them to use for disposing of diapers and sending home wet
clothing
I recycle & use some for dog waste.
Only throw away dirty ones
I use very few. Some reuse requires throwing away. This table is very poorly designed!
Use as our trash bags. If no longer available, have to buy trash bags and throw out anyway.
use for pet waste then throw away
I save them for use after the collapse of modern civilization.
reuse then recycle - clicking above doesn't work
use them to pick up dog poo
I was told not to put them in recycle bins because they clog machinery
i make a point of picking up plastic bags (and other litter, to recycle) on dogwalks
put garbage in then
very rarely I get stuck with one and use it over and over as a trash liner
use to pick up dog excrement
Use for empty cans to be returned to store.
Use them to hold trash in the kitchen garbage can
i use them to pick up dog poop (and then throw them away)
Re-use, then save for years until I have giant garbage bags filled with bags
I fill them with garbage
use to pick up dog poop
If food has gone bad, bag gets thrown out with food. Sometimes put bad food in bag to throw it
out.
dog poop bags - use then throw away - that is not something to reuse after
I rarely have them because I hate them so this is not really a question that applies to me.
use them to line garbage cans
clean the litter box
reuse and save to reuse again
sometimes they can't be used again but always take back to the store
I usually take plastic bags to the dog park, where they are re-used then thrown away.
The balance I use to separate clean/dirty clothes and shoes in luggage when I travel by
motorcycle or airline.
Use as garbage bags.
see my response to #4
as garbage bags instead of buying them
I thought plastic bags are not recyclable? I use them for garage bags at home.
use for dog waste
for garbage, coffee grounds, etc.etc.etc.etc.etc.etc.etc. return to store
Attachment D: Text responses from consumer plastic bag ban survey
Used for garbage
Cut them up into small pieces if too dirty to recycle
use as trash bags
I do not ever use plastic bags. I detest them.
see above
The bags are used in our small trash cans. If the bags go away I'll just have to buy small trash
bags.
Use as garbage bags so they are ultimately thrown away
I never take them. Ones that arrive at my house I reuse as bin liners, then toss full of trash.
use them for garbage can liners. will have to buy liners if bags are banned.
just throw away due to contaminations
Reuse as dog pickup bags
Every plastic bag in my household is used again at least once after coming from the store. Some
for trash although some are still in use for more then a decade. We use them to: carry lunches to
school, wrap up leftovers in the fridge, line trash baskets, pick up dog waste, store Christmas
decorations (some are more then a decade old), collect trash when walking and many other
things.
kitty litter duty
Doggie poo bag
Doesn't apply
Use for cat litter and dog poo
Reuse, then use as garbage containers
We use our plastic bags as small garbage sacks for the bathroom, etc.
We use them to pack lunches, pick up after dog, pack stuff, all the time
clean litter box
For dog waste
pick up dog poop
storage of items to be donated or reused
Use them to clean the cat box and then throw them away.
we use them for garbage collection at home, and for picking up the dog poop.
To carry out the garbage
bagging dog waste
i reuse and reuse until they have had something in them I can't wash out, by which point they are
probably not recyclable due to grease or something similar.
Clean the kitty litter, put bagful in trash.
dog poop
I NEVER use plastic bags- I recycle my roommates
i use them as garbage bags for my home
Don't use them
i use store plastic bags to pick up after the dog, carry things to friend's, temporary storage
I mostly reuse as trash can liners and to pick up dog waste, so they get thrown away right away.
Others I reuse over and over and over until they are unusable and then recycle them or throw
them away, depending on how clean they are. If I find them piling up in excess, I take them back
to the store for recycling or start requesting paper bags and/or using my own bags.
Recycle only the bags marked as recyclable
I use them to throw away dirty diapers.
They are good for many things. Some for small can trash liners and other i reuse many times to
put things in when I'm going somewhere
Attachment D: Text responses from consumer plastic bag ban survey
These survey questions are biased. The option of using the plastic bags as garbage bags is not
listed.
use as garbage bags, elinating my cost on purchasing garbage bags just to though them away.
I throw them away after re-use because they're full of dog poop !
use for trash liner, then throw out with garbage.
Use for dog poop or cleaning out kitty litter box
I use the brightly-colored ones for art (crochet). I have been storing the others in my garage, they
are a pain to recycle because we can't put them into co-mingle -- I have to drive them somewhere
to recycle them properly!
Have used in trash can.
Would love for there to be more places to recycle plastic bags (and or a ban on plastice bags)
use them for garbage liners.
dog poop bags or kitchen garbage bags
reuse for home storage in place of plastic wrap, etc
reuse for other than shopping - great for cat litter clean-up
I use them as a garbage container (instead of buying trash bags).
I use these bags for packing lunches in, for storing and seperating crafting items, sorting
recyclables, and many other things.
trash can liners
the bags I reuse are for trash when camping
if not recycled, then reused for other purposes
bring to library for others to reuse
dispose of used cat litter
Use as a trash bag - almost all
I reuse most of them as garbage sacks.
pickup dog poop
Stock pile them because I dont want to put them into the land fills
Use them in place of purchased garbage sacks
what I don't use for garbage/diapers gets recycled
Picking up dog poo
pick up dog poop
I use them in the freezer and wastepaper baskets.
Ditto....I use them for my household trash.
I reuse them for various jobs until they wear out and then recycle
I don't use plastic.
I use them for kitty litter and throw them away
Give them to my senior aged mother
Use to clean my cats litter box.
refuse to use them
I don't accept them from retailers
Trash in public housing must be bagged, so i save money by using store bags for my trash. I
rarely can afford to buy bags to throw away!
USE FOR GARBAGE AND CAT LITTER
I reuse them for *other* applications, such as packing running shoes to/from work and travel.
Uses Bags to dispose of dog waste.
Pick up dog waste, use in trash bins.
try to reuse, since they are not recyclable
Backup dog poo pickup bags
I reuse them by using them as garbage bags.
Attachment D: Text responses from consumer plastic bag ban survey
Most get recycled or used for bathroom garbage can & then thrown away because they have
garbage in them..
Use the others for garbage sacks, etc.
Use them as trash can liners
use for dog clean up
I keep a few around, but since I can't put them in comingle, I throw them away
reuse to hold items like cat litter and vacuum dirt that can be loose in the garbage.
I use them for my cat litter.
We just reuse and reuse and then use for dog poop. We occasionally throw them away if they get
holes.
I donate the ones I don't reuse for garbage bags in bath, kitchen, etc. to be used to make sleeping
mats for the homeless.
The ones that we do get, we use to clean up after the dog.
I use most of them to dispose of feline waste. The rest I reuse until they fall apart.
we use them as trash bags in small recepticles
I reuse for Kitty litter & garbage liners
Reuse as much as possible and then use as a trashcan liner
use for household trash instead of purchasing trash bags
I use them as trash bags (so, reuse then throw away) and recycle those with holes.
(use them for 'dog duty')
They are thrown away with garbage in them.
Question 6: Where do you currently recycle your single-use plastic carryout bags?
Sanipac
Give to someone to use when walking their dog.
reuse then trash
Again, I'm saving them as a valuable resource for the future
garbage recycle
Sanipac recycling
Next Steps Recycling
My recycle dumpster
I reuse them many times, although I usually don't get them
The recyclers would not like what's in them
Recycle bin at my Condominium complex
Dog park
Library
recyclable garbage
Recycle pickup at home
all bundled together and into SaniPac Bin
Recycle box curb side
Use to line waste baskets, then put in trash or recycle if holding other recycled plastic
I keep them all and reuse them as I need them.
I reuse them
i wasn't aware there was a place you could take them.
Not clear where to recycle
donate to places like the library or community garden (for produce picked by others)
Sanipac
NextStep Recycling
dog parks
Attachment D: Text responses from consumer plastic bag ban survey
My recycle container at home..........
Use them for poop bags for my dog and toss
I pass them on for reuse at the Eugene Public Library and at MECCA
I reuse these bags
After reusing them around the house, we use them as garbage bags
ALE Thrift Shop
St. Vincent de Paul
same as above
will use for the occasional garbage liner
Fred Meyer's has a big recycle bin
give to nutrition program
give to nutrition program
I reuse them until they get used for trash liners. I use so few!
EcoSort
we use them for garbage bags
first Alternative in Corvallis!!
I reuse them. I don't recycle them.
Sunrise Enterprises
They are used as garbage bags and thrown away.
I pass them on to the food bank for reuse
Reuse multiple times for garbage and toss.
Sanipac won't accept them.
Sanipac won't accept
I couldn't check the second box, but I also recycle them at the Lane County transfer sites.
I don't recycle them because I don't use them.
i use them for picking up trash, cat litter, and yard debri
I use them again for my disposable garbage.
i didn't think they could be recycled, reuse them till they're gross or ripped
I am just not sure if the grocery stores really recycle them or just throw them away.
No need to recycle what I don't bring home.
University of Oregon plastic film bin by the dorms
Library
see above explaination
i was unsure if they can be recycled
Prefer reuse--making into plastic yarn for bags
Dog walking use then garbage.
dog poop
I donate to the church ladies who cut them up and crochet them into sleeping mats for the
homeless
For garden produce, cat litter box clean up
Use them to pick up dog poop then throw away.
Or take them to the dog park for reuse
They end up in China anyway
reuse but don't recycle
They are used as trash bags in our home
I use them all up
Lane County dump, recycling area
Recycle at wk if hole in bottom. Use as liner for trash at home.
Attachment D: Text responses from consumer plastic bag ban survey
all of mine get re-used at HOME--
I line my wastebaskets with them, when full I throw them in the garbage.
at dog parks
at dog parks
Don't recycle them- I use them as trash bags.
Sani-Pac
At Work
All non-reuseable plastic to dispose of, not carry out
I use them for trash and dog poo
use as garbage bags, so all are reused
because we reuse the few we take
don't use
Goodwill
St. Vincent de Paul on Seneca
I fill the plastic bags with my trash then put them in the dumpster at my apartment complex. I'm
very low income & do not have money to buy plastic trash bags.
Lane Apex Recycling
Glenwood
recycle collection at work or at stores (only one selection permitted above)
Recycle bin
recyle bin
I use most of them at home
Still collecting them in my home. Eventually will take to one of sites above
Don't know how or where to recycle
don't use them
I want addditional use for good condition bags, so re use. If too dirty, they are garbage
use them fore storage
I I use them in my garbage holder in kitchen and put in garbage can when filled or reused and
then filled.
recycle by using for can liners, packing, doggy pickup and many other uses around the home.
see above
I use the very very few I get by mistake
use them for things around the house
I use them.
If we di gave aby (newspaper comes in one) to the transfer station
Retail stores won't take them back to reuse (I've tried),
I have a dog that I pick up after and use plastic bags to line my kitchen garbage basket. Yes, I
compost, also.
I reuse them as dog poopy bags
use as garbage bag
Use them for pet waste then put in trash
I use them for garbage or for newspaper recycle.
nextstep recycling
with the recycle bin with our trash
we can't recycle them at the curb
Weyerhauser
I use them as trash bags and for food in the fridge.
friend takes them to recycle
But I might, if I could remember them when I went grocery shopping
Attachment D: Text responses from consumer plastic bag ban survey
building I live in has recycle container
I use them to line trash can, then burn
I use them for cleaning cat litter and put themj in GARBAGE cans.
my recycle pick up sanipac
where i work has a plastic bag recycling bin.
use for indoor trash
It's a special trip out of my way, and a big pain!
Also at transfer stations.
recycle at my apt house
at the dog park
St. Vinnie's
I anticipate a ban. I am hoarding bags for the future.
Library
Recycling truck
EcoSort (Weyerhaeuser) in Glenwood
use to line my wastebaskets at home then put out for garbage
Use for disposing dog poop
The ASUO
U of O Campus
Donate for reuse to Habitat Restore
NextStep
through our school; not sure where they take them;
BRING
I didn't know it was possible here.
If I get too many, I will bring them to Fred Meyers to recycle, but this is a rare occurence.
keep re-using any, not just carryout, plastic bags. In the end they may be used for bones or as
poop sacks.
Use them over & over until they are torn. Extremely handy. Light weight, not bulky, just right as I
am handicapped and must have something that will loop over my walker handle. Keep things dry,
like letters or books, too.
don't recycle as they are re-used as garbage bags
In the residence hall recycling at the UO
put in recycling
take to the food pantries I volunteer at so they can be reused
I use them for lunch bags trash bags etc.
use at school for wet clothes
My apartment has a recycle container, most large complexes do these days.
reuse as home rubbish bags
They are precious and useful! DON'T BAN THEM!
Can't select more than one option. If I could Id say other members of household don't recycle
because they don't deal with housekeeping as much and so they tend to forget to use cloth bags
also
I mostly reuse them and throw away or recycle to Sanapac
keep them all at home for different uses
As I said above, I save them. In ten years, they'll be extremely valuable.
retail or grocery stores
I don't have any to recycle
Give to friends for poop scooping
i use them to clean up after my dogs.
Attachment D: Text responses from consumer plastic bag ban survey
give to library
do not have any left over
dog park
I reuse the bags.
it wouldn't let me select both places, also use retail store
recycle bin for pickup (Royal Refuse) at apartment complex
don't think they can be recycled by sanipac
Use them for garbage bags mostly.
Fred Meyer
....because i use them for dealing with dog poop, as stated in #5
I still have millions of bags saved because there aren't enough recycling sites
I usually use them
reuse - dog park & for dog poop
I wash and reuse them.
Again same as above.
I understand they can't be recycled via Sanipac and I'm sure I'd forget to bring them to the grocery
store (the next easiest)-- I forget my reusable bags, even, sometimes.
Take to BRING
keep them as long as possible, then recycle at grocery store
Don't know--spouse takes care of it
Get thrown out with trash.
use for other purpose at home
I did not know you could recycle them
in the recycling bin
Use as trash can liner or to pick up after my dog
Use for trash bags
If I happen to get ahold of plastic bags from friends, I bring them to MECCA, which they are
already overrun with bags but I hope that they get used somehow
Sani-pac-curbside recycling bin
see above
Because I use them in my trash cans
They are not actually able to truly be recycled, thus I feel this is semi-misleading.
garbage service recycling
NextStep Recycling (employer)
at apartment's recycling services
My blue bin froim Sanipac
trash recycle cart for lane apex
Doesn't apply
I use them to pick up doggie poo
Donate with food in them to Food for Lane County and put items into one to give to someone to
take to their home.
it would simplify the recycling of plastic bags if all garbage company would handle the recylcing of
plastic bags
See above
didnt know that there was a place to recycle bags
I recycle them to a small company in Eugene.. don't recall the name.
Again, your form doesn't allow "Select All That Apply". Really good survey QC. More time on QC
than worrying about plastic bags.
use them in my small garbage can
Attachment D: Text responses from consumer plastic bag ban survey
To carry out the garbage
Weyerhauser site @ the Glenwood dump
see answer above, i reuse many times first
Recycle bags with too many holes along with other plastic film.
In my recycle bin.
Home pick-up with Sanipac
I didn't know they were/are recyclable
snaipac plastic recycle
My place of business recycles many products through a transfer station.
agri plas
I recycle my roommates bags
at work
I reuse for too many things to specify is this short space.
obviously throw out after picking up after dog
mixed curbside recycling
take them to dog park
Curbside recycling service
recycle bin for garbage
I save most of them to reuse again. I have been stock piling them just incase you decided to ban
them. This way I can reuse them when I go grcery shopping and bring my OWN plastic bags.
I use them as garbage bags!
the Eugene library
day care for dirty diapers
Recycle them in home. Private use.
Bin rented by landloard for all recycleables
My work recycles them through their recycler.
I reuse them as garbage bags for litter. I don't recycle them.
put in with other home recycling
We reuse all plastic and paper bags from the retailer.
see note above; don't have that many
pickup dog poop
Recycle bin in apartment complex
recycle bin at apartment complex
I use them for other things after carrying groceries.
Food Share Program.
My apartment has a recycle container, most large complexes do these days.
By the time they get to the unusable point, they are usually pretty gross so I figured better throw
them away rather than recycle them.
Recycle by reuse at home
sometimes stores, other times at food bank programs so that people can bag up their groceries
Dog poo
donate to vendors
I also take them to second stores. They can always use them
Ditto....I use them for my household trash.
I don't use [plastic
At work (Food for Lane County) we take them to IP
I'm not organized enough to do that...but could be
Still do not use them
Attachment D: Text responses from consumer plastic bag ban survey
I reuse and wash until they are too dirty or worn to use, then I recycle.
Recycle bin
Use as personal garbage bags to save money.
city library
You can't technically "recycle" those bags
did not let me check more than one
try it yourself. see if you can select more than one!!!
Nextstep recycling
it doesnt let me select all that apply
Apartment recycling location
I reuse them for my trash can. I would just have to buy plastic bags for the trash can if I didn't
have the ones from the store.
At any grocery store, but we usually reuse them till they break
library
See answer above
But first I reuse/repurpose them again and again.
At work
what is IP plastic bag collection site pls?
I use them around the home/car (ex: small trash cans)
Question 7: Do you think more recycling options are needed for single-use plastic
carryout bags?
I think they need to be eliminated instead. They are polluting our landfills & oceans & endangering
marine life. Tons of plastic is given out daily in our markets!
It would be ideal if we could put them in with co-mingled recycling
I would prefer there not be singl-use plastic carryout bags. Everytime I see them in the grocery
store it makes me ill and I always hope that more people are using their own reusable bags for
their purchases.
we need more locations to collect used plastic bags for recycling
they need not be used at all
It would be better to discourage the use of single-use plastic bags altogether. Relatively few
options exist for recycling them currently because they are a difficult material to handle, with a
high occurrence of bags floating away or jamming sorting equipment. Simply encouraging
recycling will condone the continued use of these bags, and I think we need to do better.
Recycle centres are too far away for the common bicycle traveller and the grocery recycle bins
are often over loaded.
More facilities to drop off bags, such as drop boxes around town.
We already have enough options.
Recycling them doesn't resolve the problem; plastic bags are horrible for the environment. When
completely neccessary, yes, we need better recycling, and clearer instructions on how to recycle
not only plastic bags but everything that can be made into a new product.
Would encourage plastic bag recycling to become a habit.
It would be nice if they could add plastic bag recycling to the curbside recycling service in addition
to the grocery store recycle bins they all ready have now.
Another idea is to have those small cash payments for bringing in plastic bags for recycling like
with cans, and bottles.
Cut the use. Recycling plastic bags is a sham; not practical and not energy efficient.
I just think we should eliminate plastic bags. Most people won't get on the reusable bag wagon
until they have to.
Attachment D: Text responses from consumer plastic bag ban survey
...but, I favor a ban on them so then we would not
need more recycling:)
If people could recycle them at home along with other items, perhaps more people would choose
to do so. However, the best option is to not have them at all.
There needs to be a way to recycle them along with the curbside recycling. I understand how
they clog the machinery, however, more of them would be recycled if people didn't have to take
them to the store of the recycling facility.
I think we need to make less single-use plastic carryout bags, not recycle more of them.
I think single-use plastic carryout bags should be legislated to be biodegradable only.
Recycling bins must include bags.
I think we should stop manufacturing them altogether.
If I have to drive miles to recycle (bags, cans, bottles) I probably would not recyle as much. I like
being able to go to my local grocery store (Albertsons & Safeway, etc) to redeem/recycle. The rest
goes in my container for Sanipac
I think they should be banned. Recently visited in Seattle where plastic bags are banned and
everyone is using reusable bags. Were given several months to adjust to the idea and to obtain
reusable bags.
People who want to recycle find a way to do it.
Given the certainty of Climate Change and the utter lack of leadership from out "leaders", I enjoy
throwing plastic into a land fill as a way of sequestering carbon back into the Earth's crust which
should not have been extracted in the first place.
was nice when they could be placed in the sanipac container
Why can't they go with the rest of recycled stuff left at the curb? It is stupid to have to go to a
special place to get rid of them
Please just ban them.
I believe that the very best option is "precycling"...not using single-use bags in the first place. In
the absence of that, people's home recycling service should offer that option in some manner.
It is very convenient to return plastic bags when I go shopping for groceries.
If we are to continue to allow wasteful plastic in the form of single-use plastic carry out bags then
it is VITAL that we at least provide the means to dull the harmful impact these bags will have on
our environment. The recycling options provided in Eugene are very minimal and hardly
publicized, and may result in a lot of thrown out plastic. However, putting funds towards
increasing recycling while not address the heart of the issue, the plastic bag consumption itself,
seems to me to be a band-aid for a bullet wound, not necessarily developing the change we need
to reduce our plastic pollution in this city.
Not just at stores but by the the garbage collectors as well.
I know local recycler complain about them clogging their equipment, but they went into that
business and there is products available to sort the material. In fact one on the larger local
manufacturer makes that equipment. We do not need to legislate a ban to solve their lack of
ability to make a business decision.
I think we need to stop using them.
Central/regional colection sites to gather and turn material into useful "items"; e.g., park/school
benches. This could: (a) reduce certain maintenance costs, thereby saving some tax money; or
(b) financially break even, yet result in a reduction in waste.
I'd like for the recycling companies that have home pickup to take and recycle plastic bags
They shouldn't be used at all. They are not necessary.
Better to phase out their use
wish I could recycle with the rest off my home recycling
Attachment D: Text responses from consumer plastic bag ban survey
People might recycle bags more often if curbside recycling were available, AND if the rules were
better publicized. Which bags can be recycled and where, which ones can only go in the trash
(e.g., vegetable bags, those brown potato bags, bags that come with clothing purchases, etc.)?
I can never seem to get an answer to such questions.
I recycle as much as possible at home and I want to help the environment by recycling plasict
bags but I am an extremely busy mom of two young children and I work full time so I need an
easy option such as being able to have plastic bags recycling picked up with my regular recycling
curbside on garbage day. We use Sanipac and for a short time the offered this option but to my
knowledge that was discontinued and is no longer an available option.
(please refer to #9 below)
More visibility/signage to indicate where to recycle
I think there should be way more awareness about why plastic bags are bad. If stores are going to
use them they should provide an explanation to customers about why they have to recycle them.
I don't think they should be used. There are plenty of better options.
It would be great if they could go in the co-mingle recycling containers.
I wish that the recycling centers would take them and we could just add them with our co-mingle.
I believe more people would be interested in recycling plastic bags if they didn't think they'd wind
up in our oceans
Perhaps through curbside recycling with lane county
More places that accept them. Some kind of assurance that they are really being recycled.
THey shoudl be everywhere a trash can is in retail or minucipal locations.
Of course, recycling is better than throwing away, but single use plastic bags should be
eliminated, not recycled.
Clarity needed on what can be recycled. Really should run an awareness campaign on TV to
spread the word.
Safeway is the only place I know of that takes them. Like flourescent lightbulbs, it would be great
to have many locations, and advertised, at which to drop them.
I just think they should be banned. Places where they aren't yet banned should have more options
for recycling.
Including them in my curbside recycling would be easiest.
More stores need to encourage recycling
I use them for garbage instead of trash can liners.
Paper bags are from a renewable source, plastic bags aren't.
I think we should stop using them.
Ban the use in our city.
Don't know.
possibly a seperate bin when they pickup our recycling curbside
Ban plastic bags altogether.
I think they ought to be banned.
Make it easier so more people will do.
Would be better not to use them
More convenient locations to drop off bags would be good, as well as the option to put them in the
comingled recycle.
Every place that uses them needs to accept recycling.
we would recycle if we didn't have a need for them
would be nice to co-mingle the bags in the recycling cart
seperate collection by trash collectors
Attachment D: Text responses from consumer plastic bag ban survey
I recycle all I can.
It would be nice to be able to gather them together in one bigger plastic bag and put them in the
co-mingled recycling and have them picked up by sanitation services. It's not that big of a deal to
just take them to the store, though.
If we continue to use single-use plastic carryout bags, I do feel we need more recycling option. I
would like to see them phased out.
Juat ban them...
I think their use should be banned so we don't need recycling options.
While the intention is honorable, recycling single-use plastic bags has only a minimal impact on
environmental consequences. These bags need to eliminated.
Not for me, but those who aren't currently recycling may need other options to encourage them to
do it.
Its easy to recycle at the store
We don't use enough to need more options
They are unnecessary in the first place, so we shouldn't envest more in infrastructure to recycle
them
I think most people do not recycle because they need to think, be inconvienienced and change
their practice-- more options would change the community culture and remind people to recycle
If we could include them with our other recycling, I believe more people would recycle them.
The more convienent and accessable, the more they will be used
Yes, however phasing out single-use plastic bags from circulation would eliminate the need for
more recycling options.
It would be nice if Sanipac took these as part of the recycle.
More places to deposit them. But more importantly, more education about the problems they
produce when they aren't recycled/disposed of properly.
I think it would be far better to discontinue using them if possible. As I understand it, "recycling"
these bags isn't true recycling. And it's still a polluting process to turn them into something else.
Yes, if that is what it would take. I don't want to see them banned. It would be a hardship to some
people.
I wish I could use my current recycling service (comingled via Sanipac)
I think they need to go away -- I can use paper bags just as a plastic bag (for 2nd garbage bags in
the bathrooms) but they are better, they break down faster in the land fill.
Whatever it takes.
I think there are adequate options at this time
It's not cost effective.
I think they should be banned altogether.
Include with curbside recycle
They should be banned
Plastic grocery bags are a tiny part of the flow of plastic to the landfill. Recycling often goes by
weight and they weigh essentially nothing.
The more options, the more action. Not sure on details however.
I miss the Sanipac collection of plastic bags
I also think we need to ban them and start educating people on how to use other things. it is way
too easy to not think about what goes with a bag. retailers always assume things need to go in a
bag. it would be wonderful for the next generation to be more conscious of our natural world and
resources! It is great thing to teach.
I reuse the for bathroom and laudry trash.
Yes, but the best option--for the sake of this and future generations living in this valley--would be
to stop producing this vile, life-denying product.
Attachment D: Text responses from consumer plastic bag ban survey
HAVE RECYCLE BINS AT BIMART, ETC.
a tricky question: 'yes' until fewer plastic bags are available in stores; then 'no' as the need for
them falls away.
Is it possible for local waste/garbage companies to also recycle the bags?
Single use plastic bags are a waste. It will be easier for people to quit using them if they aren't
available.
AND more reuse options need to be obvious
I want them to be banned. They are bad for the earth.
no, prefer to ban them.
The regular Sanipac recycling won't take bags. They should! Or at least advise us what to do with
them.
Most stores take them as do the recycling centers
would be much more convenient to recycle them with curbside recycling
Better to have option to recycle than to ban outright.
It would be great if waste haulers had an option for recycling these bags.
If I had bags to recycle, I would recycle them at my local grocery store.
Every store that gives them out should have a place to recycle them.
The so-called "single use" bag is used more than once by most of the people I know. However,
perhaps mandatory recycling would be better than banning the bags. Banning the bags seems
like a knee-jerk reaction to some feel good environmentalists who have not looked at the facts or
the science.
Not going to recycle unless it is easy.
No opinion, since I always reuse them and give them to the thrift shop to reuse.
Curbside collection would be nice.
It has to be as easy as getting stuck with one at the store to recycle them.
I do not know where to recycle my single use plastic carry out bags (and other plastic bags).
more drop off locations.
All major grocery and retail stores, and specifically all chain stores, such as Albertsons, Safeway,
Dairy Mart, Shopko, Target, Fred Meier, and Market of Choice should be obligated to recycle
these bags.
I think they should be phased out ASAP. Cut to the chase, don't waste time getting them out of
our lives!
I THINK WE SHOULD JUST OUTLAW THEM! THEY ARE TERRIBLE FOR THE
ENVIRONMENT, OFTEN ENDING UP IN THE OCEANS & KILLING WILDLIFE 9BECAUSE
THEY EAT THE BROKEN DOWN PLASTIC OR GET TANGLED UP IN THEM). BAN THE
PLASTIC ONE-USE BAG!!!!!!!
at every outlet that uses them
plastic or paper is enough
I don't think it makes sense to recycle single-use bags. I'd rather see a ban.
if they have to be clean this prevents dirty ones from being recycled; perhaps later on it won't
matter if they are clean or not
I have no trouble finding a place to recycle.
Don't know
I think we have too many of them & people don't recycle or dispose of them correctly. They also
don't break down naturally for a really long time.
They can be reused for trash bags.
More options may be discovered but are not NEEDED.
People don't use what is already available. They just throw them away.
Attachment D: Text responses from consumer plastic bag ban survey
People in this city are already made well-aware of the various recycling options we have. We
don't need any more.
We throw them away because it's much work to bring them back and recycle them, especially
because we live out of town.
A more convenient way to recycle would be extremely useful. While I always try to recycle, it is
difficult when recyclable material builds up before I have time to take it in somewhere.
Need more collection points.
Apparently it is not energy efficient to recycle plastic bags and they are very energy consumptive
to create, so I support a ban on plastic bags, even tho I use them for garbage bags currently.
It's quite simple: use, and re-use your own bag; hence, no need to recycle anything!
curbside pickup with other recyclables
I find it unacceptable bags cannot be in recycling.
Easy to recycle at grocery store
Additionally, an education campaign about where to recycle plastic bags is necessary. I am
unaware of the options for recycling bags in Eugene. If possible, I think being able to recycle
bags in the curbside recycling programs would really help--making it as convenient as possible
will encourage recycling.
Simply get rid of them. It took me a bit of time to remember to bring my own bags, and if I can do
it, so can everyone else.
No, people haven't taken advantage of the options that we've tried in the past. Even if faced with
the facts about marine pollution and harm to animals, unless it harms us individually, people tend
to ignore. I approve of a ban.
I only have seen recycle stations at grocery stores.
I think people like myself often forget their bags and some others do not care. More public
information about ocean polution might help.I sometimes shop at Market of Choice(they do not
use plastic) and I seem to remember my bags.
I think that banning/restricting them is the only effective way of reducing the number that end up
as littler or in landfill.
Whatever will help reduce the waste of plastic in the environment is a positive step in the right
direction.
I need education. I don't know how to recycle these. As far as I know they aren't recyclable at
curbside. Since I don't have a car, forget about me recycling anything non-recyclable at curbside.
More options are needed only if the measure fails.
If measure fails, yes.
Stop invading our freedoms - nto more regulations or rules.
If they were made a little better they would be used more often.
They are already convienent at many stores, but people still do not recycle them. There is no
reason to use single use plastic bags. Or single use anything for that matter.
Plenty of people will not recycle until it is easier than putting the thing in the garbage.
I didn't know there were any, I just keep any I get at my home for reuse. If there were more
obvious ways of recycling them then I would use those.
It's currently not feasible to recycle bags. Very few are actually recycled.
they should be banned
Attachment D: Text responses from consumer plastic bag ban survey
If Lane Co. was seriously concerned about recycling, they wouldn't have allowed Sanipac to stop
picking up recyclables in some area after Sanipac was bought out by another company.
First Sanipac stopped picking up glass, now they won't pick up ANY recyclables from my mother's
neighborhood, which is the Blossom St. area off Seavey Loop.
Why should I be concerned about a few plastic bags if Lane Co. doesn't care about about tons of
recyclables unnecessarily going into the landfill?
This newest refusal to pick up recyclables is very recent, about May of 2012, and my mom is
pissed but has had no luck talking to her District representative or congressman.
Ultimately they need to be completely eliminated.
I feel that people who recycle their bags make the commitment to recycle them, and will take them
where they need to go. I believe more recycling stations is not a significant motivator for people to
recycle their bags. It takes the commitment at home not to put them in the garbage.
I would love it if Sanipac would pick them up with my curbside comingled recycling.
For those that are using them for shopping.
I have no idea where to recycle them. I don't get many, and I reuse them to line the diaper pail or
bathroom trash can.
No they don't recycle well and Manufactures generally do not use recycle plastic.
Only two of the retail stores where I shop have plastic bag recycling stations, and they are not
clearly marked. Only one of these stores has the bag recycling container right at the entrance,
where it is most logical and convenient.
can't we just get rid of them?
Not all stores have recycling bins for plastic bags
Without a viable way to recycle plastic bags, then the only other choice is to ban them outright,
and find a sustainable way to break them down into component pieces that can then be recycled.
Certainly increased
Not all stores have well marked bag recycling receptacles. Also, it is hard to know which bags are
accepted for recycling and which aren't.
Just don't use them at all, then we don't have to recycle them at all.
I think they should be banned.
Walmart is the only place I've seen a bin for recycling plastic bags easily accessible near my
home. It seems that we should be able to put them in with the rest of our recycling items to go to
Sanipac.
Need more info
I think people have plenty of viable options already available to them. They just need to get
serrious about the problem and recycle.
I think our world would be a much better place without them. We could use the fuel to keep us
energy dependent. and have less plastic in the ocean and in our land fills. Less to clog up
recycling machines and storm drains.
We find it pretty easy to recycle ours.
Ease
it is time to do away with them
are they recycleable. if so, let the public knoe
I think we should get rid of them along with paper bags. Or the grocery stores should charge
people to supply a bag.
Attachment D: Text responses from consumer plastic bag ban survey
There should be stations everywhere at larger retail stores for people to recycle their plastic bags.
Big box stores, and all markets.
I don't know if there are any or what plastic bags can be recycled into if anything.
The grocery store I use to recycle says they only accept the white plastic grocery bags and I have
mostly clear bags; so I don't know what they do with mine--recycle them or just throw them away.
They should be banned.
If a store uses single-use plastic bags, they must provide a place to recycle them!
I'd rather see them not used, but if they are, we need effective ways to recycle, including
consumer education. Eg, when a bag is dirty, which is more environmentally friendly, to wash it,
then recycle or toss it?
Particularly at beginning allowing curbside recycling would be useful for those who inadvertantly
forget to bring own bags
how about other plastic such as items that are wrapped in plastic,preweighed fruits and
vegetables that are in plastic,etc. these should also be recycled.
Get rid of them.
At grocery stores or other places that provide single-use plastic carryout bags, it would be
convenient for me as a customer to be able to recycle these bags where I received them since I
am likely to return to said establishment.
It would be nice to have a curb side option
many options are alive and well and right under our noses already
If there is no ban on plastic bags there needs to be more information as to where we can recycle
them properly. My recycling company doesn't take them and I don't have the time to drive out and
recycle the bags properly so they end up in the trash, just like 95% of people.
though i'd rather they just couldn't give me the plastic ones. i really only get them from the small
corner stores - i get paper from the grocer.
We should just get rid of them.
For what ever plastic is already out there - it all needs to be reused
People seem unsure of how to really recycle them. They end of being thrown away because they
can't go into curb side recycle without gumming up the recycling sort machines. Hence they get
thrown into garbage i.e landfill
I didn't know they were recyclable. Can I just use my Sanipac bin?
I have to make an extra stop at Albertson's to bring them to be recycled, and I don't normally shop
there. Would be good to have more options in terms of stores that take them. Current situation is
not impossible for me, but to encourage more people to recycle them it would help to have more
places.
Sanipac and Lane waste
Sanipac should take them with other recycle
Not if grocery stores that use them have recycle stations.
This is a false option. Single-use bags should not be used period. A small percentage is recycled
anyway.
allow plastic bags to be recycled in recycling collection barrel
Return from whence it came...what if a retailer did not offer any way to package your purchased
products? hmmm.....that would take some planning. Please google "Spags" when you get a
chance. No bags at Spags. A great store policy located next to an even greater city.
I think the recycling of them into Trek decking boards is pretty cool, and the bins are convenient at
grocery stores.
We just need to get rid of them. They don't recycle all that well and the percentage is small of
those that get recycled. There is not a huge market for them either.
Attachment D: Text responses from consumer plastic bag ban survey
Only if they continue to be used.
Grocery stores are enough. Although it would be good also if our garbage service picked them up.
Make them very visible so everyone sees them every time they go into a store. They are now in
dark corners out of the way.
Not all recycling areas have containers for plastic bags
curbside recycling
Anything to keep them out of the land fills & water ways! I recently watched the documentary,
"Bag It" & will be changing my behavior. I was more ignorant about this than I thought because
the clerks at Martket of Choice told me their plastic bags were bio-degradable so that's what I
thought was true.
I'd rather not have single-use carryout bags at all, but if we have them then there should be more
options for recycling them.
We don't need more recycling options that most people won't use anyway. We need to eliminate
the wasteful bags altogether.
I have no problem with it, but others may
or quit making them!
I think we should do away with them completely.
If we have more recycling options then it would reduce the amount of plastic that is going into the
landfills, which would be better our environment and health.
They should be phased out of our history.
The only place I know that takes them is the grocery store, and it's often an overflowing but out-of-
the-way bin. When I do remember to take mine back to the store to recycle, i never seem to see
anyone doing the same. i wonder how long those bags have been collecting there. The store
doesn't really push the recycling of bags. And I've heard that "contamination" of the bag (with
paper/receipts, etc.) can doom the whole load. So it seems like a second-best option.
More sites at grocery stores would be helpful.
they need to be banned
Yes and no, actually. I think there should be more visibility for recycling points at stores. Seems
to me that most recycle bins for bags are kind of tucked away in unhandy places. My solution to
the problem is to ban these single use bags altogether.
I would like to be able to recycle plastic bags with my home recycling pickup. I know they'd have
to be separate from other recycling but I do that anyway.
It's hard to remember to take them to the grocery store (Market of Choice) for recycling, so
sometimes, not often, I throw them in th trash.
More recycle stations not at corporate stores like Safeway.
I don't know where to recycle them, so we try to reuse every bag at least once- but often they end
up being mini garbage bags.
It's easy enough to recycle plastic bags with the options in place.
i think plastic bags at stores should be eliminated
I'd prefer co-mingling iof plastic bags were not so pesky in the recycle sorting process.
I think they should be banned. Recycling them is a feel-good solution that does not address many
of the real problems with plastic.
obviously there's the need for some plastic bags in supermarkets. But I hope every market in
Eugene not only has a box where bags can be recycled, but a place where you can cheaply and
easily buy durable bags for reuse.
there are plenty of ways to recycle plastic bags already available
Every major retailer that distributes these bags should be required to provide for their recycling.
Curbside!
Attachment D: Text responses from consumer plastic bag ban survey
It would be ideal if they could just go in with our co-mingle recycling.
If a person feels they want to recyle their plastic bag, they can research where and how to do this.
Save some tax payer money and don't even bother with this. Tax payers are not an unlimited
source of funds you can continuously tap into. You have exhausted our financial resources and
can't budget that well enough for the necessities.
Every neighborhood should have a place to recycle plastic bags.
I think there are enough options,and this bag issue is blown way out of proportion. Eugene is just
copying what larger cities have done.
I think we need to get rid of them altogether.
More locations for people to put them. If stores stopped providing them, we wouldn't have to worry
about it.
We wouldn't need them if we got rid of the problem!! Don't just fight the symptoms
Use them again
There needs to be more publicity about how / where to
recycle the bags, if Eugene enacts a plastic bag ban,
which I favor.
There is an abundance of options. People just don't use them for whatever reason.
I like the biodegradable plastic bags Market of Choice provides.
Every grocery store should have a recycling bin prominently displayed.
Don't know what can be done.
In the few cases where I have to use the bags, I want to have the option to recycle them
The plastic carry out bags have multiple uses and they are convenient. To encourage recycling, it
needs t be convenient also.
the high pass waste transfer station doesn't offer bag recycling
I reuse all for household use.
No--Stop there use of plastic bags,not enough bags ever get recycled.and people and the
environment pays! !!
Paper bags and personal cloth bags are just fine. People need to get use to the fact they cannot
continually abuse the environment. People need to grow up. They cannot always get their own
selfish, lazy ways.
I THINK A BAN WOULD PUT A HARDSHIP ON FOLKS WHO RIDE THE BUSES IN WINTER,
ECONOMICALLY THEY WOULD HAVE TO BUY PLASTIC BAGS, STANDING IN THE RAIN
WAITING FOR A BUS, W/A FABRIC BAG DOES NOT WORK! I DONT UNDERSTAND THE
PURPOSE OF THIS BAN--EVERYTHING ENDS UP IN THE LANDFILL ANYWAY!-IT WOULD
BE ECONOMICALLY DIFFICULT FOR MANY PEOPLE WHO ARE HAVING A HARD TIME
JUST BUYING FOOD TO THEN HAVE TO GO AND PURCHASE PLASTIC BAGS--I JUST
DONT GET THIS AT ALL--ELDERLY AND PHYSICALLY COMPROMISED FOLKS , LOW-
INCOME-U GET WHAT I'M SAYING HERE. BUS RIDERS--LETS NOT MAKE THIS SO
DIFFICULT FOR PEOPLE.
With gasoline prices what they are, people are reluctant to travel to recycling facilities or their drop
points.
There can never be enough recycling options!
it should be as easy as possible to recycle in as many locations as possible. at a minimum, the
grocery stores should provide no-cost collection
just more "in sight" containers at the grocery stores.
Each individual should choose. NOT THE GOVT. tell s what we should and should not do.
If folks SEE more recycling receptables they will start thinking more about recycling
I am never sure where to take them
Attachment D: Text responses from consumer plastic bag ban survey
with curbside recycling
Plastic bags need to stop being manufactured!
While problematic, curbside would be ideal
Present facilities are adequate
present facilites are sufficient
Allow plastic bags to be placed in with the glass recycle bins so that the operator can seperate the
bags from the glass upon pick up.
Many grocery stores have a recycle bin at the entrance of the store - how much easier could it
be?
As we separate glass why not bags
I wish I knew if Sanipac could take these if I so happen to get them.
It would be nice to get sanipac to take them...though I suppose that probably not an option
WE should not allow single use plastic carryout bags! So do not need more options...
i would rather not see them in use.
Recycling stations should be put in the small local (health food) grocery stores.
Perhaps less recycling options, and more education or incentives - charge for bags?
I wish Lane Apex took them so I did not have to make a special trip to recycle them.
Wish there were a way that garbage collectors could collect these plastic bags for recycling. It
would make things a lot more convenient, which would encourage more people to recycle them.
I did not realize you could recycle these bags! I do not know how I missed knowing about this!
IKES.
Outlaw them.
I don't know; we reuse all of ours as indoor trash bags or for cleaning up after the dog. I never
have extras in need of recycling.
They should be banned not recycled.
I think people just need to know where to take them.
I think the public needs to be educated about recycling these bags. My grocery retailer has a
recycle station right inside the store.
My understanding is that they are not efficient to recycle, even when the program works...I'd
rather see this scourge on the planet eradicated like the bad habit that they are.
More people should use them for garbage. Two uses.
Motivate people to swap to paper and cloth instead.
It would be fabulous if I could recycle them in my recycling bin.
It would be good to have access to them to re use rather than to just be recycling them
I don't know.
Sanitation/recycling service should provide customers with the ability to recycle SU plastic
carryout as many retailers who provide only SU plastics don't have recycling bins available - that
OR require retailers to hold recycling bins
Curbside recycling might help reduce waste.
People should have the option to use any kind of bags they want.
It would be helpful if plastic bags could be placed in Sanipac or Lane Apex curbside recycling
containers and recycled that way.
It would be nice to include them in our regular curb side recycling.
Some confusion re plastic bags:
distinguishing among carryout/produce/bread/other product
It would be convenient for the recycle people to include these in their pick up
I think we should get rid of single-use plastic carryout bags. If that is not an option, local waste
haulers should take them.
Attachment D: Text responses from consumer plastic bag ban survey
let's just get rid of them!
Would be nice to be able to put in recycling bin at home and send with garbage pick up
Most stores have bins to put recyled plastic bags.
I'd like to see a more prominent display of retailers who accept them. The one at Fred Meyer's
stores can be missed at the entry way if you are not looking for it.
people can leave them at their grocery store. how much easier can it be?
More retailers need to make recycling containers for clean empty plastic bags OBVIOUSLY
available to the public.
Curbside. What about dry cleaning bags?
I think we need to stop providing single use carryout bags. People can learn to bring their own
bags and will learn faster when there are no other options.
It would be great to know what kinds of plastic bags can be recycled and also the different
locations where that service is available.
Don't allow single use plastic bags
It's easy already since you are already going to a grocery store and can recycle them there.
If the stores that provide them continue to collect them (I have not had the need to check
recently), and if International Paper continues to collect them, I think it is just a question of
education. If they are elminated entirely, then there will be less of a need to recycle. Not sure if all
vendors that provide them also collect them, but they should.
I believe the plastic carryout bag is a scourge and should be banned.
ban the bags in all countries
They should be able to go right into our recycle bin.
More recycling bins are needed.
I take all recycled bags to the grocery stores. However, it might be more convenient for some
people to recycle them with their garbage hauler, in their recycling cans.
In some cities they are picked up with the recycling.
There needs to be a message of at least where to bring them.
Most people don't bother to take their plastic bags somewhere to recycle them, and they just
throw them away or reuse them. I definitely think that there should be more options.
You cannot put them in your recycling can, and many people do not bother to take them
somewhere that recycles them.
We recently moved to Eugene and we found it hard to believe that we could not include these
single use bags in our regular recycle can. Luckily the market of Choice near us does recycle
them.
I think it is better that we ban one-use bags and push recycling of the ones we can't avoid
I see that there are bag recycle containers at Safeway and Albertsons, but they don't stand out at
other stores. The recycling containers need to be more visible.
I think they should be banned, not recycled.
It's my current understanding that these bags can not be recycled
Retailers can use products such as BioBags that are biodegradable and compostable.
Maybe. I'm not aware of what the options for recycling would be, other than reusing.
since many people seem so lazy, you may consider requiring recycling options in every retail
store in which bags are given away, so people can come in and recycle their extras or even get a
used bag instead of a new one.
i personally would prefer a complete ban on all petrochemical-based plastics.
Should be banned.
I think we should just quit using them.
Attachment D: Text responses from consumer plastic bag ban survey
Just think we need to do away with them.
it's not yet accessible enough for the average person so more recycling options (along with
educational efforts) could hopefully increase the amount recycled
At all stores which have single use plastic carry-out bags
Get rid of them then we don't need more options. Too much waste as too many used for packing.
They become litter and endanger wildlife.
Why can't we put them in the Sani-Pac plastic recycling container that we leave at the curb?
we never throw plastic bags in the trash without being used for additional purposes.
Ban plastic bags. A very few recycle or reuse them.
Everyone else just throws them away.
Always see them as litter.
I use plastic grocery bags to line my bathroom trash cans, pick up dog droppings in the back yard.
If I did't have "free" bags to use, I would just be out buying small trash can liners for what I
currently utilize grocery bags for. It makes absolutely no sense to me to ban plastic bags for our
household.
Need to apply a low cost charge as we have on bottles and cans, then watch the people out
gathering them as they do cans. Prepaid cleanup!
Just ban them. There is absolutely no reason to provide them. Consumers have plenty of other
choices
they need to be able to go into the curbside recycling program - but they really need to be phased
out completely
I think it is unnecessary to spend so much time and money on such an unimportant subject. I
would like to see my government working on things like law enforcment or something
Sanipac doesn't pick them up.
Should go out with other recycling
If they had them available at the grocery store it would be handier.
The grocery stores are adequate. The city is wrong to ban plastic bags.
I'm not even sure what you are asking.
I recycle all my plastic bags, and all my neighbors on my street do also.
They are easy to recycle now. Why dictate another level of beauracracy?
I recycle mine in my regular comingled recylcing site offered in my apartment complex, so there it
is very easy
I think there plenty of other options besides using plastic bags.
But also, ban the use of single-use plastic carryout bags by retailers in Eugene.
I would like to see more places that people can take plastic bags for recycling. Right now I only
know of a few stores. Can a resource list be published in the R-G or in the city newsletter? If
there is a list I have not found it.
I would use options if I knew about them.
Ease of use equals use. Put recycling of plastic bags with the other recycling machines at
markets and/or make them curb recyclable.
Use bags that will last through more uses and charge consumer. Educate on use and reuse
rather than ban. It seems like the City cannot do the job it has now, don't add to load without
adding the cost to admin.
Most grocery store already have barrels available for deposit of plastic bags if people accumulate
too many.
Returning them to store for recycling is convenient enough. But more efforts could be made to get
them into the hands of pet owners for waste pick-up (see comments below).
have notices in stores where to recycle the single-use bags
Attachment D: Text responses from consumer plastic bag ban survey
I would say about 80% of our bags are used to carry trash to garbage can and disposed of there.
Being able to recycle plastic bags through local garbage pick-up companies (along with other
recyclables) would be helpful.
I think any merchant that provides them should have a recycling provision, as a matter of principle
Yes, but plastic bags should be banned except in rare cases (meat packaging), and those that are
provided by retailers should cost consumers at least .25
I think they should be banned. I moved here 12 years ago from Surrey British Columbia, and they
were banned there. People used their own, or paper. We paid for each bag the store provided.
that's a pretty good incentive to reuse the paper bags, or buy something sturdier to re-use. Some
people used plastic milk crates to put their groceries in.
I don't think enough people understand how easily they can be recycled
People either do it or they don't. Maybe garbage companies offering it would help...but i thought
the idea was not to use them at all. Making recycling easier would seem to encourage their use.
If people insist on using them, they should be able to be put into weekly recycle blue boxes.
Most people will not take advantage of recycling measures......too lazy! We need to rid the planet
of plastic bags.
I wish you could recycle them with all the other recycling that comes with garbage service
MIX PLASTIC WITH RECYCLING BIN?
I have plenty of recycling options near my home and on my way to and from work.
Yes, I do. Although many retailers already have recycling available, many do not. We also need
to make it more of a habit for retail employees to do a better job recycling plastic bags. I don't
know how many times I go into a store and witness the cashier throw away plastic bags just
because they tear it off the stack and the customer says they don't need it.
We should all be able to recycle our plastic bags with our trash collection, in the recycle bins.
If plastic bags are eliminated there is less need for recycling them
If the things continue in use, they most definitively need to be recyclable, preferably compostable
in home (not industrial) compost bins.
If they could be recycled using the Sanipac large blue bins then I'd recycle all the available plastic
bags.
Better to just be rid of them- recycling is costly and harmful to the environment. Reusable bags
are a more permanent and earth-freindly solution.
Make it possible to put thyem in a separate bag and put in recycle bin.
I would like to see my garbage hauler be able to pick up and recycle my plastic bags.
This whole debate is a pointless waste of time. I am smart enough to reuse or recycle without the
city of Eugene telling ehat to do.
At the grocery store I can recycle
they help the enviroment by not wasting water to clean the garbage cans and by not using
electricity and soap to sanitize the cans. Beter use of other resources.
The grocery store where I shop has a recycle station for these bags
I think the options are adequate, but only for those already in circulation...no more should be
produced.
People that want to recycle these already are recycling. I am recycling by reusing.
Can't put in trash hauler's recycling, they don't accept these.
just quit having them at the store is a better idea.
banning them would be better, but failing that, recycling needs to be available at trash pick up
time like other recycling.
Since I have one use for single-use plastic carryout bags, it's not really an issue for me.
Attachment D: Text responses from consumer plastic bag ban survey
I'd rather just see them banned
Should ban single-use lightweight plastic bags.
More options won't cure ignorance.
However I would like to see a complete ban on single-use plastic carryout bag.
I think they need to be kept out of the ocean and waterways, but they are useful to people like me.
Where will I find bags for cat litter without them?
If people know how and where to recycle things, I think more would be inclined to do so.
Consumers need more of a guideline on this issue not just once but in print, have posted
recycling guidelines, and let it be seen over and over again.
RECYCLE and use in alternative options like filler for road works, recycle into heavier, more
longer lasting bags.
No, I think we should not offer them. Most people know what to do with them: take them to
grocers like Fred Meyers, etc. or reuse them. I would prefer they were eliminated, not that we
create more options for them.
If the bags are banned no need for recycling
Curbside would be ideal. Often single-use bags are wet or yucky making it disagreeable to schlep
them back to the store.
Not readily apparent in stores. Sanipac has no option for them. Where do you take the?
I'd like to see the trash companies take them.
They would not be used.
Would prefer a ban, but if they are available, recycling should be as easy as possible
Recycling sites need to be clearly visible, perhaps, outside entrances to retail store.
I will throw them away no matter what.
if more drop offs were seen in different places ,,more people would recycle them
We do too much damage to the Earth. Any step away from that is a step forward. And this is
already being done elsewhere - it's not a big risk.
more stores, I recycle at Winco.
would be convenient to have a place for plastic bags at stations where cans and bottles are
recycled
these bags should be banned. Go to paper bags with a fee and encourage owner bags.
I don't think they should be available. I shopped when they were not available, and we survived.
not a problem to recycle
Grocery stores take them but if we could somehow separate them and put them curbside I think
more people might do it
Regular recycle pick-up by Sanipac or someone else
It needs to be convenient to recycle plastic bags if you want the consumer to do it. Why can't we
include them with our garbage recycling?
I think every store that provides plastic bags should have a place to deposit them for recycle in
and easy to spot location.
we should just quit using them
Curb side pick up would be ideal but pick up at more retail stores would be a second best option.
I guess there are boxes at markets but I seem to have heard that they aren't really recycled.
miore education and sites
We don't need single-use plastic carryout bags.
Right now, it's a special trip out of my way, which means it gets put off into perpetuity, or else
sometimes my husband gets fed up and tosses them all in the trash, rather than deal with it.
Just need to make people more aware of what options do exist.
I feel there are enough already. People need to not use them so much, anyway.
Attachment D: Text responses from consumer plastic bag ban survey
No there are always ways to recycle and reuse. Pets, gardening, food preservation, trash can
liner.
I think most people use them as trash bags, instead of purchasing new ones.
They are recyclable so more effort should be made to make it easier for people to drop them off
for recycling.
not sure
Include in Co-mingle curbside pick-up recycling.
Also for plastic produce bags.
More sites to recycle at, and either curbside recycling or publicity if there already is curbside.
They get to be really unsanitary. Why accumulate such a germ reservoir?
The library, St. Vincent DePaul's, and Good Will are always happy for people to bring them some
plastic bags for their customers to use.
Ideally, there would be very few of them because so few retailers would dispense them. I'm
thinking so few single-use plastic bags would make investment in recycling cost prohibitive. On
the other hand, many such bags would make their way into the trash because of exceptions to the
ordinance and from sources outside the city. Cost effectiveness of recycling would have to be
studied.
Free from stores
Places to recycle them should be beter advertised.
Containers in the retail store, particularly department stores that use plastic bags, but don't have a
place to recycle.
Let's ditch them instead! Plastic bags are so over.
I think they should be banned, and replaced with affordable, biodegradable bags.
Perhaps if it were easier to recycle I would.
More stores should have facilities to recycle plastic bags.
Carryout bags can be recycled in grocery stores and in the co-mingle carts but non-standard
plastic bags (Ziplocks, large food bags, etc) need more options.
I would like to be able to recycle plastic bags at schools.
I think residential disposal services should collect them along with other recyclables from people's
homes.
This misses the point. Recycling is what you do when you have waste. The energy, pollution and
waste created by plastic bags happens during manufacture. Finding a new way to recycle them
makes very little difference.
If a store uses plastic bags, they should be required to recycle them.
It would be ideal if bags of bags could be co-mingled as so many more people would do it. We
have become spoiled by co-mingled pick ups - but it works to make people recycle!
There should be more advertisement encouraging people to recycle plastic bags and showing
where it can be done.
More recycling outlets/recycle boxes for plastic bags would be nice.
just eliminate them
We need to eliminate their use.
Hard question. If you do not reuse the bags then yes they should be recycled. To ban them
would be silly. It would cause people like me to have to buy the plastic trash can liner bags and
then throw them away. The end result is the same except for the cost of buying the bags.
I think the grocery store options are quite convenient. But ultimately I think we need LESS to NO
plastic bags at all.
They should be done away with
Just ban them.
They should be banned.
Attachment D: Text responses from consumer plastic bag ban survey
Plastic bags at retail checkout stands should be banned and therefore we won't need more
recycling sites for them. Also, many people recycle them in the other stream of recycling and gum
up the recycling machines, which wastes energy, time, and money. Let's keep the current
recycling stations and then encourage reusable bags by banning the bag at retail checkout
stands.
I believe the best option is a ban on plastic bags. The small number then used could easily be
recycled at existing stations.
More options, and publicizing these options. Many folks do not trust recycling in stores,
suspecting that the bags are going in the trash anyway.
I really don't know.
I think they should just be banned.
If they could be put in the recycle bin, that would be much easier. We have to make it as easy as
possible for people to change, and having to remember to put take them to a special place for
recycling is asking for people to not recycle them.
BAN THEM!
Please ban these bags! they are evil for our environment and by providing them, you are enabling
our greater community to waste energy. A ban on bags would help all of us be less forgetful.. start
with charging for the bag when people forget to bring their own.
With the amount of plastic waste I see everywhere, I doubt that forcing retailers to change their
bagging habits will solve the problem.
I want NO plastic bags! Why use more resources to recycle something that took resources to
manufacture. Ban them!
These bags are very bad for the environment, wild animals, and our dependence on petroleum
products.
The most convenient thing would be to be able to put them out w/ the regular recycling once a
week.
Can't they go in the blue bins?
I've seen recycling bins at our local store. My guess is that most people reuse them, then throw
them away. If people put them straight in the trash when it's so easy to recycle, then I doubt more
options for recycling will help them. Perhaps if Sanipac offered an option...
all convenient stores and grocers should have recycle bins.
I think they need to stop being produced.
Not sure. There are recycling bins at almost every grocery store. Not sure about big box stores,
but that would be a good place to have them.
Get rid of them!
I think more retail stores, including grocery, should have clearly labeled bag recycling bins by all
of their entrances.
Sanipac should accept bags in commingled curbside that are consolidated in one bag and tied
shut.
All bag dispensing retailers, including farm stands, should take bags from patrons at the checkout
stand (i.e. don't dish it out if you can't take it).
It would be very convenient if curbside city recycling pickup allowed single-use plastic carryout
bags.
With all the problems with the economy in Eugene, Lane Country, and Oregon is this really the
best use of the city council's time is to push an enviro-Marxist agenda? I mean, I know this is the
crazy lazy state of Oregon that is busy pushing businesses, entreprenuers, and jobs out of state,
but really? Really?
If other places want to set out bins, that's fine. There are currently plenty of places to recycle
them.
Attachment D: Text responses from consumer plastic bag ban survey
But I would much prefer to see less plastic bag usage in the first place.
More publicity for recycling stations would be helpful, but I'd rather the plastic bags were banned!
The more rural waste pick up stations don't take plastic bags.
Would like to be able to recycle them from my home pick-up site.
More drop-off points and/or an option for home recycling pick-up.
I think discouraging the use of them to begin with is the best long term bet
Disincentives should be put in place so that people aren't inclined to let the grocery bagger place
one jug of milk in a plastic bag. This happens and won't stop if the only action taken is the
proliferation of recycling options.
Actually, I think they should be banned. I just purchased reusable produce bags and intend to limit
my use of single use produce bags.
They just need to be outlawed.
curbside! curbside! curbside!
It makes NO SENSE to have other recyclables picked up every week that doesn't include plastic
bags!
It used to be included - bad mistake to let that go!
I don't think they should be available at all.
I think more people would recycle them if it was possible to place them in the comingle recyle bin.
I see them there anyway even though I know they should not be. While there are many people
who will go to the extra effort of taking them to a drop off point, the majority will not.
Providing more recycling opportunities for plastic bags won't change people's behavior. Providing
fewer or no bags will.
I didn't even know that plastic bags were recyclable
It is difficult to get the bags to stores with the recycling bins and I rarely visit those stores that do
either. A recycling option with the recycling picked up from homes would encourage more
recycling of the bags by others as well as being easier for me.
According to most waste managers and the best education I can provide myself, we simply don't
have an end market for recycling our exponentially increasing volume of bags. It's also of
observation that recycling reinforces the consumptive behavior, thus compounding the high waste
to low end market problem.
It's actually a suggestion that we encourage people to use other plastic bags, such as those bread
comes in, for our needs. They can be taken to stores for putting produce in if people need such a
sack.
More would be recycled if Sanipac and Apex picked them up, as well. At the common recycling
area at my apartment complex many people put plastic bags in the recycling because they are
unaware that you have to return them to the grocery store to recycle them.
There are containers in most grocery stores to put extras in if you get too many... which we never
seem to.
I think they should not be used at all. Paper bags, although not sustainable, are far better than
plastic.
At least there could be more advertisement of the fact that options exist. I only found out about
many of them on this survey.
What's NEEDED is for people to care more, and to stop making so much garbage; and then to be
educated about the importance of personal responsibility for the garbage they do generate.
Because less than 10% of the single use plastic bags are recycled now. The only option is to ban
single use plastic bags.
Attachment D: Text responses from consumer plastic bag ban survey
Prefer paper bags for everything. Not so flexible as plastic, therefore holds its form better. That
makes them easier to carry out of the store. Plastic bags force me to prevent dragging them on
the ground - makes my shoulders sore.
There are plenty of options available, people simply aren't aware, or don't care enough to use
them.
The only option is to eliminate all together. If a store has only plastic bags for their carry out then
they should have a recycle bin for their disposal.
Since recycling them is so easy, I am not sure how it could be made easier.
They are at most big grocery stores.
I'm not aware of that many places to recycle
We ought not have single-use plastic, in which case we would not need recycling options.
The available options work for me. But if more options would encourage more recycling, it would
all be to the good.
it's easy enough- just bring them back.
There are plenty it seems, but I hadn't heard about the drop off locations, actually.
Please ban plastic bags!!!
it's very easy to recycle at the grocery store
People only think of recycling bins. I use them to line wastebaskets, saving the need to purchase
liners. Most of them are taken to food pantries so recipients can use.
I'm not sure how well the bags that are collected are processed. I think banning the bags would be
a better option.
I reuse my plastic bag as linners in my small trash
cans. Pick up after my dog. & ect.
I think that banning plastic bags is a knee jerk reaction, and not the best solution to the problem.
Plastic bags have their uses, and any problems they create can be overcome with better recycling
options and better education of the public
It would be great if we could curb-side these bags instead of driving out to EcoSort or throwing the
away.
Grocery Store recycling is already handy. Would prefer alternative at store for produce bags or
have produce bags that were not clear so they could be used as dog poop scooper bags. At least
they then would be re-used once.
No. I see recycling bins in most stores.
W should only use cloth bags
If it could be a part of municipal recycling, I don't think they should exist in the first place -- I am
discouraged from recycling them when they are dirty and I know that they are distributed for free.
They can be returned to grocery stores for re-use or recycling.
Absolutely. Just saying it is a HUGE problem with conveyer belts in recycling them with Sanipac
is just a cop-out. I do realize it is a legit issue, I just don't feel adequate other recycling ideas have
been encouraged or embraced! It seems everybody seems the ban is the way to go. I feel
differently and oppose one as a consumer and watch dog of the disenfranchised.
IT'S OK WITH ME IF YOU WANT TO INCENTIVEIZE RECYCLINNG OR REUSE BY CHARGING
FOR THEM! BUT DO NOT BAN THEM! THEY ARE USEFUL!!!!
BTW, I DO ALWAYS CARRY MY OWN GROCERY BAGS AS WELL.
I re-use them to clean the cat pan. You really can't re-recycle after that.
Single-use plastic bags are way over-used, wasteful and un-necessary. It's a hassle to take old
bags back for recycling. We don't need to be using so many plastic bags! Eugene is overdue to
take this tiny step toward being more conscious about resource use. Once it becomes normal to
re-use bags we will wonder why it took so long to stop making all this plastic trash!!
Attachment D: Text responses from consumer plastic bag ban survey
I'd ratrher not see them at all.
People mindlessly get them in supermarkets and many are probably not recycled, even though
stores often provide options to recycle them.
No, I think stores should charge .25 for each bag that people want.
No, I think they should not be manufactured or presented as an option for consumers, period.
It is always good to have more recycling options.
If we have them at work, I have to bring them home to recycle them at a store. Our recycling
provider at work does not recycle plastic bags
The only place I know other than the dump is Fred Meyer...
I have heard that often if you take them to the store bins they are not actually recycled, but thrown
away. I wish there were more collection places. I also think that if it was possible to have them
with our other household recycling many more people would do it.
We need to make them obsolete more than making spending time on more recycling options.
If was part of weekly garbage/recycling curbside program,
I don't think we should use plastic bags ever.
No opinion
i think we should not be using plastic bags. If I didn't have that option, I might remember my own
bags better.
It would be nice to be able to recycle them through sanipac/lane apex pickup.
The few bags that are not reused until they are dirty are recyclable at the grocery store which is
convenient.
No. I think they ought to be banned.
Yes, if the ban isn't passed.
curbside would be convenient
When you factor in Peak Oil, Climate Change and the economic collapse and human suffering
that will accompany them, it's not an exaggeration to say that we need a complete bottom-to-top
restructuring of human civilization and we need it right now. For the City to be debating whether
or not to ban plastic bags is absolutely absurd and an indication of serious delusion in our so-
called "leaders".
yes
Recycling is available at grocery stores and glen wood transfer station where I use for taking
sorted recycling and then can recycle them? Is there curbside recycling?
I think they need to be banned because they are not a sustainable solution, even if they are
recycled.
Some sort of curbside recycling for plastic bags would probably increase the amount turned in for
recycling.
It would be terrific if plastic bags could be accepted in curbside commingle service, but I
understand that isn't currently possible given the limitations of processing equipment.
It would be nice if our recycle company would pick them up.
Most grocery stores now recycle plastic bags -- Great! (Tho i'm curious what actually happens to
them.)
I am of the belief that they should be banned entirely.
I have accumulated so many plastic bags (newspapers, bulk items grocery stores, etc.) and often
it is difficult or inconvenient to recycle them; more recycling options are needed.
Ignore the plastics industry and its paid lobbyists. It is time to end the pollution caused by plastic
bags NOW!
Attachment D: Text responses from consumer plastic bag ban survey
Easy to recycle and these bags are not single use. They can be utilized for many other purposes.
Creative people do some amazing things with plastic bags, but I agree with those who want stores
to stop giving them out to bag groceries et al. Too many people use them thoughtlessly and just
toss them in the trash.
Maybe not MORE, but make them more obvious. I walked past the ones we use many times
before I even noticed them, so I'd stuff my car trunk until I went to the Glenwood site.
More locations to recycle bags and other plastic misc stuff
Most garbage collectors do not accept them in the household recycle bins but they should.
I don't think we need to use them!
Ban the bag.
It would be handy to recycle them curbside, like everything else--if that's possible
Curbside
LEt
on site recycling locations for all retail locations using single-use plastic bags
No, just don't use them.
Or at least more information about how/where
SaniPac should collect them.
Just get rid of them. we don't need them
More information to the consumer, might motivate more of them to recycle. Make it EASY.
Self compliance and education is enough.
I never know where to take them.
Better to carry your own reusable bags. We would do this more consistently if plastic was no
longer available . Europeans have done this forever.
Yes, if you're not going to ban them!
it's always good to have lots of recycling options, but the bottom line is: we can do without the
bags entirely (i'll figure out something else to transport dog poop with).
I would prefer that plastic bags be outlawed
It would be good if dirty bags were recyclable
They should be included in curbside recycling. I have bins and bags full of plastic bags but I never
remember to bring them anywhere to recycle them. They are a nuisance, and harmful to our
environment and to wildlife.
More places to recycle
Being able to put them in the curbside recycling bin would increase the number of plastic bags I
recycle.
A lot of plastic bags get thrown away
Would be best not to use them at all.
They should be banned, it's ridiculous they're horrible for the environment & retailers can always
offer paper or reusable if someone forgets to bring their own reusable ones. Plastic bags are
horrible anyways, the typical ones offered at the grocery store only hold a couple items &
everything falls out as soon as you put it in your trunk. Why would anyone ever use them.
more locations that accept ALL types of plastic film bags and wrap
Need more recycling bins all over town, not just in grocery stores.
If they could be put in the recycling cans provided by garbage haulers, more people would recycle
them.
Yes, that would be nice.
No opinion
Recycling anything should be as easy as possible for the citizens to use. You'll encourage more
participation by offering easy alternatives to a garbage can.
Attachment D: Text responses from consumer plastic bag ban survey
Sanipac needs to accept them maybe have another small bin like they have for glass
See rpevious question's "Other"
We just need to get rid of the bags...no bags, no recycling needed.
The option to recycle at my grocery store is sufficient for me.
curbside comingle?
Yes, also the bags that the newspaper comes in. I have a huge stash of those waiting to be
recycled.
I was not aware that they could be recycled, except for at the store...
Make recycling easy and inexpensive and most people will dot it.
If everyone would recycle them they wouldn't end up in places where they shouldn't be.
as long as there are plastic garbage baga available in any form they will still be used and end up
in the gaebage
I think that curbside recycling should also take plastic bags.
single use bags are a waste of resources. Reduce.
It would be very handy to be able to return them to the stores where I received them for recycling.
Plastic bags should be banned and not used. They hurt wild animals and the environment.
It's cheaper for the industry to manufacture new plastic bags out of virgin plastic, so most don't
actually get recycled, they are actually down cycled, which means that they are turned into other
products, but mostly never into another bag.
Unless there is a way to include them in curbside recycling it seems like this is a mute point.
People either don't know they are supposed to bring them to stores for recycling or don't care.
Most likely it's better just to ban them.
I think we should ban them, but short of that I think city recycling should pick them up separately,
along with clamshell containers, etc. At the very least, better education to where they can be
recycled should be provided.
we were asked not to include them in our mixed recycling so I stopped putting them in.
I don't recycle things at home that do not go in the general bin that Lane Apex picks up
They need to be accepted universally in co-mingled curbside pickup
because we reuse them and reuse them. Hate to cut down trees for paper bags----
We shouldn't use them at all.
Sanipac, & the other refuse collector's, should offer to recycle them
It would be helpful if Sanipac accepted them.
Don't know what others would use them for but I use them in place of store-bought trash bags.
Curbside pick-up should handle these...unless they already do? I don't have this service.
I live 2 miles from a transfer station, but the closest one that takes plastic bags is 15 miles away
It would be nice if they could be recylced at curb side.
More than recycling options, I think reducing options are more important. Recycling can only go
so far. Reducing is key. And if plastic bags could not exist whatsoever, that be even better.
I would've checked a maybe button, but...
Many people are not aware of the grocery store option, which is the most convenient. Also,
grocery stores would be more convenient if they took all kinds of plastic bags like IP and GCRS
do.
Garbage haulers should be paid by grocery stores to accept and recycle plastic bags with their
regular recycle program.
There far and few between Its just extra work all together.Which makes people that use them just
throw them in the garbage
I find your term "single-use" to be misleading and biased.
People need to figure something out for themselves - let's start here.
Attachment D: Text responses from consumer plastic bag ban survey
It would help the environment. My pickup trash recycle bin is very small. Why not have a large
blue bin to put all my recycles in?
Recycling of plastic bags is not really an option. They are very difficult to recycle, and there is
often not a market for them to be actually be recycled, and then often get sold or shipped to Asian
countries where their practices are not environmentally friendly and harmful to the people doing
the work. I think it is more important to educate people on the true costs of plastic bags and the
issues with recycling.
They should just be banned. The environmental impact is in the production. Recycling them only
decreases their carbon footprint slightly.
I think you should stay out of my bag choices.
It would enable less waste, however it takes a ton of plastic bags to save 11 barrels of oil
I think plastic bags should be eliminated.
As far as I know, only certain locations take them, not the garbage service providers. It's
inconvinent, so they get tossed.
almost all grocery stores have a drop point for recycling the bags
it would be nice to drop them at recycling drop points however
require all solid waste collectors ( county wide) to accept plastic bags for recycling
Most folks I know do the say as I do---throw them away
Not all transfer locations take them....like Lowpass transfer station....we have to go to Veneta to
recycle, a grocery store, or donate to food box..
I don't think so because I don't think they should be allowed. I approve of the ban. On the other
hand, if I no longer got any single-use carryout bags from store, I'm still going to have *some*
need sometimes for thin plastic bags. So, it would be nice to have some curb-side recycling
options.
Sanipac and other trash pickup services should be forced to do more recycling. Sanipac no
longer offers glass recycling, for example, in Pleasant Hill or Creswell and there are no alternative
trash services.
I think there needs to be a bigger push for biodegradable or oxio-bioplastic bags. These bags
breakdown faster than paper bags when exposed to the environment.
Most residents pay for garbage and have a recycle bin. Again, I object to teh designation of plastic
bags as single use as they are not. We re-use them.
get rid of them,then I will provide my own carry out bags
Wherever they can be recycled, and then banned completely
Curbside
I didn't know they were recyclable and I am not sure if they can go in my Sanipac commingle
recycle.
I think more education needs to be available for which kinds of plastic are recyclable and what
happens to them. I'm a Master Recycler and I'm still confused about which kinds of plastic bags
are recyclable and which aren't.
Would be great for folks to be able to add them to the co-mingled recycling from home
If they could be put into co-mingle I think more people would recycle them, although I know they
clog the machinery so this may be a difficult change.
Just don't use them at all
Curbside pickup
We think they just need to be done away with.
They can be donated to Library for use by users
all retail stores that provide and use them should also provide recycling recepticals to the
consumer.. and all retailers who receive plastic wrapped goods should be required to recycle their
plastic.
Attachment D: Text responses from consumer plastic bag ban survey
I don't look for a place to recycle when I'm at the store and also forget to take them with me.
Not cost effective.
It's very difficult to remember to bring the bags to a retailer who actually will recycle them. Plus
most retailers don't have the bins in a prominet, easy-to-see location
most of them have food residue and can't be recycled. We just need to stop using them, period.
A ban would be the best solution - there is no reason why we can't all bring our own bags or pay
for paper bags.
Should ban single-use plastic bags, most people do not recycle them and won't even if more
recycling options were around
Perhaps pick up by garbage collectors would be in order.
Not sure
I think there should be more locations to drop them off, or make it part of our recycle pick-up at
home.
I see too many flying around in our environment and we need to educate consumers to reduce
even further disposal of these plastic bags
not if we ban them as a environmentally responsible community.
All the grocers I frequent have recycling for plastic bags.
Recycling (down-cycling) isn't solving the real issue. Instead of providing more recycling options,
we should ban plastic bags and provide reusable bag options (to purchase or free if buying more
than certain amount of products).
If a grocery store offers plastic single us bags then there should be a recycling reseptical
People wont take the time to collect and take them to a recycle location. People still throw away
cans even thought they are incredibly east to recycle with hundreds of recycle locations AND you
get $.05 for doing so.
There are enough already.
Never hurts to offer more...
We use all the bags to carry out the garbage
Make recycling easier. Don't ban their use.
Most people are not aware that bags can be recycled, or that grocery stores offer onsite plastic
bag recycling.
I think single-use plastic carryout bags should be banned. But if they aren't, there should be more
consumer information about how / where to recycle them. I'm never sure, and it seems to
change.
If this ban goes into effect it won't fix the larger problem. IT WILL HELP, for sure but there will still
be some in use, plus dry clean, veg bags, etc. Anything that will help keep them out of landfills
and waterways.
Maybe we need some more consumer education on where the recycling bins are located.
curbside. i have sanipac and hate their co-mingled recycling and inablity to take plastic bags. also
something needs to be done about the ziplock bags (i don't buy them but apparently they can't be
recycled?)
Needs to be curbside service for plastic bags.
I don't think most people would recycle the bags if there were more options. If they're not recycling
now, I don't think more options would encourage them to start.
It would be great to be able to include them with my other recyclables that are picked up curbside.
Why can't you have Sani Pac create a system for recycle of the plastic bags. I would be happy to
recycle them more often if I could do it at home. Right now I take them back to the store not for
reuse but recycle.
Attachment D: Text responses from consumer plastic bag ban survey
I believe we should follow Portland and now Corvallis and BAN plastic bags... other alternatives
for the majotiry population that uses them- WILL FIND ALTERNATIVE methods!!!
I think there are enough recycling options. The issue is training people to utilize them.
it WOULD be nice tho if they could be recycled in recycling bins from lane/apex w/other
recyclables if people have too many. i actually have to REMEMBER to LEAVE my reusable bags
in the car sometimes bcuz i am out of plastic bags at home. i have been using reusable
cloth/pleather bags since the mid '90's when whole foods started the trend. 'trendy' eugene is
never aware of how far behind the times they really are.
No. I just think they should "do away" because of the harm they have been proven to do to our
environment. This would force more people to purchase reusable bags.
convenience is important to a lot of people. They'll say they'll recycle by principle, but when it
comes down to it they'll only do what's easy. Make it easier to recycle plastic bags. PLEASE
DON'T BAN THEM!!!
Very few stores have readily available bins for recycling plastic bags
I think plastic bags should to OUTLAWED.
They should be banned.
More responsible people, not more options. There are numerous home uses for the bags they do
not need to be in a land fill.
Most larger stores (Fred Meyer, Alberstons, etc) already have places to recycle these bags.
Recycling by retailer would be easiest for consumers
I support providing recycling options, but much prefer to eliminate single use bags.
We are creating far too much trash which fills our disposal areas too quickly.
I think they just need to be banned
Acceptance by garbage collectors would be nice, even if sorted out from other mingled recycling.
I think they need to be banned like other cities have done.
If these plastic bags continue to be offered to customers (which isn't ideal), then having more
recycling options is certainly desirable.
I think that alot of people reuse them and that it not up to you to ban them. They are convient for
many people like me who can care many bags it the house at one time without making many trips
to the car. They are not bigger problem then disposable diaper etc.
Enough is enough
I don't know of any other options besides putting them in the trash or recycle bins.
If they are not banned, they should be recycled more often.
No. I think they should be banned.
It needs to be more obvious in grocery stores that you can recycle plastic bags, particularly the
stores that seems to default to plastic bags.
No, I use them as garbage bags!
If we use them, we should recycle them and keep them out of the landfill.
Deposit cannister/bin available inside stores that provide plastic carry-out bags.
If they are to continue to be circulated, they should be recycled in greater amounts. I would rather
they were not used at all, though
Just don't need them.
Not more recycling options but more info to the consumer that plastic bags can be recycled and/or
used for additional items besides the trip home from the retailer/grocery store.
Since most of us already have trained ourselves and our families to recycle at the home level the
likely hood to add bags is simple....just have to come up with a container or a burlap type bag.
Attachment D: Text responses from consumer plastic bag ban survey
At whose expense? Provide adequate teacher-student ratio and stop eliminating things like art
and music in schools - a better use of the money although of course you might not make the
national news.
Get rid of them!
All grocery stores should have bag recycling bins.
Because they will probably be used for a long time to come especially for produce
Plastic manufacturers should be forced to provide sustainable alternative recycling methods for
ALL plastic packaging, including shrink wrap and those horrible plastic cartons used to package
electronics. I don't believe that plastic bags have to be made of plastic; why not design something
like the reusable potato cutlery used at Cafe Yumm?
Lane County dump needs to provide a place for the plastic bags and not tell us they have to be
thrown in the "pit".
If SaniPac would pick them up during regular recycling, a lot more people would be able to recycle
them. It's a huge pain to recycle them currently.
Do you mean more options for recycling the bags into other items or do you mean more options
for disposal locations? Not clear.
Can't put in Sanipac recycle bins.
I wasn't even aware there were venues to recycle them.
If I had an easy alternative to throwing bags away, I would definitely consider recycling them after
reusing. I would definitely use this option in lieu of banning them.
But I believe the ordinance to ban them should be passed.
educating the public on rcycling is very important
Every major store has receptacles, and every recycling/garbage transfer site i've been to lately
has them. How many more options do you need?
Would be nice if you could recycle them in your garbage carrier's comingled recycling can.
If i knew that there were containers prominently displayed at the stores, I would make more of an
effort to save the bags and recycle them.
I think you should let stores give customers bio-degradable or recyclable bags. I think paper bags
are horrible since I live in Oregon and it rains (thus the paper bag rips.)
People think that it is too easy to put in the trash. Plain and simple, people are not thinking!!
A separate container should be provided for recycled bags at trash pick-up day
I think there are plenty of options, the people just have to use them. It is their choice.
Need more recycle bins on/near storefronts
A home recycling option would likely result in higher recycling compliance.
We just need to stop using them.
Not all stores have a plastic recycling container.
More options, yes, and also more promotion, both generally and at recycle sites (e.g., grocery
stores).
I don't trust that they are being efficiently recycled.
Most grocery stores already have a bin for them. It's more a matter of willingness to make the
effort.
Just stop using them
more stations around town. I recycle with
my garbage service too,but am not 100% certain
that they do recyle them. If I knew for certain that
they did take them and recycle, that would be the easiest.
I would rather see the bags eliminated than build infrastructure to recycle them.
Attachment D: Text responses from consumer plastic bag ban survey
I see recycling bins frequently when I return cans
I see recycle bins in the stores - very visible. I th think people just don't always use that
Shouldn't be a concern of City govt.
The more the better - the more options you give people, the easier it is for them to do something.
Our curb-side carrier doesn't take them. If they did, I would be happy to recycle them.
Its far too easy and convenient to simply throw the bags into the garbage at home.
I don't often go to big box stores, or stores that give me plastic bags, but when I do, I hardly ever
remember to haul any old ones there for recycling.It would be nice if they could be recycled in our
usual garbage-collection recycling process.
Don't think they should be used. Curbside.
If people use what is available, the city and local government have much,much more to do than
worry about what someone does or does not do with their plastic bags. Spend the time finding
money to support law inforcement and keep criminals in jail. GREAT IDEA-- Encourage everyone
to use as many plastice bags as possible and put a user tax on each one. This would encourage
people to re-use their bags keeping them out of the dump and give needed money to law
enforcement. Problem solved now go do something much more constructive.
It would be nice to be able to set it out with the rest of my recycling on garbage day.
there are plenty of options, we just need to reduce (hopefully eliminate!) the bags
most of the issue seems to be educting people about all the different rules on recycling. there is
not consistency between communities and haulers in the area on plastics in general. this
confusion causes wrong choices. more visibility of where platic bags specifically can be returned
would be useful.
waste collectors should be recycling them.
any store that uses them should have recycle pickup for them.
Most consumers think they can be recycled with comingled recycling...which is not true. The other
option is the trash. I am not sure how feasible it is for consumers to save and transport their bags
to the transfer station
I'm at the grocery store anyway - they provide a great service for recycling more than just the
carry out bags (vegetable bags; laundry bags, etc)
Yes I beleive there should be a place to recycle plastic bags at all atores in cluding mini-marts. (7-
11, Dairy mart, etc.
Sure more options would be better, let the retailers decide
People who don't reuse there bags can take them back to the stores they shop at.
make the biodegradable
Use reusable
I have never seen or heard of way to recycle single use bags anywhere. If there is, it should be
free of charge and its existence should be advertised extensively. :-)
More convenient options that don't require a special trip to recycle.
Unknown really. I generally reuse the bag for other garbage.
Have stores provide recycle bins within their premises, in same manner as can and bottle
recycling is provided. Only make the system actually work.
More convenient locations would be nice. Also specify which kinds of plastic bags are
acceptable.
They should pick them up with the recycle plastic each week, through our trash service.
ban them-wastful
The garbage company has in the past accepted plastic bags, but they were tangling and mixing
with the plastic and metal...why not recycle as with glass...many tied into one bag to be picked up
similarly to the glass
Maybe more education around recycling plastic bags?
Attachment D: Text responses from consumer plastic bag ban survey
If we could put them into the weekly recycle bin for curb pickup it would be easier to recycle them
Ban
There are plenty of options, it depends on a person's reuse of the bag and the cost to recycle
All the grocery stores I frequent have a very visible plastic bag recycling container in the entrance
or just outside.
I feel like there are many recycling locations around town.
Bags with big holes and tears I take back to retail stores for recycling. All others I use for trash
can liners, trash for cleaning out the car, yard debris, wet clothes after swimming or anything else
that comes to mind.
educate public and offer more advertised collection bins
Maybe so. I almost never use them, so I don't know.
We have to get them out of the waste stream. If only we could educate the public on how
destructive plastic bags are to our wildlife.
Albertson's is the only store that makes it visible where to recycle bags.
Would like Sanipac co- mingling recycling to offer a pick up option for single use plastic bags
plastic bags can't be recycled into usefull materials. that decking they make is not durable and
just breaks down in place which is even worse than taking it to the dump.
Are all the plastic bags currently on store shelves going to be banned? Do these people working
for the ban have stock in these bags? The bags we get in the stores when we make a purchase
are pretty harmless compared to the much thicker ones on the shelves.
It would be amazing if every retail store that gives out plastic bags, has to have a recycling
receptacle as well. (Sort of like the policy with selling returnable drink containers, they have to
accept them back)
Better convenience for home recycling. Opposed to toting my plastic bags to a recycle center a
couple times a week, once every (month or two) the company the collects recycling offers a curb
side pick-up. That allows me (the consumer) the ability to not worry about remembering to carry
dirty bags, in my car, to a drop-off. Instead, I can store them, out of the way, reuse them as
available and then easily discard my surplus in a manner that won't interfere with the recycling
center.
I use them for my household trash.
They are NOT single use. That is a misnomer. I use some of them as garbage bags, paper bags
are not good garbage bags - they leak - trash bags in my car,
store things in my freezer, store household items etc.
Recycling is a PERSONAL choice, and anyone who wants to recycle can - recycle stations are
abundant in Lane County.
I also use my plastic bags for trash. I do not purchase trash bags. If the plastic ban is placed on
consumers and stores, then I will simply purchase my plastic bags for the trash.
do away with them forever
I think that instead of banning....stores need to charge for them....like 10 cents each. Then the
motivation to change behavior will be stronger
I think people should be responsible for their own actions. I do not litter and should not be
punished for those that do. Biodegradable bags would be awesome!
Even if there were other options, I think there is a segment of the population that is too lazy or just
don't care and will just throw them away anyway
I think they could be made of heavyer maiteral so they could be use more often before recycing
tjthem then more edution on recycling them
Tell me, just where are these recycling options to start with?
Need more places that have prominent recycle containers with big that say recycle plastic bags
here.
Attachment D: Text responses from consumer plastic bag ban survey
I am able to recycle all my bags without any difficulty.
If public housing requires plastic garbage bags, it seems worse to buy higher quality bags to
dispose of, since these store bags are cheap and more degradable than Hefty trash bags. Work
on more degradibility, like they've done with water bottles. Poor people and Public Housing
residents depend on store plastic bags, and eliminating them would cause us significant financial
hardship. Food stamps don't cover garbage bags, and it could come to choosing between my
medicine or a box of trash bags :(
It is not difficult to take them to a grocery store, as most stores have a conveniently placed barrel
to put them in.
any place which has them should take them back- not sure how to monitor the recycling however
Sanipac used to pickup. If they were bundled/bagged by us, then they shouldn't be an issue to
pick up. It takes gas to go to the transfer stations, so I save alot for a trip and have useless clutter
in my home garage and hobby space.
More retail drop off points. Easy to find.
I feel that there are already enough recycling opportunities available but despite this a very small
percentage of the bags are recycled. Let's just reduce their availability and thereby reduce their
chance to pollute.
It takes a little effort, but it is worth the work
THE BAGS ARE ALWAYS PUT TO GOO USE.,
curb side, like the glass
I would be happy to recycle through residential Eugene curbside, if it were available.
I think all retail outlets should have a recycling bin for single use plastic bags. That would save
you from stopping the use of the bags. A new job for a person to visit the retailers and collect
bags and deliver to one place for recycling.
too bad we can't do it with our garbage pick up. Like we do with the glass, Put the bags in a bag
and put it on the curb. I think many people use them for lining garbage cans.
These are totally unnecessary. We should all be using reusable bags or baskets.
Local trash haulers could be encouraged to "take" plastic bags.
Not a recycling option; however, encouraging the use of the "disolving" plastic bag.
I reuse all plastic bags at home if I did not have them then I would buy
Arge plastic bags just to use. The plastic bags from stores are lighter weight than other bags I
would use
Need to completely ban plastic bags.
Sanipac and Lane Apex could start allowing them to be recycled.
Sanipac does not take bags.
separate in bins w/garbage collectors
I would be happy to see them not in use in Eugene.
The recycle bins at grocery stores make it easy.
If we have to have plastic bags at all then A biodegradable bag option.
offer incentives to using our own recyclable or recycled bags
But I think there needs to be more education/awareness that it can be done & where. It is so easy
to just bring them shopping & recycle there, but I'm not sure how many people are aware of it. I
recycle all my clean #d bags that I don't use.
Make business use only biodegradable/compostable plastic bags.
get rid of the plastic bags. Get rid of bags all together, we will adapt and learn to remember a cloth
one.
Attachment D: Text responses from consumer plastic bag ban survey
we need a deposit on the bags
It's difficult enough for me to remember to bring my own bags every time I go to the store, having
to remember the plastic ones from my last trip makes it even harder. If I could add them in with my
recycle bucket each week, I guarantee all of them would be recycled.
waste of city time/resources
I think there are enough recycling options, however I think vendors should be trained to ask "do
you have your own bag?", or even "do you need a bag?", NOT "paper or plastic?" I often have to
say "no bag, please."
There are lots of uses for these bags, I use them for trash bags and putting other recyclables in
them for return to stores.
Many people put them in the commingle, which is not correct, or they end up in the land fill.
just more public education...handouts with utility bill, etc.
we have not enough sourses for recycle this is where we need to focuse not doing away with this
bag is a sorce to keep me from bringing jerms home
I think they should be banned. Consumers need to know about the consequences of using and
improperly disposing of the plastic bags. All retailers should have to ban using plastic. It is awful
for the environment and for our own health.
one idea might be the bag the bag idea that sanipac did once, but NOT place them in commigle
carts, place them with glass since sanipac picks up glass in separate truck by hand..then can just
get a container on their truck for plastic bags.
thay are more cost efvent
Sanipac (and the others) should provide plastic bag recycling for the homeowner, and pick them
up during the normal weekly pickups.
Stores should provide places for unwanted plastic bags.
Containers recycling of plastic bags in grocery and retail stores must be more visible and and
education program around their recycling.
All retail stores should have bins for them that are easily located.
Or ban them
Using them to line your trash can is a good option for those that don't want to recycle them for
other uses.
Paper or plastic or bring your own. I need the plastic bags to hold other things.
They need to be accepted for cubside recycling.
There are many recycling options out there (most, if not all stores and the landfill). People do not
recycle because of laziness and ignorance.
They could be put in the recycling we put out with the garbage.
@ store
More locations to recycle would be helpful, but if we are reducing or eliminating them then it may
not make sense
i would rather recycle the plastic bags rather than get a reusable bag
Donate for sleeping mats for one. They can also be crocheted into purses, or even carryout bags
for groceries, etc. Without them we have no materials to use to help the homeless, etc.
More retail stores should accept them.
I wasn't aware that I could recycle them
This just encourages people to use them more, I think
No. I just think they should be banned.
I use all the plastic bags I get for garbage!
A qualified yes. I don't think that recycling is an alternative to phase-out. But since all phase-out
might not be unilateral (many of these bans exempt restaurants) there might still be a place for
better recycling.
Attachment D: Text responses from consumer plastic bag ban survey
Should not be used at all. I would ban all but those used for meat and fresh vegetable products.
I think we need to get rid of single-use plastic carryout bags for good and forever, before our only
home, this spaceship Earth, chokes to death.
I don't know where one can recycle plastic bags...
Just ban them, people will learn to take their own bags to the store. My daughter found this out
during her study abroad in Ireland.
I would prefer they just not be an option so we wouldn't have them to recycle.
I think they should be recylced, clean and stuffed in one another, with regular recycling, or maybe
by the newspaper drop off places.
Plastic bags should never be produced at all. If someone "needs" plastic there are still options
availabe, such as trash bags.
Paper is much easier to recycle and will break down fast if it ends up in the landfill.
Lots of options available. Perhaps we need more public info/encouragement to recycle bags.
There are already plenty of opportunities for everyone that cares to take advantage of them.
I shop in Eugene but reside in Cottage Grove and there is no convenient place to recycle here.
bags can be recycled in the store they come from. I think they ought to be banned.
While options exist they are not widely known or publicized. Most people either throw them in their
curbside recycling not knowing, or throw them away thinking they cannot be recycled.
I'd like to be able to recycle them along with my household co-mingled recycling, but if the City
were to shift to ban plastic carryout bags- I would be happy with the current recycling options.
I think we have enough options
When there is no convenient way to recycle them, it is not worth the time to attempt to recycle. If
every recycleable item has to be stored and picked up separately, it becomes a logistical mess.
There are so many ways to reuse plastic bags, so many products that can be made from them.
Eugene should be one of the leaders in this industry, creating products from discarded plastic
bags.
It's hard to know where to recycle these bags.
If you ban I will not shop in Eugene again!! Your will loose Local Business from my entire family &
neighbors! Keep that in mind!!
I think more local recycling options for plastic bags, cardboard boxes and cans and bottles is
urgently needed. I'm not sure why Eugene doesn't have at least one central recycling location for
public use.
Every store that supplies plastic bags should be required to have a prominent recycling station for
them.
Perhaps at every store?
In store recycling options are most visible, but when I forget to bring my reusables for shopping,
how on earth am I supposed to remember to bring all the other plastic ones back to recycle?
If plastic carryout bags were recyclable at the curbside, it would be much more convenient.
I think there are plenty of options for recycling for those who aren't too lazy to do it.
Curbside pickup would be ideal though that was tried. I just use them as trash can liners and then
throw them out. I don't recalll seeing plastic bag recycling at the smaller supermarkets which I
more typically frequent. The chains seem to have them though.
More education is needed on the use and recycle options available for plastic carryout bags. I do
not call them single use, simply because my household uses them for small trash can liners until
they wear out. We also use them for lunch bags until they have holes. Then the unusable ones
are recycled at the store. Saves us from buying other plastic bags and throwing them away.
Individual stores should take back and reuse their own bags.
Attachment D: Text responses from consumer plastic bag ban survey
It would be handy to have recycling bins in more places (say, all grocery stores. Bus stops?)
ban them, then we won't need to recycle them.
taking back to a store is sufficient
people are lazy & stupid, need to make recycling as easy as possible
Would be great if SaniPac took them
most grocery stores have plastic bag recycling containers, but why not identify places that do not
and deliver a container to them, and do a promotion....especially around the university....why not
have a container in the EPL and Knight's Library?
It would be nice if Sanipac had an option for recycling these. I think more people would.
I can return them to the store
every store I go to has a recycle place for them
Question 8: Do you live in the City of Eugene?
Roseburg, Oregon
I recently moved to Vancouver
Way over in Springfield......
outside city limits in county, work/shop in Eugene
Springfield
Veneta
south eugene
Springfield
Elmira
McBeth Rd is outside the city limits
about 1 mile outside the city limits
Outside Eugene city limits but still Eugene
Springfield
Alvadore
Springfield
cheshire
lane county, but in metro area
Yes - but it is considered lane county as it is not annexed
Santa Clara
Springfield and work in Eugene
Harrisburg
Springfield
Coburg
Harrisburg
I shop here and own a business in Eugene
Veneta, but work and shop in Eugene
Just outside the City Limits
unincorporated Eugene
Springfield
In Urban Growth Boundary just outside city limits of Eugene.
Portland, Ore. Use to live and work in Eugene as of two months ago.
Just outside the limits off Horn Lane off River Road
vud
Springfield
just a 1/2 mile out side of the line
I live in Elmira but work and shop extensively in Eugene
Attachment D: Text responses from consumer plastic bag ban survey
Springfield, the realistic city.
County - River Road area
river road, unannexed.
Lane County
Harrisburg, OR
Veneta
consider it Eugene - but I live near Crow on Central Road
Springfield
near the university
Junction City...own a business in Eugene
Springfield
29755 Lusk Road Lane County
I live on River Road just beyond the city boundary
Cottage Grove OR
eight driveways outside the UGB
Springfield
Glide Oregon
Lane County
Marcia
Roseburg
springfield
Pleasant Hill, OR
Santa Clara
Springfield
Cottage Grove, but I shop in Eugene.
I work and shop in Eugene, live in Marcola
veneta
Springfield
And why doesn't "the City" concentrate on the very basic issue of all. Work/income for ALL? Not a
single beggar on the street?
Cottage Grove
Cottage Grove
Springfield
County land in between Eugene and Springfield (just off Centennial, close to I-5).
Leaburg-Vida
We live in Florence,
Santa Clara
Junction City but shop in Eugene BIG TIME!
North of the city limits, but shop in Eugene.
right outside city limits; office is in the city
but not in district. we are on bauer ln off river rd
Oakridge
Junction City
Junction City
slightly outside of Eugene city limits
Cottage Grove
Across freeway in unincorporated Lane County
Santa Clara
Attachment D: Text responses from consumer plastic bag ban survey
Elmira
Dexter
Santa Clara
I have a home in Eugene that I rent out, but live in Corvallis. So I'm in Eugene every other month.
Sure.
Springfield. I shop in Eugene 2-3 times per week
River Road, Lane county
I live outside of Eugene but do all my shopping in Eugene
Springfield
River Road just outside city
McBeth Road
Springfield
Just outside in Santa Clara area, shop in Eugene
I live off Crow road west of eugene, eugene address, but outside city
Just outside city limits, shop in Eug
Junction City
I live in Junction City, but own a home in Eugene.
Cottage Grove
Juction City
Five miles outside the city limits on the West side.
Santa Clara
about 3 miles from Twin Oaks Elementary School off Lorane Highway
elmira, oregon
1/2 mile out of the city limits - Goshen
West of the Eugene City Limits
pocket of Lane County surrounded by city lots
Eugene address, outside city limits
Ten miles west of Eugene.
Santa Clara
Springfield
Springfield
Chicago
Lane County (River Road area)
Coburg,Or.
one mile outside city limits
In the county. Peaceful Valley.
Corvallis (recently). Lived in Eugene 18 years prior
Florence Or
Springfield, OR
Junction City
Veneta
Near Creswell
surrounding burg
Pleasant Hill
Springfield: 100% shopping in Eugene
glenwood
Rural Vida
Springfield, OR
Attachment D: Text responses from consumer plastic bag ban survey
Veneta
Work in Eugene, live in Springfield
Thurston
Florence
Glenwood
South East
Twin Oakes area
I have a Eugene address and another house in Eugene, but both are in the Bethel School District.
I participate in events and support events and groups in Eugene.
I'm homeless, so i move around area from CG to Junction City
One block out of the city - so in the county
Cottage Grove
Eugene for school, I'm from Portland
cottage grove
Blue River, Oregon
Springfield- just over boundry with Eugene
Springfield, but we shop a lot in Eugene
Springfield
Bethel
Springfield, but work and shop in Eugene
Springfield, OR
River Road area
Springfield
Junction City, OR
Half way between Eugene and Creswell on Dillard Road
Lindner Lane, Eugene, River road area of county
Veneta
Monroe
creswell
97405 Goshen/Seavey Loop
Near Alvador, but shop in Eugene.
up river
Santa Clara
Thurston
Junction City
I lived in Eugene the past two years for school. I am in Portland now.
River Road
Santa Clara
Springfield
Southeast rural Eugene about a mile north of Goshen, three miles as the crow flies due east of
LCC
Springfield
I live outside of Eugene city limits near Lorane
Jasper, OR
Dexter
Pleasant Hill
Santa Clara
Veneta. I work in Eugene.
Attachment D: Text responses from consumer plastic bag ban survey
Veneta
Junction City
coos county
North of Harrisburg
Springfield. Shop and work in Eugene.
Newport, Oregon
Alvadore, do all my shopping in Eugene and Junction City.
Florence, but I work in Eugene so shop there
I live in Vancouver, WA.
Marcola
Currently in Hayden, Colorado, but grew up in Eugene, and my parents still live there.
J.C.
Springfield
springfield
Deadwood
junction city
4 mi SW of Eugene. Work & Shop in Eugene
Veneta
Live outside city limits but shop in city.
I am at home in MA for the summer, but live in Eugene for the school year.
Santa Clara
yes
Junction City, near Alvadore
Just outside the city limits.
River Road area
sw in rural area, w/ Eugene address
Coburg
River Rd
In the County with a Eugene address.
Lane County
Springfield
Just west of the city limits
I live in Springfield less than a block from the City limits, but I work in Eugene & do most my
shopping there.
Springfield but do most of my shopping in Eugene
Veneta
Santa Clara
Springfield, work in Eugene
Fern Ridge area
I live in Alaska where we have to work hard to recycle. My mother, whom I visit regularly, live in
Santa Clara and purchases from stores in Eugene
Springfield
Lane County Santa Clara
Gateway area of Springfield (in Lane County)
Horn lane, river road
Santa Clara/River Road area
River Road neighborhood -not incorporated
Bethel/Danebo area
Attachment D: Text responses from consumer plastic bag ban survey
Cottage Grove
just West of the city
Live in Springfield now but shop n Eugene [used to live n Eugene]
Lane County, near Eugene
springfield
Florence
Walterville
1 mile outside of Eugene in the County
Harrisburg
Lane County
Coburg
I shop in Eugene. Therefore, this affects me. I live in Lane County
Springfield
Blachly
Pleasant Hill
Creswell
Springfield, OR
springfield
Santa Clara area
Maui Hawaii
Springfield
coburg
Springfield
Pleasant Hill
used to live in Eugene, now in Asheville, NC
River Road unincorporated
Harrisburg
Just outside the SW city limits
2116 Alder Street
river road area
I lie in Elmira, shop in Eugene until they ban plastic bags.
River Road area. My house is not in Eugene, but at least three of my nearest neighbors houses
are and my shopping is done in Eugene.
Albany, formerly Eugene, still do a lot of shopping there
In the Country (Marcola)
I work in eugene, live in Cottage grove
I work in Eugene, but live in Junction City
Springfield
Veneta
river road
Springfield
Springfield
Springfield
Cottage Grove, OR
Business is in Eugene, live in Springfield
Springfield (Thurston)
4688 Scenic Dr. (Santa Clara area) Eug., OR 97404
Elmira
Attachment D: Text responses from consumer plastic bag ban survey
River Road area
Springfield
Off RoyalAve, past the UGB
I live just South of Eugene. All of my shopping is in Eugene.
Santa Clara. The city boundaries are all around me.
Pleasant Hill, Or.
Springfield
springfield
Ferry Street Bridge
Santa Clara
Oakridge
in the county. my property line is the dividing line between city and county.
Cheshire
Elmira
Fall Creek
Veneta, though i work and mostly shop in Eugene
Santa clara
city of Eugene utilities, but county street in River Road area, south of Beltline
I'm living in Cottage Grove Oregon
Atlanta, ga
Elmira
Just outside Eugene city limits
Veneta
Florence
Springfield, OR
Dexter, Oregon
Reedsport
pleasant hill
Springfield/Thurston area
Within the Eugene UGB, but in Lane County - River Road area.
Cottage Grove
Santa Clara area
I live in Oakridge and I do almost all of my shopping in the Eugene area.
River road
Leaburg, Or
Santa Clara
Santa Clara
Salem, OR
River Road Area
Marcola
Ferry Street Bridge Area
elmira
Junction City, but I shop in Eugene.
Springfield
Creswell
River Road
Springfield
Pleasant Hill
Attachment D: Text responses from consumer plastic bag ban survey
Cottage Grove
River Road urban growth
Lower River Road area
lane county
Florence
I live in Cottage Grove, but do all my grocery and household shopping in Eugene.
Bainbridge Island, WA
Coos Bay
just outside of city limits west of Greenhill Rd
Dexter area
junction city, Lane county
Springfield
Westfir
Springfield
junction city
Junction City, but most of our shopping is in Eugene
Elmira
Springfield
Elmira, OR
I have lived here my whole life, 57 years in South East Eugene
Cottage Grove
Springfield
Springfield
Lane Co. 1/10 th mile from Eugene city limits.
Cottage Grove
Cottage Grove
Lane County! Will not shop in Eugene if you ban bags, I already refuse to gas up here because of
Gas Tax so if you ban bags i wont be spending my money for food here either! !
Santa Clara/Bethel
Springfield
live in Pleasant Hill, but work in Eugene
Springfield
Oakridge
Springfield
Springfield. Shop a lot and work in Eugene.
santa clara, please anex me!
Question 9: Please provide any additional comments here:
Ban plastic bags.
How can we call ourselves a "green city" or pride ourselves on setting out to attract "sustainable
industries" to Eugene, if we can't even agree to eliminate plastic bags as our neighbors to the
north & south have already done??!!
Even though our current lifestyle inclines us to covet plastic bags, we would still vote for banning
them!
Go figure...
I do not support a ban.
I use these bags to line my trash cans and to pick up and dispose of my dog's waste. If I don't
have these bags, I will have to buy other ones.
Attachment D: Text responses from consumer plastic bag ban survey
I reuse these bags, which is just as legitimate as recycling! If I don't have these bags to use for
what I reuse them for, then I will still be putting a bag in the landfill, one that I have to purchase,
but either way the bag is going into the landfill. I am concerned that low income people can't
afford reusable bags. They will end up at the store without a reusable bag, and have to pay for
paper if you ban these bags.
Thank you for the opportunity to express my opinions and concerns.
With all of the educational issues, this is what taxpayers are spending thier money on, this what
we are wasting our time dealing with when we could be spending money on educating our youth?
What moron is thinking about getting rid of these?
I hope they don't discontinue the plastic bags. I reuse them for my cat litter disposal.
I don't think the city council should be telling us or business owners what bags to use in their
business. Will they be telling us and businesses what size soda they can sell next?
While I could recite so many things that "plastic bags are used for, It still comes down to the
question "are we better off with them, or without them" There are good arguments for both
"cases"
Time to get rid of plastic bags!
Even though I frequently use plastic bags, I feel a great shame in doing so, like sinning. Plastic
bags are the devil.
Ban them, let us all be more aware of the effects of their use - we will all get used to using our
reusable bags!!
I hope single-use plastic bags will be banned. They litter, they harm wildlife, they waste
resources.
Reusable bags are cheap. We just need to change our habits.
It will save us time, money, and resources in the long run. Even if you simply charge people for
their grocery bags, it would make a huge difference.
The people who don't drive need the bags to carry larger amount of food home, and save
repeated trips to the store, and carrying a fixed number of reusable bags can restrict the amount
one can buy in one trip. And it can get bulky trying to carry around a lot of canvas bags on foot, or
a bike.
Even if one washes their bags all the time, others may not, so still have the the contamination
issue like the restaurants would have. Also, this additional washing uses more resources ( water
and electricity) .
Many people reuse them for garbage disposal, ( I do ), instead of buying those heavy plastic trash
bags, that still end up in the land fill.
Paper bag production cuts down trees, and put a lot of pollution in the air, both at the factory, and
the trucking weight.
The is all ready recycling available for the plastic bags, so this should be focused, and improved
on, rather than bans.
People need leadership to change habits like using plastic bags.
Many of us have been moving in this direction for decades now. It's time to insist we figure out
how to get our groceries home without adding to the landfill.
Thank you for seriously considering a ban on plastic bags. Banning such bags is the responsible
thing to do, not only for our landfills but for the energy and resources it takes to manufacture and
transport them in the first place. People are resourceful; we can all come up with ways to live and
function without plastic bags! (I will be burying chinchilla bedding rather than stuffing it into plastic
bags as the bedding is biodegradable and non-toxic.)
Attachment D: Text responses from consumer plastic bag ban survey
I would be for a ban on plastic bags, but only if there is NOT a mandatory fee for using paper bags
provided by the retailer. Furthermore, I do not believe this falls within the city council's job
descripton to ban or not ban particular items used by retailers. It's just one more agenda being
pushed by cities pretending to be "green" and telling their citizens they believe what is best for
them - because they don't think we are capable of thinking for ourselves.
I am not in favor of this ban... I am tired of people telling others how to live there lives and what
they can and can't do. This country is becoming more and more communist everyday.
Plastic bags are an unnecessary burden on our environment. Thank you for your sincere
consideration to ban them in our beautiful city!
See #7 above.
I've shopped in Scotland, there, if a customer at the grocery store doesn't bring his/her own bag
they are asked "do you want to purchase one?", I think that's a great idea.
Given the realities of Peak Oil, Climate Change and the economic collapse and human suffering
that will accompany them, it is not an exaggeration to say that we need a complete, bottom-to-top
restructuring of modern civilization and we need it RIGHT NOW. For our "leaders" to be fixating
on whether or not to ban plastic bags, leads be to believe that they are either ignorant, delusional
or socioathic. In either case, they have no business being in positions of leadership and we are
doing a gross disservice to future generations.
What would I use for produce and bulk food items purchases?
use to be paper bags were the "bad" ones.........
Thank you for addressing this issue.
Just have everyone us paper as standard but have plastic available if asked for.
These bags were originally meant to replace paper bags for "environmental" reasons. Tired of
these policies, usually flawed and failed policies, affecting so much of my life. Stop worrying
about the small stuff and take care of concrete problems, literally in some cases on the streets of
Eugene.
Let's join the other leaders in banning these bags. They weren't used a long time ago. They don't
need to be used today...especially today it is critical to cut back on waste and pollution.
Not just grocery, but all stores use the plastic bags. Stores should charge a fee for providing bags.
Please vote to stop using plastic bags. They continually add to polluting the earth.
It is essential that this single use plastic bag ban be implemented for Eugene, and Oregon as a
whole, to acknowledge the harmful impact we are having on our water systems and oceans, and
to begin to put a stop to it. "The Pacific Garbage Patch, located 1,000 miles off the coast has
tripled in size since it was discovered in the 1980s — and it’s expected to double in the next 10
years." (www.environmentaloregon.org) This is a serious environmental impact that we must take
action on right now so that we do not damage the ecosystems of our oceans any further.
Waste of time. Solve some actual problems and quit wasting our public resources.
I live in Junction City and would support a ban of plastic in favor of paper.. Re-usable are ok but
not great nor realistic ans sometimes unsafe.
I reuse my carryout plastic bags, those that are not torn, to line waste baskets, clean up after my
dogs when out in a public area, and to carry my lunch to work. Even though most of these
carryout bags have become very thin, I prefer using them over purchasing thicker plastic liners,
which are more destructive to the environment.
Just ban them!
Enough already. Just ban the silly things and be proud. It's the right thing to do and everyone will
be fine.
At the very least, a 25-50 cent tax on each plastic bag would make people much more likely to
bring their own reusable bags. The tax could go towards recycling facilities.
Attachment D: Text responses from consumer plastic bag ban survey
I use the plastic when I get drippy meats so my reuseable bags don't get blood in them. They
make good poop containers for dog walking adventures. Use them for lunch sack occasionaly
too. I could live without them for sure....I am all for doing away with them.
We double-bag and reuse PAPER grocery checkout bags about 50 times or more, until the
handles come off or they finally fall apart. (They're really quite sturdy.) However, many plastic
bags come into the house (from manufacturers, from food distributors, from the fish market, etc.)
that we have no idea what to do with. Often they claim to be recyclable, but they're obviously not
quite the same material as plastic grocery checkout bags. Must they go into the trash?
The butcher shop bags, same as grocery checkout bags, are currently recyclable. Would there
be fewer recycling sites if a ban goes into effect?
I really don't understand why more people don't use reusable bags.
Think about the financial strain on business owners to completely retool their customer packaging
systems if they rely on plastic bags for carryout
In today's busy world the task of locating and visiting recycle sites must be made easier than it
currently is.
Start with increasing their visibility: advertise recycle stations generally. Examples: put maps of
such services in utility-bill mailers (EWEB) and add posters to city trash collection containers and
municipal service locations, e.g., bus-stop shelters, etc.
Start a children's (school?) contest/program to reward those who can locate all the various
recyclers and accepted materials in the area.
More: City of Eugene could try requiring all mail advertisers to include recycling information/maps
with their advertising packets.
I think a ban on plastic bags is a good idea. Most stores have reusable bags you can purchase
cheaply and perhaps there could even be a way to recycle cloth bags so that if someone forgets
his or her bags, they could "borrow" bags and bring back next time t hey shop at a store.
With our current economic / financial depression dragging us under, what are you doing spending
pressious recources on bogus issues like this? Wouldn't it be better to focus on attracting
employers to this city?
If plastic bags are banned, I hope stores also charge a nominal amount for paper bags.
Let the market determine who wants to use or not use the bags. Although the city council won't
admit it the people that will be hurt by this are the lower economic level as they will be paying
more for paper bags. Remember, the environmentalists forced us to convert from paper bags to
plastic in the past. How many times can they change their mind and have us the consumer
continue to pay for their whims. Let the people decide by their actions.
Please ban single-use plastic bags.
People will get used to bringing their own bags. I think this ban is a great way to reduce waste!
Charging for bags at check-out makes good sense, and cutting back on use of anything not
recycled or able to be recycled!
PLEASE create the plastic bag ban here in Eugene.
We could live without the single use plastic bags
No Ban!
I think it is possible for almost everyone to purchase and use cloth bags
I strongly support a ban on single-use plastic bags in Eugene.
Attachment D: Text responses from consumer plastic bag ban survey
Some might see eliminating single-use bags as a sacrifice, but it is a small one, and some
individual sacrifice for the public good is not a bad thing.
Relying on nonessential toxic products that will encumber the environment for hundreds or
thousands of years is the height of irresponsibility. Plastics should only be used when necessary
to achieve a compelling public interest. Single use plastic bags do net satisfy that test.
Plastic bags are a waste and should be banned for protection of the environment
Please get rid of plastic bags...and say no to coal trains, Baxter and toxic air. Is this a progressive
city or are we really having to discuss these topics. Get with the program city of Eugene.
Consumers should be allowed to choose. Maybe the city can promote education instead.
This is another example of the City council concerning itself with unimportant issues. They should
be focused on creating jobs and business growth in the City.
As a sweeping contractor, a vary high percentage of othe waste that we pick up in parking lots is
single use plastic bags (Walmart and Waremart in particular)
We're behind on this one -- should have enacted a ban on single-use plastic bags years ago.
I shop/do business in Eugene frequently so will be impacted by the law and have a strong interest
in this issue.
Single use plastic bags are not a problem. They take up insignificant space in the landfill and
there are new and exciting technology solutions that will lead to conversion of these bags in to
energy or other products. Where do you think the "re-usable" bags will go at the end of their short
life - yes, the landfill. You will create another problem by "solving" this one. Let technology catch
up and you will see significant and exciting solutions to thie perceived but not real problem.
Own commercial property in Eugene
Go to paper bags only and charge $.05 per bag. That will encourage people to bring their own
bag.
I am in favor of the plastic bag ban. If forced to and presented with reasonable options, I and other
consumers will adapt. Eugene needs to be a worldwide leader in green behavior.
it was the damn environmentalists that insisted that we quit using paper bags which killed
hundreds of oregon jobs and now they want to take away another choice of ours. Just like
Hussein Obama wants, DICTATORSHIP
This is a stupid issue....the bags are cheap and clean.
I think that the plastic bags should be banned. Even though I use them, it is only because it is
convenient. I will start taking my own shopping bags to the store from now on.
I hate plastic bags, I always get a paper bag when available. My wife uses reusable bags for
grocery shopping twice a month.
Thanks for the survey
Plastic bags should not be banned.
I am in favor of the ban.
The focus should be on recycling and not a ban. some products, chinese/asian take out food for
example, is best transported in a plastic bag. Also, certain chemicals and automotive products.
this will increase costs and reduce the practical benefits plastic bags bring to the consumer and
vendor.
Please provide more clarity to distinguish between the carry out bags and those that are used to
hold individual items, such as vegetables or bulk foods. What will the ordinance address?
Paper or cloth. No plastic.
I hope we ban plastic bags
If banned, I will have to buy plastic bag liners for waste baskets.
Attachment D: Text responses from consumer plastic bag ban survey
I do most of my shopping in Eugene. Please do not punish decent people because of a few.
Everything is made of plastic today. I've never seen any plastic bags in the rivers or beach areas
but I've seen other plastic articles: baby diapers, cups, bottles, cans, toys, etc. It's a plastic society
today. And there is always going to be "slobs" out there that will ruin it for others who try to do
what is right. If they must, go back to paper bags, but do NOT charge a nickel, that's called greed.
That's what's wrong with the country today. One other thing, think of the companies making these
bags? More people out of work. Is that what you want? Shame, shame.
Thanks for doing this survey. I hope Eugene can get rid of these bags.
I think Eugene should ban plastic bags. I can use my 10 reusable bags or pay for a paper bag.
Plastic bags are a huge problem for our society and environment.
I appreciate the consideration by the City and trust
that 7 generations hence is part of the discussion.
It's time for Eugene to take the lead with Corvallis and Portland to ban single use bags and
provide education and incentive to use re-usable bags.
Cities around the world have already made single-use plastic bags obsolete. This is a wonderful
opportunity for Eugene to demonstrate that it can strive with these sophisticated, well-run cities.
I prefer the durability and convenience of plastic bags and try to reuse them. If I knew whereto
recycle them, I would.
thank you so much for saving our world-- we need to think of the long term concequences rather
then short term convienience.
I find dozens of ways to re-use any plastic/paper bags, but would certainly be in favor of a ban of
single use plastic bags... It would just mean being more intentional about using fabric bags.
Using a non-renewable resource (oil) for a single-use purpose is terribly wasteful and senseless.
Eliminating single-use plastic bags will encourage more sustainable and less wasteful choices, as
well as contribute to a cleaner environment and make us less dependent on oil. The Eugene City
Council should be applauded for taking this step.
I would not always have reusable bags with me, and so would then need to purchase paper bags.
Are paper bags better for the environment?
I believe such a ban would disproportionately effect low income folks who may not have reusable
bags, and will otherwise have to pay for paper bags.
I support a plastic bag free Eugene.
We don't need to wait for a state law to inspire us to change our ways (and take the lead). I have
been trying to shift away from plastic bags for about a year, but when I forget to bring my bags
into the store (it seems like there's always a big line behind me at the checkout when this
happens) it's all too easy with a big load of groceries to settle for a plastic bag (and avoid the
awkwardness of having to go to my car and possibly hold up the line). The checkers don't think
twice about supplying plastic bags, but even trying, I have a pretty low rate of reuse for these
bags. A much higher number goes into the trash after they build up in a drawer for about a year
or so. I guess I could donate them to the public library however (just remembered seeing some
there) to help people carry their books at the checkout. That would add at least one more "life" to
their relatively limited, wasteful use. Please help us transition away from this particular use for
our non-renewable petrolium (sp?).
Plastic takes so long to break down,,, even if the store is using the thinner bags, the checker will
use 2 or 3 to make up for it... stupid..... paper breaks down faster when in the dump.... paper is
better in the end..........
As NextStep sez ReUse is the New Recycle!"
Wish curbside recycling was easier. More plastic products, including bags
Attachment D: Text responses from consumer plastic bag ban survey
I know that we pride ourselves on doing the right thing here in Eugene, but there are far bigger
issues that we should be devoting our precious time and attention to. And, while I often prefer
paper for a number of items I shop for, there are times when a plastic bag is more sanitary, more
secure, and has found it's way into additional reusage venues than the students from the UofO
that brought this measure to council realize. While it is true that students are at a point in their
lives where they typically throw most things away, most of us that have set up permanent
residence within our community, have found meaningful usages for any number of potential waste
streams including plastic bags. In terms of volume of waste generated that could potentially be
diverted, one would need to look no further than the dumpsters surrounding the UofO for really
meaningful cubic feet of waste materials.
I
I think getting rid of single use plastic bags is a great idea!
I am in favor of a one-time plastic bag use ban in Eugene.
I suspect what's needed is decomposable plastic bags. That technology exists and could be
applied to any dry use plastic bag not just grocery.
I have been in many places with bag bans including the state of South Australia and it works. With
a low cost option for bagging if you forget your bag, there is little issue.
I would rather pay a fee than not have the option of using the bags. I do prefer paper bags so if
they were available rather than the plastic I would also be OK with that.
I use the disposable plastic bags in many different ways. Dirty nylons, clean nylons, small items
when traveling etc. I have many uses for the bags and would hate to see them banned.
Please do not ban the use of plastic bags. I reuse them for multiple purposes and prefer to use
them for raw meat purchased at the store (reusable bags can get bacteria build-up etc).
Given limited resources, I don't beleive this is something the City of Eugene shound spend limited
public resources pursuing.
I support the proposed ban on single use plastic bags.
Banning single use plastic bags is a good idea.
Do shop at Valley River and Oakway Malls
Once again my freedom is being trounced on by this city in taking away my choice!! Don't need
any more laws. If thats all you do is think up laws and taxes you are over paid and should be
removed or rethink your position.
Our anthropocentrism drives us to continue to produce the most vile trash ever imposed upon this
and future generations of living beings on this planet. Time capsule? Who needs one? The
legacy of this generation will live on for thousands of years in the trash, much of it non-
biodegradable, that we leave behind. Why is it even a question, except for pressure from the
odious plastics industry, whether we should continue to produce products made from oil?
Should vote to ban them or at least put a heavy deposit on them so people will bring them back.
ID LOVE TO SEE THEM BANNED.
If a fee is charged for the bags, some portion of the fee should be dedicated to environmental
purposes.
Please put a ban on single-use plastic bags in as many different kinds of stores as possible, and
somehow encourage replacement of plastic bagging, and wrapping of products, with cellophane
where practicable. Cellophane deteriorates; plastic has a huge half-life, and most of it ends up in
swelling landfills, or in the oceans where it really never dies, just breaks into smaller and smaller
pieces,-- to continue to do untold damage to many many other species.
Thank you for taking the initiative and opening discussion on this ignorant use of technology.
I think we need to prevent as many bags as possible from being thrown away. A ban on single-
use carry-out bags sounds like a very good idea. I almost never get these bags and I also don't
use plastic produce bags.
Attachment D: Text responses from consumer plastic bag ban survey
I like paper bags for reusing, and when I forget my own bag I request paper.
I think initially a ban on plastic bags would be surprising to some people but they will get used to
it. Please do it. It is an easy fix to a huge environmental problem.
Banning the plastic bags may be a challenge for some consumers/retailers at first, but it's really
the responsible/right thing to do for our collective future. Please have courage.
There's no excuse for people not to use cloth bags. Start charging extra for plastic and see if this
helps.
I believe that single use bags are a key source of litter and a waste of precious petroleum to make
them.
We strongly oppose banning these bags. We reuse them a lot. It is better to have more options
for people - if you are so concerned about these bags, provide more places to recycle them and
also provide more education to the public that they are recyclable.
I don't think the government needs to tell all of us what to carry our groceries home in. How much
room could these possibly take up in the landfill? They are very thin! If I don't have these to use,
then I will need to buy thicker bags for what I am reusing these for and these will still go into the
landfill.
I don't think city government should dictate what kind of bags retailers can use. Instead of
banning plastic bags, incentivize recycling. I think Oregonians, and Eugene community
remembers have proven that they are interested in reuse and recycling. Such a ban may be
useful in other cities, but I think Eugene residents have proven that they are very efficient in this
regard.
If you ban the single use bags, That means more paper bags and more consumer garbage bags
purchased and perhaps reusable bags. All of them have a more detrimental effect on the
environment than the plastic 'single use' bags. In my view it is a stupid move. Typical of
government. Provide recycling options not bans.
I hope the counsel bans the use of plastic bags. We all need to be more responsible when using
resources unwisely. I do not agree that we need these bags for people to use when picking up
after their pets-they should buy their own bags.
thanks for "listening".
I will be forced to buy single use bags if they are banned, because I definately put them to good
use. Never litter, so I don't know how my bags could end up in the ocean.
We don't have a dog, but I wonder what people with dogs will use to pick up after them. Does
someone make bio-degradeable doggy poop bags? And can this be advertised more widely
and/or provided by the city?
Given the extensively studied and documented environmental damage done by plastic trash, why
is banning these bags even an issue?
Thank you for caring about recycling because I am very concerned about increasing population
and plastic decimation of our planet.
Plastic bags are wonderful. All you need to do is educate people about the reuse and recycling of
them and provide places at all places they are used to recycle them. Why in the world would you
want to outlaw something so cheap, convenient and easy to use. I reuse mine over and over. It
has been proven that the heavier cloth bags can harbor germs and you will NEVER get everyone
to use them. Let's use our heads for once Eugene and not bury something that is not dead. Can
we just listen to the people for once. There is a lot to be said for convenience and what is best for
the people!!!
I am 100% supportive of reducing and even eliminating the the use of single-use plastic bags. I
also feel that stores should charge the customer between 1 cent and a nickel per bag, and that
this money should be applied to developing and supporting an effective recycling system and
education about environmental issues and pollution reduction.
Attachment D: Text responses from consumer plastic bag ban survey
We need deposits on all glass & plastic beverage containers.
Please do this!!!!
I use plastic bags for a lot of different things. Please do not ban them!
I think everyone including me is slow to change old habits.There are certain commodities that
require a bag of some sort i.e. bulk foods and some fruit and veg
This is one more petro-based product that should be finally done with, eliminated. Most people
don't realize all the negatives associated with these bags.
Please see chrisjordan.com to see actual photographs of what the plastics in the environment are
doing to our environment. It will shock you!
Read (c. April 2012) Edward Humes' book: Garbology. It will open up your eyes even if you think
you know about these issues.
Other cities have already gotten on board with this, there is really no excuse why we cannot take
more assertive action to get rid of these plastic bags (although if they ARE easily recyclable, I
think that is a significant help.)
If I didn't get single-use bags at stores, I would switch to used paper bags for trash liners. I
support a ban on single-use bags.
Believe consumer can readily carry more bags than paper.
Dog walkers can more easily keep our parks and walkways clean. People should be encouraged
to act responsibly by preserving choice of plastic or paper.
There should be at minimum a dime per bag charge for retailer provided bags in the city of Eugen.
This is important leadership. I will be proud of Eugene if it "bans the bag."
plastic bags have multiple uses and I believe that most people dispose of them in a proper
manner.
The city should not regulate in this area. This should be a market choice; if I don't want a plastic
bag, I can say no thanks. If I believe a business should not offer plastic bags, I can "vote" by
choosing to shop elsewhere. It's time to draw the line on government intrusion into our lives and
freedom of choice.
Just do it! Ban those bags.
I admit I need to get & use reusable bags; ironically enough I'm a huge recycling & composting
fan & need to practice what I preach!
I want to know what people use as garbage bags, if they only use reusable bags for their
groceries. Do the BUY plastic garbage bags?! I prefer to use paper bags for garbage, as I think
they will degrade faster in the landfill.
There are so many other uses for the plastic bags as well as thier intended use. I like them much
better than the purchased re-useable bags. I dont want to have to carry bags with me everywhere
I go. I dont want to have to pay for bags and I dont want to waste water and soap to wash bags.
On the other hand I don't throw the plastic ones in the trash either for obvious reasons. recycle or
reuse!!! Please don't eliminate plastic bags in Eugene.
Save a tree, use a plastic bag. Save an employee from getting sick from a reusable bag, use a
plastic bag that can be recycled.
Reusable bags carry germs that can sicken store employees. Paper bags will cause more trees to
be cut down. Government should not be able to take away our freedom of the choice to use,
plastic or paper or reusable.
I believe government should scale back its intrusion into so many parts of our lives.
Attachment D: Text responses from consumer plastic bag ban survey
To ban the use of these plastic bags under the guise of "the greater good" is disingenuous at
best, and malicious at worst.
Give people the freedom and allowance to choose what bags they shop with. To do otherwise (no
matter how silly you believe this to sound) just starts us further down the slippery slope of losing
the opportunity to make our own decisions, even if they seem insignificant.
Thank you for reading.
No bag taxes!
If I had to pay a fee for packaging (as in Europe), I would quickly learn to bring my own bag, even
tho I don't use that option much at the moment. It's often hard for me to judge how many bags I
will need. Regardless, I support the ban on free bagging of any sort.
I have used my own cloth bags for over ten years. It's simple! I cringe when I watch how many
plastic bags are used @ the checkouts. This is simply a matter of habbit...and education.
these bags are a convenience we can learn to live without
I am a user of single use plastic bans. But I WANT A BAG BAN. I used to live in London UK and
while I lived there a plastic bag ban was introduced. It only took about 2-3 weeks to remember to
bring reusable bags with me whenever I went out. I lost the habit when I moved here, because
bags are so plentiful. Bring in a ban - people will adapt easily.
I don't shop without my bag because my locomotion is such I cannot get a one use bag home.
I mostly reuse paper bags, I use plastic only when there is something with a risk of leaking. I don't
like seeing plastic litter of any kind, there's way too much of it. But I've also seen shoppers ahead
of me at the checkout with leaky Ice cream containers and packaged meat dripping blood on the
counter. In situations like these it's really important to have additional non-porus wrapping
available. The present self service model encourages over use. I would reccomend that the
plastic bags be kept behind the counter and offered only when actually needed. There is another
issue here. there are stores that insist on automatically putting everything in plastic. Target and
Walmart seem to be the worst offenders and this is one reason I rarely go there. The practice of
cashiers putting merchendise in plastic automatically without offering alternatives should be
banned.
I fully support a plastic bag ban! Thanks!
always keep two or more canvas bags in each vehicle and consider them standard issue for any
shopping trip
Very much favor a ban. People who think we should double down on our recycling efforts aren't
living in the real world; we don't do things for the good of the planet unless we're forced to & it's
going to take govt regulation rather than voluntary efforts.
More public awearness of the polution plastic bags cause might help.
I would love to see EUgene become a city that bans single use plastic bags. Yesterday I watched
a store clerk put a small single object into a plastic bag! We can and should be more aware than
this.
Thanks!
Please ban plastic bags. I have no problem with paying a few cents more to not use them. People
who are lower income should be considered- but they should be able as much as any to bring a
bag. Start and ad campaign reminding people to bring their own bag!
Go for it!
Attachment D: Text responses from consumer plastic bag ban survey
Everyone should be using reusable bags for carryout bags. Veggie bags? I reuse some of these,
especially at the farmers' market, as many are clean.
Keep your hands OFF my freedoms.
I use my bags until full or thay develope holes. . never are they wasted..
Many people who are low income can't afford to keep buying reusable bags. Also when you walk
or take the bus you don't know how many you need. They are bulky to carry around. All reusable
bags are either too small or too big to hold and carry items.
If i do not have bags for my garbage, I will have to use much more water to clean my buckets. And
water is not cheap. Is this desireable? Plastic bags are less expensive than paper ones for stores
to provide free of charge. Please do not force stores to spend more and to raise their prices even
more. (I am a low-income person who is always thinking: how can I lower my expenses and still
survive?) The City should concentrate on getting more fair paying jobs or more income for low
income people. Not how to make the rich richer or how to keep with the "avant guarde"
regardless.
Won't save the planet but might help people change how they think about things.
Please be one of the leaders of the nation and enact the ban on plastic bags.
I always feel guilty when getting a plastic bag. But I always reuse it somehow. Maybe customers
should be charged a nickel for using plastic, the reverse of what stores do for using reusable
bags.
I think plastic bags for retail use should be eliminated. Regardless of people's good intentions,
very few will be recycled. Many will either end up in the landfill, show up as litter, or at worst,
injure wildlife.
i don't know what to use instead of plastic for keeping veggies especially greens fresh - i'd gladly
use something else!
Nantucket, MA has had a long-time ban on the use of plastic carryout bags, and it works great for
them. I'm sure there are other communities that have similar models. Please help this ban in
Eugene become a reality!
Would love to see a ban!
We need to change our habits and using one time plastic bags is just a habit. People can learn to
use reusable bags.
People will moan and groan but they will learn to adapt when they don't have a choice. When I
visited Europe in the 90's, they didn't use plastic bags at the stores because it was too expensive.
They thought we were crazy, wasteful, and rich to use plastic bags all the time. It'll catch on!
There needs to be a fee to make it fair so all grocers have a level playing field. I keep hearing tht
the poor can't afford reusable bags. maybe if you are elligible for food stamps you can get a bag
at reduced cost. Most are around a dollar and they are handed out for free at all kinds of events.
I take my own bags 99.9% of the time and use few that I get for dog poop. Yet I think the bag ban
is stupid. One--city council has more pressing issues to focus on and two--focus on offering
incentives like Market of Choice does like 5 cents off for each bag you bring. I'm okay with
charging for bags but a ban is just dumb!!!!!!!!
It would be MOST convenient if plastic bags could be picked up with the recycling. But, having
clearly marked recycling stations near the entrance of stores would also be a great want to remind
people to recycle, and to make it easy to do so.
We live in Florence, but do a substantial amount
of our shopping in Eugene and Springfiend.
Let's use bags which biodegrade.
please ban the single use plastic bags
Attachment D: Text responses from consumer plastic bag ban survey
i think that if this passes there should be time to educate people, maybe phase in with an
increasing charge for plasic bags for a while
I think plastic bags should be banned. I see them all over the place and I rarely see a paper bag
blowing in the wind.
Absolutely should ban all plastic bags for the environment and wildlife.
We should ban plastic bags. No need for them when there are many other options and the cost
savings isn't enough to warrant their use.
I do not think sngle use plastic bags have a place in our world. They seemed like a keen idea but
now that we know the true cost it is time to move on. I lived in England in 1989 one of my
coworkers gave me one of her reusable bags. I still have it and I still use it.
Using my own bags is easy. It's unfortunate that we need laws to get people to do what's right for
the environment. But, that's where we are.
Have been environmentally conscious for years..getting better & better at remembering to get my
bags back into the vehicle for use in stores.
I do save my plastic bags for cat litter disposal, but I never just throw them in the trash without
reusing them. I would like to see plastic bags banned in Eugene, and I am very concerned about
wildlife endangerment. I pick them up whenever I see them on the street, and don't understand
why people aren't more careful about them.
I'm for banning plastic bags as I see what they do to the environment. We will learn to live without
them.
I am hoping plastic bags will be banned in Eugene.
I fully support a ban on disposable plastic grocery bags.
I think good reusable bags are made from hemp.
No logical or logistic reason seen for the dissemination of retail.provided plastic bags.
In addition to being detrimental to fish and wildlife, they present a major litter problem. They are
easily carried by wind and are caught in fences and vegetation, very unsightly. We refer to them
as "Texas Tumbleweed" due to Texas having more plastic bag litter than most states. It seems
dumb and wasteful when a customer can carry a few items by hand to the check out counter but
uses a plastic bag to carry them out.
I support the ban on plastic bags.
We need more education about the relative environmental and economic costs of paper, plastic
and reusable bags, where economic costs take into account environmental impacts of each
solution.
there is no excuse not to use reuseable bag
paper bags should be a no brainer...they compost well,they come from a renewable resource,etc.
this matter doesn't have to be overprocessed...just do it.
I think will require a law to actually get me to flly implement this
behavior changes.
I think Eugene should "ban the bag".
I would love to see more recycling stations city wide. While I hate the idea of plastic bags floating
out and about they do serve a purpose and have a carbon footprint smaller than normal plastic
garbage bags. I would rather see our efforts go to the reduction of bottled water and the
conversion of smarter packaging at stores which would have a greater impact on our quantity of
garbage in our landfil.
Attachment D: Text responses from consumer plastic bag ban survey
Banning the use of single-use carryout plastic bags will cause a slew of problems. Many people
will forget or underestimate the amount of bags they will need, resulting in an awkward situation at
the cash register and the inability of the establishment to help their customer. It is easy to overfill
reusable bags which makes them heavier, whereas with the single-use bags, it would be easier
for someone to carry less weight. Finally, I use the single-use bags as trash bags in my house, so
I am putting them to a secondary use and I know many people who do this as well.
Please ban plastic bags, I want this planet to last long enough for my kids to enjoy it.
It would be great if plastic bags were not used in the City limits. They are a big source of trash.
I think they should be banned. But if they are not banned, then more plastic bag recycling should
be available in more places than just one or two grocery stores...
No Plastic bags please
BAN PLASTIC BAGS!!
Ever since market of choice banned plastic I have not heard any complaints from customers.
Cloth bags carry many more items and are strong. Plastic bags are a waste and shameful
Banning the use of plastic bags just seems wrong. Government stepping in and telling us what to
do in one more phase of our lives. While I rarely use plastic bags, that option should still be
available. If plastic bags were banned, then there would be a bigger demand for paper bags,
resulting in more deforestation, more CO2 released into the air as trees are cut down. Plastic
bags at least can be created from other plastic material and recycled to be used again.
I think it's fantastic that the City of Eugene is considering this measure. Way to go. There will be
critiques I'm sure, but it's the right thing to do.
Why are you doing this survey when the city council has already made up its mind. Such a waste
of public dollars.
A ban on plastic bags will only increase use of paper. Perhaps a better solution is to levee a bag
tax that goes towards cleanup and additional recycling stations. People that want to avoid the tax
can start bringing in their own reusable bags.
Focus on public safety and roads instead of what we carry our groceries home in.
I don't think the city council should be involved in this at all. If they pass a ban, I will start
shopping in Springfield.
I reuse my single use bags for disposing of dog poop and trash. If these bags are banned, then I
will have to purchase other bags for these items that are probably more expenisve and bigger and
worse for the environment.
Maybe a ban is needed in other cities where its citizens are not so focused on recycling and
reusing for the environment. Where is your proof that this is needed in Eugene and we aren't
already acting responsibly? If you have to do something, figure out how to get the waste haulers
to take these bags along with other recyclables, don't treat us like children and take them away.
A nanny state in Eugene, really? The home of liberal government? Next you will be telling us
what size drink we can buy!
I re-use plastic bags as small garbage bags and for disposing of pet waste in the yard.
The city council should not be dictating what businesses do in this regard.
One thing is I think there are far more important issues in front of the city council, like violent
inmates being let out of jail. Second, I don't believe in goverment involvement in everything, I am
for limited government. And last, if the council felt something did need to be done, why not
incentivize recycling instead of banning? Not everyone will be able to afford reusable bags, or
remember them. We also have visitors to our city. Businesses should be focused on keeping
expenses down and holding onto jobs, not having to deal with the consequences of a ban that
could cost them more money and our community more jobs.
Attachment D: Text responses from consumer plastic bag ban survey
I am required to bag my trash in plastic bags. I use plastic grocery bags for trash bags. If the City
eliminates plastic grocery bags I will just be required to purchase plastic bags for trash, which will
only add to my cost while not doing anything to eliminate plastic trash bags in the land fill.
I think more municipal funding needs to be directed towards the efforts of the Waste Prevention
and Green Building Program.
I also support a fee for paper bags to help compensate the retailers which can be in money form
or a chit to use for a local worthy organization like Capella used to do.
Ban single use plastic bags, there is NO use of them. I will support retailers who do away with
these bags!
The new woven canvas bags made out of plastic (recycled plastic?) do last longer but are they
good for the environment? I do not know. I try to avoid them.
Thanks for asking.
Go for it! Ban plastic bags.
I reused most all plastic bags for something else.
I like how Market of Choice gives you a 5cent credit for you own bag.
Ban plastic bags! Grocery stores should make reusable bags more prominent (such as at Market
of Choice).
Single-use items made from nearly indestructible materials should be illegal.
I feel strongly that ALL single use bags should be banned! Do NOT exempt Bi-Mart and any other
retailers, as was done in Portland for whatever reason. Their bags end up blowing around the
streets and eventually end up in the ocean, too.
Its about time our city is thinking of taking a great step like this. Lets add a styrofoam ban as well.
Please, please... set the pace for other cities and ban the use of plastic bags!
plastic is confusing when knowing what you can recycle.
please get rid of them! We don't want them! Thank you!
I would like to see plastic bags banned everywhere.
Single use plastic and paper bags need to be banned without exception. Charge for reuseables
at the checkout stand. Then people will treat them as such.
We use the single use bags for garbage and for picking up dog droppings. We re-use them all.
Although we do not get many as we usually use our own bags
I tend to use paper bags from the store the most, but I do have a set of reusables I use. I think I'm
just lazy and accustomed to what the stores offer. The more the stores remind me to bring my
own bag (like some have signs in the parking lot) -- the better. Also, discounts for using your own
bags, etc., are also helpful.
In many cases, a paper bag does the equivalent job without using plastic . . . let's save our plastic
resources for the things that really matter: medical usage, etc.
would be more than willing to pay 5cent charge per bag to use paper and do away with plastic all
together.
plastic is a material that should NEVER have been used for ANY short-useable life products, and
the flexible plastics are an abomination on the planet due to added chemicals such as pthalates
that make them flexible
I've lived in Eugene since 1955. I am proud of my city's forward thinking policies and progressive
attitude in many areas, and I think banning one use plastic bags is a great idea. One thing our
city is doing that is kind of shameful is the often excessive harassment of our homeless by the
police department. Yes, I know that's off topic, but I just had to throw it in!
Despite the fact that I reuse the bags on the occasions that I need to take them, I would prefer to
have them banned. There's no excuse for not using them.
Attachment D: Text responses from consumer plastic bag ban survey
I support a ban on single use plastic bags
I want Eugene to be among the most progressive cities in the world in terms of environmental
issues. ie Clean air, No coal trains, Post-carbon.
These bags are accumulating everywhere, and never break down! No product that cannot be
recyled or cannot naturally break down should be sold or used!
They are not a necessity, but they have a huge cost to the environment and ocean life. Get them
out of here! :)
I suuport a ban on single use plastic bags.
To encourage non-recyclers to reuse bags of any kind, always provide a price reduction, as
though they are using a coupon. Some stores do this, but maybe only if their own bag is being
used.
Plastic bags are so convenient, have a mutlitude of uses, and can be used over and over.
Inexpensive, light weight, A boon for seniors to be able to carry their own groceries. Paper bags
harder to handle. I appreciate the many uses of plastic bags, Over my hair, or on my feet or in
the garbage can. Use them to deliver gifts to shut in's too.
PLEASE BAN THE BAG! We do not need to be contributing to more plastic consumption when
there are so many other great options. Thank you City of Eugene, for your careful consideration
of this issue.
People should have the right to use a plastic bag if they want to use a plastic bag. By now
everyone knows the impact of plastic bags and importance of reusing/recycling them. We do not
need the government telling us which type of bag to use, nor how to use them. It’s a simple
matter of freedom. Let's focus our attention on real problems and enough with the constant "must
be green" mentality. Let the individuals make the choice they think is right. It’s absurd for anyone
to think we need the government to hold our hand and guide us through our bag decision. I'm
starting to wonder if one of the ultimate goals of this city is to drive businesses away.
I support a ban on the use of single-use plastic bags at all retail stores
I think the city needs to focus it's time and resources on things more useful than this waste of
time. The city and county are going to ruin,and you morons are worried about plastic bags?
I would love to see an end of plastic bags. Please move this forward or charge money for each
bag.
Please please please, for our planet's sake, get rid of plastic bags. It's not a big deal, it's going to
happen sooner or later, and it makes a HUGE difference! I and the rest of the world (and future
world) implore you
We have cloth bags that we have been using regularly for over twenty years. When we started,
we almost never saw anyone else using cloth bags. .
Most of my shopping is done in Eugene. I use some of the plastic bags to line garbage cans at
home.
I do not think it is fair to ban plastic bags for some retailers and not all. If it is bad for the
environment for The dollar store to have plastic only then it is bad for the environment for the little
mom and pop stores
I would be 100% for a ban on plastic bags in Eugene
I think banning new plastic carry out bags is a step in the right direction
What about the clear plastic BOTTLES?
I reuse plastic bags as trash can liners and for pet waste. If I didn't, I would be using store-bought
trash bags. One of the big complaints expressed about plastic bags seems to be that they are a
litter problem. If we want to reduce the amount of trash blowing around and causing wildlife
hazards, legislate against littering.
It is very important that Eugene pass an ordinance to control the use of disposable plastic bags.
This will encourage a state wide ban, I hope.
Attachment D: Text responses from consumer plastic bag ban survey
Getting rid of the bags is definitely the answer. I think if retailers insist on keeping them then they
should change to biodegradable bags and then charge the customer for the increased cost. If the
bags were just taken away then customers would quickly get used to bringing in their own bags or
paying the $1 to buy one of the store’s bags. It’s an easy switch once you’re used to it and you
don’t even think about it anymore.
Even though I occasionally use plastic bags when shopping, I'm totally on board with banning or
taxing them. I think keeping $ the incentive to re-use is important.
I do not think that this should be a city function. This type of action is what destroys confidence in
the city council. If you need money, get off this type of action.
I reuse bags to make it easy to take out my garbage, making smaller drops in my garbage can,
and to put things in my refrigerator for storage. I don't have to buy zip loc bags as much.
Push it through. It needs doing.
SEE ALL MY ABOVE COMMENTS- I THINK A BAN WOULD PUT A HARDSHIP ON FOLKS
WHO RIDE THE BUSES IN WINTER, ECONOMICALLY THEY WOULD HAVE TO BUY
PLASTIC BAGS, STANDING IN THE RAIN WAITING FOR A BUS, W/A FABRIC BAG DOES
NOT WORK! I DONT UNDERSTAND
WHAT THE ISSUE IS--EXCEPT THAT MERCHANTS DONT WANT TO PROVIDE THEM.
We reuse our plastic bags for trash bags in small containers in our house and when cleaning cat
boxes. We throw zero bags away yet would have to start buying plastic bags if this ban was put in
place. Additionally, a lot of low income folks use plastic bags instead of buying tash bags and you
can not buy reuseable bags on your food stamps which will make an additional expense for
people living on a fixed income.
There definitely needs to be a charge for people using plastic bags - even a nickel raises
consciousness. Also baggers do not need to put just 2 or 3 things in a bag when they could put
more.
Many of us use pickup trucks with an uncovered bed and we need to have clean, weatherproof
containers. Any liquid in the bed would penetrate cloth or paper bags.
Plastic is not against the law. The idea of making it illegal in a city to use plastic bags at grocery
stores is an excellent example of people wasting their time and efforts on a useless cause when
there are so many better ones out there to spend their time on.
I use paper bags when I forget my reusable bags.
i reuse every single plastic bag that i get from a store. I use them for wastepaper basket liners, for
small garbage cans, for storage and for picking up dog poop. I also use them when shopping at
the Farmers Markets. By using them in these ways i do not have to purchase other plastic bags
for those purposes.
PLEASE DO NOT BAN the plastic bags, it saves me a great deal of money.
I think the city Officials could find more productive things to do with their time rather than trying to
tell everyone else what to do. For instance provide jail space for the the crazies you are
releasing. Use the money you spend on building park after park, (we already have plenty) to
provide police and fire protection. Wasting money by renaming Beltline, to name a few things.
First things first. If we do not have police and fire protection you won't have to worry about
anything else in this city Just some plain old common sense would suffice.
If plastic bags are still in use, then charge 25 cents or more to discourage their use. The charge
could be used to fund city or county budgets. Paper bags are better than plastic. Instead of
giving a 5-cent credit for using a reusable bag increase it to 10 or more cents.
My employer dispenses the more expensive biodegradeable bags--I would hope a new policy
would allow these to continue to be used--best of both worlds.
Plastic bags are a hygenic way of disposing of dog waste, cat litter and household garbage and
are less environmentally harmful than paper bags which tear too easily, from damp or pressure.
Attachment D: Text responses from consumer plastic bag ban survey
I think taking away the right to choose which bag you would like is ridiculous. I use these bags
multiple times, and it saves me money. I don't buy garbage bags anymore.
The extra cost of handling re-usable bags will necessarily be passed on to the grocery shoppers.
Plastic bags are getting thinner and thinner, if they were thicker like in the past less would be
needed. I reuse all my plastic bags, then use them often for dog clean up or dirty diapers. If
plastic bags are no longer free, I will just have to buy small plastic bags.
Plastic bags are used for many things. They are NOT one time use bags, but are reused many
times and then recycled.
I like the plastic bags. They don't get wet and dissolve and they are clean, don't take up my time
and space. Oh, and I don't have to remember them to go shopping. This is a silly idea.
I can't believe Corvallis beat you to it!
We do not need more rules and regulations and restrictions.
Plastic Bags should no longer be distributed in the city of Eugene.
To help people bring in bags to stores a key chain with a mini bag; loops of bag hold keys!
I think it would be nice if the businesses were required to carry enough options for Paper. I always
ask. Often I get some excuse that they do not have any or they do not know where more are when
it is clear that they offer them. They create workstations to support the use of plastic, but not
paper. I understand the difficulty and why they use excuses. I use the paper to support my house
garbage and not use plastic there as well. (another plastic issue)
I use plastic bags for garbage bags, By using plastic bags in this way I don't have a lot of garbage
in my house and I take out the garbage more often. This bags are very very
useful in all kinds of ways. I even use them for storage for short periods of time. Lunch bags, etc.
I don't have to buy more bags, just reuse as needed. By using store bags, I have bags around
and don't need to buy more and throw away more. We need the store plastic bags as there are
provided
This is an incredible idea. I cannot say how excited I am that it's finally being considered. I've
always felt it a bit paradoxical that any city has done this and Eugene. Hasn't. Also, styrofoam to
go containers ought...well to go as well.
ITs ridiculous and a total waste to use single use bags... I am always shocked over the casual
use of bags in store, especially knowing the absolute waste of resources, the challenge of
recycling them and the pollution caused both by the production and environmental deposition of
plastic bags.
Pass the ban!!!
Fees on single-use bags are a better idea than choosing and banning one particular
material.Once the fee gets to 20 cents pre bag or so then people remember their reusable bags.
I reuse plastic bags often by using them as small garbage can liners and they are great for dirty
diapers and litter box clean up. I take the plastic bags I don't reuse back to the store to recycle. If
plastic bags are banned, I will have to buy more reusable shopping bags, and I will have to buy
small garbage bags to use in my home. This is more inconvenient and expensive for the
consumer. Please do not ban single-use plastic bags because for me, they are not just single-
use. Thank you!
I do not live in eugene but I have for the past 4 years
modern plastic bags are automatically recyclable, made from materials that decompose into corn
products
Attachment D: Text responses from consumer plastic bag ban survey
Please ban free single-use plastic bags! I used to live in Germany, where stores charged 10 cents
a (sturdy, reusable plastic) bag to people who forgot their cloth bags. It's easy to change habits
and remember to bring your reusable bags when you go shopping.
I'd also love to see the city selling sturdy, hip-looking cloth bags to consumers at cost. If you target
students, the rest may follow.
Thanks for listening!
If you want to discourage plastic bag use, just require that retailers charge a minimum fee like
they do in Europe. Folks who really want a bag can pay for it. Start low at five cents the first year,
then ramp up.
I'm in full support of a plastic bag ban. I hope Eugene can lead the state and the country in this
initiative.
I am not in favor of the city council telling businesses and people what to do in this case. Next it
will be what size soda they can sell, we do not need a "Nanny state". Incentivize businesses and
community members, don't issue "bans".
I think city government has more important and bigger things to deal with than telling us what we
can take home our groceries in. I use my grocery store plastic bags to either line my small trash
cans or to place dog doo in. If I can't get these at the grocery store anymore, then I will be forced
to purchase heavier and more expensive trash bags, which I believe are a greater harm to the
environment. I am reusing these bags.
Banning plastic bags will not help the environment. It will just put people out of business. I reuse
many of my plastic bags. They are a wonderful invention! This ban will just increase costs for
businesses and consumers.
I believe that this is a town heavily in need of tourists for the economy and that tourists do not
carry their own bags. This is not a good idea period.
I also reuse all my small plastic fruit/veg/bulk food and spice bags-wash and reuse!
Banning bags is stupid and will inconvenience people. What are people to use for garbage if a
damn ban takes effect? I double the bags both for bringing groceries home and for garbage.
It is a very slight habit adjustment to bring your own bags. Anyone is capable! Support a cleaner,
less wasteful environment and ban the flimsy plastc bags!
100% supportive of passing this ban, for our environment and future generations!
If we are successful in the plastic bag ban, we will be leading other cities in our state and the
nation. Please help Eugene be a leader in sustainability!
I think an incentive, like charging for paper bags, is more appropriate. Outlawing bags to get
people to behave the way you want borders on facsist.
plastic bags are too hard to recycle
We tend to a store's plastic bag once every 2 months. We have bags going back several years.
They tend to be used as trash bags, but as we use something like a the plastic bags inside of
cereal boxes as a bag within this bag, a grocery store bag lasts a couple of months as a trash
bag. This explains why we don't "recycle" plastic bags.
Please vote to ban plastic bags.
im tired of the 9 boobs on the city council telling me whats best for me. i buy my gas in springfield
and if they take away plastic bags then i will do all of my shjopping in springfield. do you ever
wonder why the big businesses all move to springfield???
if you ban plastic bags people will have to use paper or reusable bags. That would be great.
I can't afford to buy plastic bags to line my trashcans with or to use for other purposes.
Attachment D: Text responses from consumer plastic bag ban survey
This is precisely why people despise government. It tries to control every part of our lives -
lightbulbs, showerheads, water level in toilets, etc. etc. Why don't you figure out how to keep
people safe and the streets repaired or something else that's a legitimate governmental function?
That's what you're elected to do.
We also need an alternative to plastic produce bags. To encourage customers to bring their own
bags and containers from home, markets should charge for ALL plastic bags (not just the carry-
out kind with handles), or the city or state should tax each bag (I suggest 10 cents per bag). It
makes me sick to think of the billions of plastic bags thrown away every day, which are
accumulating in landfills and in our oceans.
Thanks for taking the time to hear from residents.
Retail outlets could charge customers for the use of plastic to encourage the use of reusable
bags.
Banning single use plastic carry-out bags is long overdue for Eugene.
Support banning carryout plastic, improving produce plastic recycling (presorting, for instance)
I truly hope the use of plastic is reduced, way too much of it floating and blowing around, and it
takes so long to disintergrate.
I support a local bag ban.
I am in favor of a ban on single use plastic bags. - even though they are useful in carrying wet
garbage and swimsuits. We can adapt, however!
Without plastic bags there will be a lot more dog poop in the parks and along sidewalks. Most
people will not buy commercial bags because of expense. Pitty the kids in the parks.
I think that this is a good idea to go plastic bag-less.
Unfortunately too many people are ignorant and careless in their recycling efforts.
Keeping reusable bags in your car can easily become a habit. Early on, I would leave my
groceries & go back to the car for my bags.
I can live without plastic grocery bags, however other smaller plastic bags are necessary for
produce, meat, and many other specialized uses. I would NOT support a ban that eliminated
paper bags.
reduce reuse recycle --should be started in grade school. People are to lazy. Just look the side of
the road , walking paths, garbage cans.
If a ban of the bags is not possible. Then pressure should placed on sanipac and other recycling
organizations to accept them in curbside pickups.
Except for one negative, plastic bags are better than paper bags. Plastic bags weigh less and
thus require less fuel and road wear to deliver to stores. Additionally, plastic bags require far less
fuel and water to make than paper bags. However, plastic bags are extremely dangerous for
animal life and is causing major problems for land and aquatic animals. That said, it is important
to realize banning plastic bags in the US may do little to help animals. Much is made of the the
hundreds if not thousands of tons of plastic in our our oceans. But before we ban the use of
plastic bags we should first question where that plastic is coming from. There are 300 million US
citizens and 2 billion people in Asia. If the majority of the plastic pollution is coming from Asia then
Eugene and other US cities will accomplish nothing but an increased demand for water and
energy by banning plastic bags and do very little to protect animal life. Before banning plastic
bags Eugene most determine how well it is doing at keeping plastic bags out of the ocean. If
Eugene is doing a good job of recycling plastic bags then Eugene will cause more environmental
damage by banning plastic bags.
Thanks for working towards banning plastic bags in Eugene. This is a good step for the
environment. People who aren't aware of the great pacific garbage patch in the ocean need to be
educated as to why our ways of convenience and discarding needs to end now.
Attachment D: Text responses from consumer plastic bag ban survey
Instead of making it a hassle for everyone and costing consumers more, you need to address the
things that are not easily recycled like plastic lids, foil, Styrofoam, batteries etc. I was appalled
when I moved back to Eugene and saw what is not being recycled by the trash companies.
California has Eugene beat by a mile. I was gone from Eugene for 12 years. Lots of changes
here, none for the better.
The bigger plastic bags e.g., Toys R Us, Penneys, Macys, Target may have less opportunities to
re-use but we like the Duck Store bags for sending to friends.
Please, please ban the plastic carryout bag. I have family in Europe who live in communities
where the plastic carryout bag was banned and the community in all of these places adapted
quickly and easily to the change. The lack of loose plastic bags flying around getting caught in
alleys, public squares, and gutters was a huge bonus. The plastic carryout bag is a lazy and
wasteful item. Ban the darn bags already!
Require conservation in recycling.
We do not support the ban on single-use plastic bags. We use them as garbage can bags. This
would force us to buy the bigger and thicker bags. More waste!
It is not the cities business to say if I can use these bags or not...wasting money on something like
this when schools are closing is a waste of my tax money.
My local grocery store has a reminder written on the pavement to use your own bags. That's a
good idea as most often bags are left in the car.
I don't want to get rid of plastic bags. Thank you!
This survey would have benefited from a review by a professional social scientist as there are a
couple of places where it isn't as clear as it could have been.
I think its a good idea to eliminate plastic (one time use) bags from grocery stores. . . I'll figure out
what to use for the litter box and my waste baskets.
I do not want the city to ban plastic bags. I prefer them to paper because many studies show they
have less environmental impact.
Do it.
I WANT PAPER AND REUSABLE ONLY
I fully agree and support the ban of plastic bags.
I completely support the ban on single-use plastic bags, and I think it will help people think more
about other options.
I was told we couldn't throw a plastic bag in the recycle bin and if it's changed, I don't know about
that yet. If we could, I would do so so.
I believe that if the ban goes into effect that all stores in Eugene should offer paper bags as a
substitute at a cost of five cents per bags. I believe that this small charge will encourage many
who do not currently use reusable bags to do so. However, no one should have to have or use
reusable bags to go shopping in Eugene.
I completely support a bag ban. I spoke with my 18 office mates & 17 supported it, too. I also
think education is important as many people think a plastic bag in co-mingled is okay.
My choice. My right. End the nanny state mentality. Expect massive protests if this issue persists.
Thank you so much for offering this option. I hope that we will BAN the plastic bag!!
These lightweight, strong, reuseable bags are one of the most convenient inventions ever devised
for carrying items such as groceries and other small but bulky items. I usually carry all eight, or so,
grocery bags at the same time from the garage to the house; saving many trips compared to if
they were paper or cloth bags. This is no small advantage in winter and/or when it's raining.
I would gladly pay the extra 5-10 cents to "purchase" a plastic bag when needed.
They are destroying our planet. America has always set the example for the world, let's continue
that trend by banning the use of plastic bags! Just say no to the lobbyists and listen to the earth.
Attachment D: Text responses from consumer plastic bag ban survey
I do all my shopping in Eugene. I would prefer that plastic bags not be available for our use.
Business decisions, such as which bags to use, are best left to the retailer.
I'll support any sustainable project.
In addition to reusing plastic bags, we have been reusing yogurt containers and other plastic
containers for all sorts of things for many, many years--including using them at restaurants for
carrying out leftovers. We routinely carry them in our car for that purpose.
Ban all petrochemical-based plastics, and start supporting the development, distribution, use, and
recycling of plant-based plastics like hemp, flax, etc.
I am strongly in support of a ban on plastic bags, as many stores don't even offer paper anymore.
Why doesn't this survey have a question asking about support of the ban??
I feel there is always a new issue where the government is trying to pressure me into something.
There seems to be more urgent issues to deal with and spend money on. People have became ill
from their reusable bags. Bacteria forms in them. I prefer to use the store plastic bags for many
purposes. Just leave it be, if stores don't want to use plastic bags, they can choose and cause
their customers inconvenience. But keep us tax payers with some choices please!
There would probably be more people in favor if the ban if it didn't include a charge for paper
bags. No one should be penalized, they just should be illiminated.
Not enough people reuse and or recycle plastic bags. Therefore, they should be banned as the
environmental damage far outweighs the inconvenience of their absence from use at stores.Old
habits are hard to break and can be inconvenient for awhile, but we will adapt.
Plastic bags had their time - now that we have experienced their ill-effect its tiime to get rid of
them.
It is so easy these days to get cloth type bags that you can reuse many times.
We don't need a plastic bag ban. What we DO need is less government intrusion into our lives,
and less of the government telling us what we want, don't want, will do, and won't do. I pay my
damn taxes. Let me make my own damn decisions. Stop treating me like a damn child.
there are many uses for free plastic bags. to ban them would require the purchase of expensive
plastic bags that would be more damaging to the environment. if one does not recycle now, they
wont recycle whatever is used in the place of plastic bags. you gain nothing by any ban.
Ban plastic bags in Lane County.
If you ban these bags you must ban all plstic bags ..freezer bags, sandwich bags, garbage bags
etc. They are not re-usable.
Strongly oppose this, and just for the record, EMX expansion as well! I am a native Oregonian.
It would help a lot of all stores would put signs up at all of their entrances REMINDING people to
bring in their reusable bags. I haven't seen a single store with this reminder--yet.
Kroger Co., the nation's largest supermarket chain, had been giving three- to five-cent rebates or
fuel discounts for each reusable bag. But it ended the bonuses this year in some regions.
Customer feedback indicates most want to use reusable bags, company officials say; it's a matter
of making it a habit. So Kroger officials say they're focusing more on promotions and educational
efforts, investing in signs and other visible reminders.
Now, many Kroger parking lots are dotted with signs asking "Are your reusable bags still in the
car?" Messages around stores tout the environmental value of bag reuse. A reusable bag
replaces hundreds of disposable bags, one says; another: "Less Plastic? Fantastic." Kroger also
sent shoppers coupons for reusable bags, holds bag design contests and giveaways, and puts
out containers for recycling plastic bags.
Attachment D: Text responses from consumer plastic bag ban survey
As a former truck driver I have seen the difference in delivery of both new bags and the recycling
of paper vs. plastic. 10:1 truck ratio! That is just the end result, for in the manufacturing and
recycling of plastic vs. paper the cost is way balanced towards plastic as well. So where is the
saving factor of using just paper?
Please do not ban them, but I would support a 5 cent charge to be refunded if brought back.
Personally I would not bring them back i would recycle, but watch the homeless and low income
out gathering bags. I worked for a short term at the landfill as a mechanic, think everone should
have to visit it at least ounce.Thank you.
If I don't get them at the store I will buy them. Have no use for paper bags. Would requrire lots of
laundry for all the reusable bags needed.
I' ve been to LA and even they ha e banned the bags! In some cities- they even charge people a
nickle if they have to get a paper bag.. Good idea for a little incentive to bring your own bags.
Even people who don't care about recycling are motivated... This is not rocket science.
Bags either paper or plastic should cost 25 cents each, but both need to be replaced by people
being forced to bring their own bags - it's not that hard!
I reuse my bags, but I'm one person in thousands. I think they should be banned worldwide.
The fact my tax dollars are going towards a survey reguarding plastic bags is pathetic. We have
much more important things to be fixing that are much more important than this stupic issue.
I think that charging for paper or plastic bags will take care of the issue. People are cheap and
will finally " remember" to being their own bags if they are charged. single use bags are a waste
of resources and we should stop accommodating laziness and charge !
I don't think the government/city council should decide what we can and can not use
I like that you can see through them, then use them over and over. I'll have to buy them if they
are outlawed. I'd dislike that.
City should not ban bags.
Leave plastic bags alone.
We re-use plastic grocery bags as trash bags for compostable waste and food scraps because we
have
no space for composting. Half our monthly trash pickup, by volume, is food scraps. We would love
curbside pickup or neighbood drop off for clean, organic, compostable food scraps.
if I and my neighbors are denied plastic bags from the retailer, we are simply going to have to buy
our own, all the time, and it would cost us more money.but were not going to use paper bags in
rainy weather, that is ridiculous. Also, the cost of paper bags is more than plastic, so forget the
stupid paper bags. If we wanted to use paper bags, I and all my neighbors would be using them
now. If you ban plastic bags, we will all just go out and buy them and use them. And not vote in
any new taxes either. Thank you very much.
They are used for t4rash bags, pooper scoopers, garden produce, wet swim suits, and many
other great uses.
Probably do away with single use plastic bags.
If you ban plastic bags, I will have to BUY plastic bags to use for my trash, therefore they will be
single-use. By re-using the ones I now get from stores, they BECOME multi-use.
I fully support a ban on plastic bags!! All it takes is a few weeks of getting in the habit of bringing
the reusable bags with you to the store and pretty soon it is not a hassle at all.
If plastic bags are used, I think there should be a prohibitive user fee, like 50 cents or something.
There is no reason to not bring my own bag.
Both retailers and consumers will adapt when plastic carryout bags are no longer an option.
I think it is great this survey is being conducted. If nothing more than making people aware of the
problems with these plastic bags in our environment.
BAN PLASTIC BAGS!
Attachment D: Text responses from consumer plastic bag ban survey
I apparently treat plastic grocery bags differently from retail bags, but do use cloth-ish bags for
groceries since four or five years ago. I hope your questions, which seem to me to overlap a lot,
can maker this distinction. Thanks for your efforts.
Paper or plastic is a toss up in my opinion environmentally. Reuseable that gets reused is better
it seems. I have a need for plastic bags but I would survive their disappearance. What about a
charge on both paper and plastic?
I understand the greatest impact of plastic bags is fouling the waterways and oceans. It seems
education is a better expense than policing the population. In light of the fact we have cut funding
for drug rehab, policing, fire, public health and education what gives the city government the right
to spend time and treasure on plastic bags while the population faces hunger, crime and a lack of
child care and educational opportunities.
For my household, I don't feel there would be any net "green" benefit by banning plastic bags so I
oppose banning them. This is because I use grocery plastic bags as pet poop bags. The grocery-
size bags are large enough to pick up several loads per bag, whereas the biodegradable bags
specifically made for pet waste are only big enough for one use at a time. I'm also not convinced
their any better bured in a landfill where they may or may not biodegrade. Plus they're quite
pricey.
I am totally in favor of a ban on plastic bags
Although important to recycle items, legislating such behavior is inappropriate; education is the
more appropriate method to change citizens' behaviors involving their daily living and personal
choices.
The human race lived for a long time without plastic bags. We can get along without them.
Often, I use the retail groceries plastic bags for pet waste and garbage can liners. If there is a ban
I would have to buy plastic bags for pet waste and garbage can liners.
Have you done any studies showing the recycling rate of plastic bags in Lane county? Every time
I am at the Glenwood transfer station I see plenty of people recycling plastic bags. At the grocery
store recycling centers, the bag bins are always full. It just looks like there is plenty of recycling of
both plastic and paper. If plastic is banned, I will use paper, even if I have to pay for them.
I would expect to need to purchase replacement bags for our garbage use.
I either reuse or recycle all the plastic bags I receive. Plastic has one great advantage over paper
or cloth: it keeps moisture from leaking in or out. Without plastic bags to reuse, I would have to
buy plastic bags (for trash can liners, for example). Please do not ban plastic bags.
I am in favor of keeping things as they now are.
Ban them. the sooner the better. Don't waste taxpayer money talking endlessly about it.
People shouldn't be so lazy about recycling. Use reusable bags
People should use their own CLEAN bags - and the store personnel should NOT be required to
put their hands in to fill some of the gross (dirty, moldy, stinky) re-usable bags that are sometimes
presented.... Responsibility customers!!!!!!
I keep reusable bags in my car for grocery shopping, and almost always take them in to the store.
It is easy. The plastic bags I have from before I use as wastebasket liners.
businesses should be required to furnish bio-degradable bags....and charge consumers a nominal
price; however, do not replace plastic bags with paper bags. Trees are important resources for
carbon sequestration; let's keep our forests standing, doing this important job.
I support a ban on Plastic garbage bags
i GET THE GARBAGE PROBLEM, BUT WHAT WILL WE USE FOR LITTER AND GARBAGE
BAGS? bUY MORE PLASTIC? PAPER IS NOT SO GOOD IN OREGON...
If bags are banned we will probably just use more paper bags and try to bring our reusables more
often.
Attachment D: Text responses from consumer plastic bag ban survey
This is a no-brainer issue. The only objection that you will receive is that reusable bags can be
considered unsanitary (their was an example of an e-coli caused sickness in Oregon a couple of
months ago as a result of a reusable bag). It just needs to be made clear that reusable bags need
to be washed, especially if meat is put in them.
I believe that to ban plastic bags is a terrible idea. There are many uses for these bags, and the
city should NOT force this ban upon the public. I know many people who would never answer
this survey but hate this idea.
The retailers should provide the public with bags which are able to be recycled, and that are
clean. Please do not force this on the public! I'm a Democrat, and am vehemently opposed to
this ban.
Ban single use plastic bags. Consumers who oppose don't know how easy it is to convert. There
is no excuse for polluting our enviornment for the sake of convenience. Charging for paper bags
provided by the merchant would be a good step also.
I think plastic bags should be banned
We do almost all of our food/other shopping in Eugene. I have washed only 3-4 reusable
shopping bags once in about 4-5 years...the threat of bacteria laden shopping bags is ridiculous.
While re-useable bags are best, they are often forgotten in the car. And so paper is probably
second best and plastic (single use) the worst.
I fully support a ban on plastic bags!
recycling is so important for everything, not just plastic shopping bags. They are a nusance, lots
of garbage left everywhere. We are a throw away society. Lets take a stand, do our part to keep
this world clean.
get rid of them.
Quit telling me what to do. If you think that banning plastic bags will save the earth you are
delusional and a fool. Quit wasting time and come up with some incentives for job creators in
Eugene. This is just a WASTE OF TIME and MONEY!
I use plastic shopping bags to line waste baskets and garbage can. If they are banned, I would
have to buy plastic bags and end up with the same number of bags in the trash.
The City Council needs to focus on how to fund more jail beds and help prevent crime, not
whether they should dictate to businesses what type of grocery bags they can provide. Try an
incentive program for retailers instead of dictating and telling us all what we can and cannot do. I
don't need a "nanny".
ban plastic bags, everyone can learn to use better bags
If I can't remember to take my plastic bags for recycle, how on earth would I remember another
type of bag? I don't want to be forced to purchase these at the register, and when we accumulate
too many of these reusable bags, or they get dirty or torn and we have to throw them away, that
will create waste as well!
Because I do sometimes forget my reusable bags, it would be inconvenient at times not to have
plastic bags available. However, I support the ban 100%. I shop at Costco, where no bags are
provided, and I manage just fine!
I think the city should be focusing on the budget crisis we have, and how to provide and sustain
critical services, such as police, jails, public safety and roads rather than spending time on such a
trivial issue such as this and dictating what private businesses do. This is not a key issue for the
City of Eugene. My tax dollars hard at work I see.
There is simply no need for plastic bags. For those that repurpose them, such as pet waste there
are alternatives. Consumers must be educated on the impact of plastic bags on the environment
and be educated on alternative resources.
Attachment D: Text responses from consumer plastic bag ban survey
And yet another reason why it is so expensive in Eugene. Adding costs for retailers to force them
to provide other options will result in added expense, which is passed along to consumers in their
food bill, and unhappy customers. I don't want to pay more for groceries, be forced to purchase
reusable bags that get dirty and have to be washed, or not be able to shop when I need to
because I forgot my bags. If you really want to address this issue, you can encourage business
owners (which is not you, city government) to provide incentives for those that bring their own
bags instead of penalizing.
Hopefully, plastic bags will still be offered in grocery stores. They're much more convenient to
use from store to home, but more recycle options would be fitting.
I don't think the city should be getting involved in dictating what type of bag a business can
provide.
If this passes, I will start shopping in Springfield, where the government doesn't think it needs to
be involved in every aspect of your personal life. If these bags need to be kept out of the landfill,
then the waste hauler should be the one involved in limiting or providing additional recycle
options, not the government. What are visitors supposed to do when they come to our city to
shop and they don't have bags?
I don't think we need to create more of a "nanny state" here. Government interference in our
business is already too great. Next city government will be deciding what size soda we can buy
or drink.
Plastic bags are a disaster to the environment and need to be eliminated at all stores. Eugene
needs to show leadership in this area!
Let's get rid of the plastic bags - I use them, but it's my own laziness given how the bags are
handed out so routinely. I wouldn't miss plastic bags, and I would feel good that, despite the slight
inconvenience, my single-use bags wouldn't be becoming permanent hazards for marine and
other life. Using our precious petroleum resources for such single-use products is really a
phenomenal waste of resources anyway.
single use bags end up as litter in creeks and stuck in trees. They are so cheap that they fail too
fast, even before you get the groceries home. I prefer reusable bags and use them whenever I
can
I think we'll all get used to it- after a lot of initial grumbling, if they are banned. I'd be happy to pay
5 cents per paper bag. Thanks for doing this!
-Carole.
In Germany many different stores, organizations etc hand out cloth bags with their logos. Makes
for free advertisement while being kind to the environment.
Good work. We try to always remember our own bags, but we slip sometimes. We're not older
than dirt, but we're close: 75 and 76.
Please ban the use of lightweight plastic bags.
I support the ban as it would force me to behave responsibly by using my cloth bags. Too bad it
takes a law, but I am older and set in my ways.
I'd love to see both cities work together to ban the use of plastic bags. I would not be opposed in
any way to seeing them gone.
I am absolutely supportive of banning the use of these bags.
I like retailers offering the plastic bags. I hope it continues to be an offering here in Eugene.
We have allowed ourselves to become so conveience minded that we are complacent about the
effects on nature from waste of all kinds. We need to respect our "Mother Nature" and not abuse.
High quality reusable bags are a good start.
I use plastic bags to toss my trash but can find other alternatives.
I am in favor of the City proposal banning single-use plastic bans.
Attachment D: Text responses from consumer plastic bag ban survey
We use a combination of fabric reusable bags and reuse heavy paper grocery bags; the later for
as many times as they allow before they tear, after which they're recycled. We're acquiring more
fabric bags as time goes on. We can do without the plastic carry-out bags.
Ban 'em
I think you should try a public awareness campaign before an outright ban which may create
hardships for some.
Shop often at Fred Meyer, Dollar Tree, and sometimes Target
While I believe that small stores should be allowed to use plastic, I encourage paper to be the
best option when reusable bags are not utilized.
I strongly support a ban on the use of plastic bags because of their negative effect on the
environment, particularly on wildlife.
This just doesn't seem like a pressing issue right now. It really feels like a very vocal minority (the
usual suspects) are pushing this. I'm as green and leftie as you get, so I'm not some right-wing
troll.
was in line behind a couple using cloth bags. The bags had rodent droppings in them. Clerk had
to sanitize her area before I could be helped. I didn't want my groceries to touch the checkout
counter. DISGUSTING !!!!!!!!!
I like plastic bags, and reuse them in my home. I would miss them if they are banned.
Get rid of them.
I really dont know why im wasting my time with this survey,,,I use and recycle plastic bags,,,throw
very few away,,,,but the way i see it,,,Portland and Corvallis has already chosen to get rid of
them..and Eugene is a follower,,the city never makes its own decision,,,so with Portland and
Corvallis getting rid of them,,,Eugene will do also....I really hope not,,,but i truly think your choice
has been made
I use the store provided plastic bags for trash disposal. If you get rid of the bags, I will just
purchase plastic bags to use for my trash, so no advantage.
It was voted on with a state vote not to ban plastic bags. It looks like your going to do it anyway,
my vote does not count?
Don't mess with my bags!
it is discouraging to see the plastic grocery bags along the streets, hiways and roadways. it is a
tragedy for the excuse that people cant take reusable bags to the store.
Each of us can take personal responsibility for the environment by not using single-use plastic
bags. Plan ahead. There are lots of other choices.
As long as ban is only on the carry-out bag and does not also include the biodegradable produce
plastic (green) bags, this is a good resolution!
I have used plastic bags only rarely in the last 5 years. Once you redirect your bagging priorities,
plastic bags are unnecessary.
Please discontinue the use of these bags. I do reuse paper bags for all sorts of things. I try not to
get plastic from any source.
This type of plastic bag is a single use shame. Plastic is everywhere throughout the food chain. It
should be reserved for uses where it is is most critically useful. Medical uses, for example, and
some manufacturing, and some others. Purposes readily accomplished without plastic should not
use it. When needed, as full recovery and reuse as possible should be in place. We can't do all
that but we can do our part, which also protects sea turtles, other sea life, and slows down at least
the "laundry line" of plastic bags effect on fences in the wind.
There are some stores like wallmart that don't even offer brown paper bags! Those stores should
be banned!
If we do away with single-use plastic bags people will get used to it and make do with paper or
reusable canvas or other bags. We'll figure it out!
Attachment D: Text responses from consumer plastic bag ban survey
I use plastic grocery (etc.) bags for garbage, doggy poo, carrying fresh stuff to the gym and wet
stuff, home, etc. Ban 'em and I'll have to buy 'em. What gain then unless the law bans the sale of
plastic bags, too? If I spend my limited income there, I can't spend it on more luxurious things.
I can't understand how a Eugene bag goes down the river over a hundred miles and winds up in
the ocean. ??? And unless the coastal towns have a ban, what's the point of Eugene doing it for
our bags winding up in the ocean?
This is a City Council "feel good" thing that will inconvenience me and a lot of other people for
nothing.
I think paper bags would be a reasonable alternative to plastic for groceries and other retail
establishments. I think department & big box stores should make bag recycling easy, i.e., drop off
at store or mall. Many of our plastic bags that get recycled come from those sources.
Let's get rid of plastic bags!
Please add a $0.05 per plastic bag deposit at the time of checkout. Deposit is returned when bag
returned or reused.
Make bags more appealing by demonstrating that their not just for groceries...day trips, sleep
overs, weekend trips, baby crap, etc
Point out one is shaped like a remote control & I bet most men will enjoy carrying it!
I try to keep reusable bags with me and when i forget I sometimes don't use a bag or I use the
paper option.
please support ban on plastics
I do not want the ban on plastic bags.
This is a waste of city dollars. People can decide what they would like to do without the city
forcing these rules.
I will be thrilled to be forced to remember my reusable bags, and to stop dealing with plastic bags.
Good luck. I am so hoping this goes through. I get all the plastic bags I could ever need (and
then some) by finding them blowing in the wind. So wasteful.
I am disabled and not being able to have bags provided by the store would greatly reduce my
quality of life!
Resued shopping bags become gross with juices from packages of raw chicken and other meats.
They leak into the bottom and the bags stink. I know, I've tried. Paper bags are impossible too.
They leak and I can't carry them easily on the bus.
Why not just promote the re-use as trash bags, saving people from buying new one-use bags?
Plastic bags are not single use bags. I don't know of anyone who uses plastic bags just once.
They are always used multiple times for things such as trash bag liners, donation items carriers,
in dog parks, for use in your car, to hold and store things at home and work, etc. Also, no one has
ever gotten sick by carrying groceries home in a plastic bag, plenty have gotten sick by using
"reusable" cloth bags.
if you do away with plastic bags how are people(especially disabled and elderly) going to get their
groceries home that don't have a car or drive? their are a lot of us. this will make it difficult if not
impossible for a lot of people.
Plastic bags for groceries are much easier to carry,as I can put two or three on my arm. Paper
bags get wet in the rain. Cloth bags carry germs.
I think we should go back to paper but that the merchants should make that happen, not a new
law or regulation.
There are many uses for plastic bags. I would miss them if they were no longer in food stores, but
I could always purchase some if needed.
Attachment D: Text responses from consumer plastic bag ban survey
I really appreciate the survey! I am in support of banning single-use plastic bags.
I totally support a ban on plastic bags
How about unintended consequences? Will people have to buy trash can liners? Pet waste
pickup bags? Bags to contain recyclable paper and other items? Banning the bags and imposing
a 5-cent fee for paper feels like just another government gouge at the pocketbook.
I'm allergic to paper bags, so I don't want to be forced to use them. I reuse the plastic bags to line
my small trash cans. If you ban the plastic bags in the stores, you won't be saving plastic bags
from the landfills. People like me will be forced to buy small plastic bags for the small trash cans.
Guess where those bags will end up? If you guessed the landfills, you guessed right. I can't
afford to buy extra trash bags. I can't afford to buy extra allergy medicine, or poison ivy medicine
for the rash that the paper bags cause.
If I'm forced to use paper bags, I will encourage everyone like me to send the bill to the decision
maker's for the small trash bags, allergy medicine, and poison ivy medicine that they will have to
buy on a regular basis.
Start making the plastic bags out of recycled plastic, instead of them being a single use bag.
I have lived in Eugene only a few years, having lived elsewhere in places much less willing to
consider environmental sustainability when making policy decisions. I appreciate that the citizens
and leaders of Eugene look at the long-term when making policy. I hope Eugene joins this
movement to ban single-use plastic bags sooner rather than later.
I hope you ban them!
Out-of-state interests should not be allowed to influence this decision.
I really encourage you to follow other cities in Oregon in banning plastic bags. The health of our
oceans and environments is far more important than convenience for humans.
I am for stopping use of plastic bags but I am not prepared to pay for paper bags when they are
free now.
Fewer plastic bags in our world would be great!
It is not the bag so much as it's the lazy persons. More Ed.about our responsibilty to be smart
about recyling is needed.
Ban plastic bags! They are a complete waste of energy
I use all of the disposable plastic bags I get from stores, including produce bags and shopping
bags, as bags for produce from my garden, garbage bags, and for disposing dog poop. If plastic
shopping bags are banned, I would most likely buy plastic bags to use in place of the bags I get
from stores, and they would still end up in the trash when I'm done. I am open to learning other
ways of storing garden produce and disposing of dog waste so that I wouldn't have to buy plastic
bags and reduce my waste if someone could provide me with practical alternatives. Composting
dog poop on my property is not a practical alternative for me.
Getting rid of single use carry out grocery bags is a no brainer. The cost is money as pollution,
damage equipment and are an eyesore in the environment that affects ecosystems.
I would like the option of using plastic bags when purchasing items that might spill or leak, such
as bleach and meat.
I support reducing the use of plastic bags, but I think we have too many 'bans'
Please ban single use plastic bags!!!! Please please please!!!
Attachment D: Text responses from consumer plastic bag ban survey
I had an extra 10 minutes today to do this survey, but am thinking "why bother?" This city council
does what it wants, ignoring the people. Case in point, W. 11th by-pass. The people voted and
approved the building of it TWICE. The council supported the mayor in it's rejection. Why do the
city council members think they know how to rum MY life and make MY decisions better that I do?
They maybe should contribute to Eugene 4J school district and improve education in proper
use/recycle/disposal of plastic bags.
it's a good idea and I hope we follow the examples of Portland and Corvallis
We can do this! We need to lose the sense of entitlement to waste resources. It's an unhealthy
entitlement.
Like I mentioned above. We use the store plastic bags to line our trash cans at home. If we did
not have these bags we would have to purchase them which cost money. Either way they end up
in the land fill.
Please, please implement this. Let's be a leader in protecting our environment from the totally
unnecessary plastic bag. People WILL adjust to using cloth or other reusable bags! Hopefully this
will also lead to reducing consumption and waste!!
If there is a ban on plastic bags then is the City going to change the ordinance regarding animal
waste when walking or at parks????
Please stop producing plastic bags
I am so excited for this policy to come into effect in the city of Eugene. For a city as forward-
thinking, compassionate, and sustainable as ours, this should be a no brainer!
Please ban single use plastic bags.
Go green Eugene! Ban the bag please :-)
It is like a war to stop the baggers from using 10 bags when 2 might work. If you are not quick
enough to stop them, you are jammed with a gob of the darn things. #1 folks these are a
petroleum product and how much do we listen to the whining about the price of gas? IGNORANT
I fully support the proposed ordinance.
I work full-time at UO, and do business in Eugene,
so the plastic bag issues matters to me, wherever I am.
Ban the bag!
we don't need government intervention in one more area of our lives!!! We are intelligent enough
to make our own choices!!
Attachment D: Text responses from consumer plastic bag ban survey
Eugene is a demand and take city. It is a force-you-into-submission city. The words topmost in the
language base are NO and DON'T and TAX YOU MORE and TAKE IT IF YOU DON'T GIVE IT
TO ME. It does not even rank in the top ten for education excellence. The city needs to stop being
so negative and domineering, stop acting like kings and queens on a thrown, and start being more
positive and more part of the community they live in. Just because someone works in the
governing offices does not make them any less a citizen of this town, and they should not be
acting above the citizenry. They should be more ready to lead than slap down. We don't need any
more rules. We are ruled to suffocation as it is. What is that old saying ~ something about honey,
flies, and vinegar?
The city needs to put away the whip and chain (it hasn't worked anyway) and start leading the
way. Stop pointing at somebody else to do the job. Take the initiative. Stop pointing at the guy
opposite you and start pointing at the person who looks back at you in the mirror. Answer the
question "What's in it for me? and then lay out the honey.
One idea is an announcement: The City of Eugene is hosting a Trade in Day! Shoppers bring your
plastic bags and trade for reusable bags. Get the merchants involved. Merchants generally sell
reusable bags; but for a short time, they might be willing to trade their reusable for plastic and
thereby facilitate the phasing out of plastic bags. Getting people in to trade bags could boost
sales. Several retailers give 5 cents off each when shoppers use their own bags. Perhaps making
that information more public would help.
Another idea is to have a "bag turn in" day (much like a gun turn in or a needle exchange) and
make it a gala affair with lots of attention, local bands for entertainment, and free food. You could
involve the homeless ~ any kind of plastic refuse for food. The mayor and city counselors could
stand at major intersections and collect bags much as the Firefighters collect for muscular
dystrophy. Put a recycle bin next to the garbage bins on the corners and at bus stops. The city
needs to lead by example, and the example you need to start setting is "get off your butt." In this
survey, you are asking for input. You have taken the first step to a solution by coming to the
citizenry for solutions. Thank you.
I would like to see an objective cost/benefit study conducted before any new regulations.
I dislike plastic bags with a passion!
PLEASE BAN THE BAG.
People will adapt and get used to bringing their own reusable bags if they are forced to do so. It's
an easy adjustment that just takes a little time to get used to as a routine.
PLEASE ban all plastic bags in our city.
As a Master Recycler, I think the necessary push to encourage shoppers to remember their
reusable bags is the best action to reduce the increased use of plastic bags.
A ban would force more of us to find alternatives. Plastic takes 200 - 1000 years to decompose.
That's horrible.
Attachment D: Text responses from consumer plastic bag ban survey
Maybe there could be someway to encourage the generation of compostable or biodegradable
plastic bags. I say this because the only time I use the plastic ones is when I'm bringing home
meat or chicken and sometimes ice cream from the grocery store. The thought of chicken
drippings all over the rest of my groceries is really not a pleasant one. Also, we reuse them for the
waste basket in our bathroom. Personally, I think we should encourage industry to just plainly and
simply not create anything that cannot be properly recycled or composted. That would fix a lot of
things right there.
Thanks for the opportunity to speak up,
Donella-Eliz. Alston
Bethel ABC Member at Large
I'm all for the ban. Come on, Eugene, we can do this!
I'm fine with a plastic bag ban. People will squawk, but nobody likes change. It is true that I like to
use plastic bags as bin liners and doggy cleanup bags, but I can find those elsewhere, and if this
makes an impact on the environment, it is worth it.
I think it is very important we stop using plastic in any way that we can. We are messing our nest
in a way that is a horror show. An important initial step in creating a more sustainable culture is by
"banning" the bag. If Eugene is as progressive as they pretend to be, this is a no brainer.
Following the precedent set in San Francisco and Portland seems natural.
We're pretty lucky that a lot of people in Eugene think about their use of plastics and try to use
their own reusable bags. That being said, A LOT of people don't either because they don't know,
don't care, or it's too difficult. It would be great to phase them out, but also provide them (maybe
for an extra charge -5-10 cents?) for people without transportation who have to walk or bike in the
rain.
It's about time we got rid of these wasteful things!
I like using my reusable cloth bags (that I purchased from Fred Meyer), but honestly, I'm
becoming increasingly concerned about the cleanliness of this, given that some of my bags are a
couple years old and I tend to use them for several purposes, not just as grocery bags, which
might cause them to pick up more contaminants and general dirt, then they might. The Fred
Meyer bags do not wash well, as they lose their stiffness after the first washing.
It would seem that you have better things to do with your time than harassing citizens over the
use of plastic bags
Aren't there more important things the City could be doing instead of worrying about plastic bags?
Let citizens be responsible.
Shoppers should need to ask specifically for a bag, especially plastic, if they need it/did not bring
their own - much like diners needing to request water at the table in water-strapped communities.
Question 4 instructs to "check all that apply"; however, I was not allowed to check more than one
response-option. Review of the draft ordinance does not explicitly mention items sold in a retail
store such as sandwich bags. Paper bags are just as resource-intensive to produce as plastic
bags. I would like to see results of a study quantifying the prevalance of plastic bags in local
roadside litter.
I would love a ban on plastic carry out bags. I dislike it when it's the only option in a lot of retail
stores and I've forgotten my own bags.
Attachment D: Text responses from consumer plastic bag ban survey
We've been giving serious consideration to relocating our business to either Tennessee or Texas.
Everytime I see something like this and higher taxes I ask myself why do I keep the business
here? I don't want to have to lay off any more of our employees, but it's just getting unbearable
here. As a side note, is there any scientific evidence any place that says the environment would
improve nearly as much if plastic bags were banned versus cutting the number of city employees,
other than police and fire, by say 10% and selling at least 10% of the city's vehicles? I didn't think
so. You guys are nuts down there, you know that?
I'd love to see plastic bags eliminated. Also, plastic 6-pack beverage loops that kill wildlife.
This is a wonderful idea. It's about changing habits to make a difference.
I support a true ban but many areas (including Los Angeles) have implemented bans that are only
5 cent bag fees. I don't feel this is enough to change the usage habits of the targeted population.
The cost to the consumer must be much higher or the plastic bags must be replaced completely
with reusable or even paper.
I think it would be a big message to put a ban like this into effect. Other cities have started.
Ban plastic grocery bags. It's better for the environment and people will adapt.
If Eugene passes this I will not shop in Eugene
please these types of bags are unneccesary and unwanted in our landfills, our streets , our trees
etc..... please ban these bags from use. people only use them because they are there.
Try more recycling ideas to see if the public will do a better job.
I hope there is a BAN on plastic carryout bags, but if not, SANIPAC should get with the program
and do what CA and other states do...that is to INCLUDE plastic bags and other recyclables in
those carts!
should this stupid deal pass the council, DO NOT impose a charge on paper bags. nor should the
retailers. i am perfectly fine with things as they are. we do not need to ban the bags. nor do we
need to pay for them. if you were grocery shoppers you would see how many bags are used on a
trip to the store. it would get very expensive over a years time to have to pay for bags. DO NOT
BAN THE BAGS.
I don't live in Eugene but I do all my shopping there. I use reusable bags for groceries but also
use plastic bags as well as paper. Plastic and paper bags are reused in my home and if I didn't
have them I would end up buying plastic bags for home use. I walk 5 miles on country roads
everyday and almost never see plastic bags rather cans and bottles are abundant. I support
environmental ideals but fear a ban on plastic bags is flailing at windmills and takes ones eye off
the ball. Eugene shoppers are amazing and I see more and more awareness of the problem. A
regulation would alienate those we need to sway toward higher goals.
It's time to ban plastic bags. I'll be happy to pay 5 cents for paper bags.
Extremely wasteful...
While I agree with the idea behind banning plastic bags, I don't think it should be done. The only
reason why I don't always bring my own bags, at least when I remember them, is because I need
those bags around the house, to reuse for carrying things, covering my bike seat, and most
especially for holding used cat litter and small animal bedding. They're just the right size, they're
not built for durability, and they have so many uses beyond just getting groceries home.
There are more important issues to resolve. Stop wasting time and our money.
I have family in Eugene and care deeply about the city's initiative and opportunity to be a leader
on this issue. My current residence in Newport is also considering a bag ban and I'm hopeful that
at least one of the town's that my family lives in can help be a leader in initiating a momentum to
catch up with our neighboring states on this issue. I care deeply for our rivers, oceans and the
general environmental welfare of Eugene and feel that this is a small, but fantastic step in shifting
our culture to more sustainably mindful habits.
I'm glad we're looking at doing this in Eugene. Hope it passes. May testify, depending on when
meeting is.
Attachment D: Text responses from consumer plastic bag ban survey
I am 100% behind the plastic bag ban. They are completely unnecessary and have nothing to do
with personal freedoms as some suggest.
They keep small items dry in our rainy weather and are extremely handy... much more so than
bulky cloth bags.
Ban plastic bags, charge for paper bags and thus urge use of your own permanent shopping bag
I've lived in States that restrict plactic bag use. I'm fine with it. The stores offer paper and charge 5
cents per bag. That's okay. If I forget my canvas bags that's my problem. I support restricting
plastic bags.
Why are still giving people an option to use plastic carry out bags, when there have been so many
stores selling gorgeous reusable bags for years in Eugene. It is not that difficult to carry string
bags or cloth bags with you; they are easily washable so they can be kept sanitarily clean. I
expect better from Eugene's citizenry.
I lived in Eugene for 40+ years, and recently moved away. I care about Eugene, and I hope my
feedback counts.
This survey gives the impression of being un-biased. However, the slant is to misguide the city
about the citizens opinion of the disaster caused in our environment by plastic bags. Why can't
you just ask folks opinion yes or no on free plastic bags?
I think that plastic bags need to go away immediately. They are ruining our economy, and we
need to figure out a better system for people. If all retail/grocery stores would sell reusable bags
for less money then more people would buy them, or give them out for free with a certain number
of $. that they purchase.
There are better ways to use plastic. Using them to carry food out of a store is a waste of
resources - paper and plastic.
We have lived in Ireland part of every year since 2006. Their nationwide ban on single-use bags
seems a non-issue. The 22-cent fee/tax on each bag is probably a big part of their turnaround. I
use my own bags there, too, and always have done so. These "modern" conveniences are
something I believe we can learn to live without, just as we did in the past.
Although I find plastic bags to be cheap and convenient, I am acutely aware of the HUGE
PROBLEM of plastics in our environment, from clogging streams to seawater adsorption of
chemicals. And so I would gladly forego them if need be. I currently compost much, and try to
reuse any plastic (not just shopping bags) as much as possible. I am not sure what all the
solutions are, or if there are things the City can do in addition to banning them at store level to
help encourage less use--curbside food compost pickup, plant-based alternatives...-much
"degradable" plastics just break down into smaller bits of plastic, which continue to leach toxins
into our environment. We need true compostable bags. There seem to be fewer eco friendly
larger trash bags (like kitchen trash bags) available via retail than even five years ago. I am
building a composter for dog waste, and if I could lay my hands on a few more really sturdy,
rinsable shopping bags I would be set. The flimsy non-woven ones are not helpful, and cotton
gets dirty quickly, need to be laundered, then the seams blow out. The good ones I am talking
about used to be available for sale at Giant grocery stores in Maryland, they were made by the
disabled out of some sort of incredibly strong mesh with a hypalon or the like coating. Exactly the
same size as a paper grocery sack, they have two brass grommets near the top that hook onto
the rack at the grocery store for easy filling. Easy to rinse, very compact, and strong enough to
carry cinder blocks if need be.
Please pass the ban!!!
Many people have my bad habit of using them to hold garbage
plastic bags are like anything else - you can find a purpose for them. Against the bag ban,
especially when I consider all the paper plates that are used by elderly people who refuse to use
washable plates due to convenience sake
Attachment D: Text responses from consumer plastic bag ban survey
the bags are stronger , leak proof, i use them for many things. please do not ban plastic bags
Banning plastic bags sounds good, but honestly it's a very bad, short sighted idea. Plastic bags
are incredibly light, easy to produce and easy to use and re use.
If there was a ban on plastic bags, I know I would make more of an effort to take my bags with
me. I support the change in the law
I think that banning plastic single-use bags is a great idea. Many people do want to use re-usable
bags but forget them at home. This would provide more incentive.
It would be possible to live without them so that other life forms could
A ban would do very little for the environment. It does make sense for the city to to impose a ban
on plastic bags. In fact it is a stupid idea.
Makes no sense.
Attachment D: Text responses from consumer plastic bag ban survey
spend your time on
Charge me a few cents for a bag, but don't ban them.
Why is the city of Eugene worried about plastic bags? Limit government oversight. I am a big boy
and can make my own choices!
plastic bags have so many uses I would not be able to get along without them. Pay people for
recycling them like cans.
A ban on plastic bags is long overdue. Let's do it!
The time has come, NO MORE PLASTIC bags.
People somehow managed for thousands of years to carry their purchases without plastic bags. I
don't see why we need them now. I ride along the Fern Ridge bike path and most of the litter I
see in the creek or on the banks are plastic grocery bags.
I support ban on bags. Far better to use something biodegradeable.
Push recycling but don't make consumers buy trash bags and lunch bags. What will dog owners
use for their pets droppings and what will cat owners use when they clean the litter box?
Leave the choice of what type of shopping bag I will use up to me, not the city or Mayor Piercy.
This is quite a waste of council time and resources.
Attachment D: Text responses from consumer plastic bag ban survey
As a person who collects and turns in many, many redeemable deposits the PLASTIC BAG is the
ONLY BAG that is literally water-proof and doesnt get heavier and break-down during the 6-8 wet
months of the year..... I do this for extra money and to help Oregon stay greener and cleaner
than most other states in our great nation! However, please give some good consideration to the
homeless and disenfranchised when considering what the ban might mean to them as well. Have
a good day! Jah Bless!!!!!
I would be forced to purchase more expensive and durable [not a good thing in the dump] bags if I
could not reuse the store bags for my home trash.
Don't ban any kind of bag. Just charge for them, and make recycling easy, and have cloth bags
available. IT'S TOTALLY UNFAIR TO NOT LET PEOPLE HAVE PLASTIC BAGS! THEY ARE
USEFUL IN SOME CASES.
I do most of my grocery shopping in Eugene.
I have been noticing that my trash can is often mostly filled with non-recyclable plastic because
there is nowhere else for it. We should look at this bag ban as a positive step toward a more
mature culture. Locally made cloth bags are COOL!!
Plastic bags are sometimes litter the landscape and it looks ugly. I highly encourage the use of
bringing one's own bags to shop with and have the stores reward people. I hope Eugene will ban
plastic bags.
I do not like the fact that the City or anyone has the right to tell me whether I can or cannot use
plastic bags. When I first moved here in 1978, the City was upset that we were using paper bags.
It was using up our forests. Now everyone wants everything organic. Unless you can come up
with a natural fabric that will wash and be cost effective, we will be replacing the plastic bags with
just another product made from oil bi-products. The only good thing from interfering with what we
have, will be that maybe the logging companies will again be a thriving force in our economy.
Then you wouldn't have to worry about tax revenue.
20 years ago, we went to plastic bags "to save the forest" Now you want to change again, it is
none of your business of what I choose to use.
I think it is utterly rediculous that you want to do away with plastic bags at stores. There are many
uses for them. I am tired of government trying to micromanage my life. This is why people distrust
and resent government. Can't you find something useful to do with your time??????????
I rely on store provided plastic bags to use as garbage bags and to scoop my cat litter into. They
save me having to buy other plastic bags that would also go into landfills and cost me more
money. I use them also to carry books and other items/supplies in. I never just throw a plastic bag
away, I always reuse them, often many times. I would not want to see plastic bags banned.
the main reason we like plastic is that you can carry 4-5 bags or more at a time, paper you can
only carry two at most and if you are handicapped none.
Plastic bags are an environmental hazard. Action would be appreciated to reduce the mindless
use of them.
I also use our bags for our small garbage cans and in our car when we travel. I think for those of
us who recycle anyway this will make us spend more money on plastic bags we would then
purchase.
Rather than ban i think that imposing usage fees that would cover the actual city costs of repairing
average damage of bag use would have better outcome
I have been washing and reusing plastic bags foro 15 years. I'm sure some of the bags I have
used for 5 years.
It would be pretty sweet if Eugene went plastic-bag free. I support it 100%.
a ban is NOT the answer. Charge a 10 cent fee per bag, with half going to the retailer, and the
other half to support additional recycling options. Bans only create resentment. Create an
environment that encourages the behavior you want to see. A ban is NOT the answer.
Attachment D: Text responses from consumer plastic bag ban survey
While I think it would be hard for me to remember to always bring a bag, I think it would be worth
it, and I am in favor.
I don't have any problem banning plastic bags...
It's time to get rid of these bags. I don't understand the excuses people make for not having
reusable bags of their own. What can we do to encourage people's awareness?
Plastic bags, which are more energy-efficient than paper (thus contribute less to climate change),
should be allowed but they should not be provided for free. If plastic and paper bags were
required to cost $0.25 each, nearly everyone would bring a reusable bag. I much prefer an
approach like that.
This comment box is much too small. This survey is NOT well designed.
I think all plastic bags should be banned in Eugene. I think we should use our own reusable bags
for all our items purchased
If you make the stupid decision to ban plastic bags, I will start shopping in Springfield. This is NOT
something a majority of residents want. Sure, it might be what a vocal majority want, but try
listening to the rest of the city for a change. Like I said, if this assinine ban takes place, I will gladly
burn more gasoline to drive to Springfield for my grocery shopping.
I would prefer the plastic bag policy remain as is.
I agree with the ban on single use plastic bags.
Don't ban them. Tax them.
Many cities have banned plastic bags. It makes sense for Eugene to do so.
Thanks for the survey! It would be nice to ban them altogether.....
Government should focus on other more appropriate governmental topics.
Plastic bags are unnecessary. They fill landfills and litter our streets and the environment.
Additionally, the cost to retailers is then passed onto the consumer. Setting the standard of
bringing our own bags to the store, helps the environment while lifting consumer awareness. I
heartily support the ban! It's working elsewhere in Oregon, let's get on the bandwagon!
WE DON'T NEED THE NANNY STATE TELLING US WE MUST RECYCLE. REUSABLE BAGS
ARE UNSANITARY. WE NEED FEWER LAWS AND REGULATIONS, NOT MORE. WE ALSO
NEED TO GET RID OF ALSO THE GREENIES.
Let's do this! Let's be the change we want to see in the world!
People should have the option for plastic vs their own bags!! I use the bags for MANY things after
I get them.Even ones with small holes are useful. If they aren't available I'll have to purchase
plastic bags to line trash can, hold yard debris, carry drippy items, dispose of animal waste left in
my yard by others, etc.
I made my comments in number seven.
No response in the bubbles for answers.
Keep the plastic bags as a choice and charge a nickel for all bags used that aren't brought in to
the store by the customer. Plastic bags are needed for walking home with groceries.
Lets ban the plastic bag. There are better options that people would use if plastic bags weren't a
choice. They are also made from petroleum which is not a renewable resource, and they are very
toxic to manufacture.
I think even more effective than a "ban" would be a targeted educational campaign to businesses,
to train them to ask "Did you bring a reusable bag?" That peer pressure is very effective.
Attachment D: Text responses from consumer plastic bag ban survey
While I admit to using "single-use bags" on occasion, I would like to see a ban; I work in a retail
grocery store and the vast majority of plastic bags people request are NOT necessary. The
reasons I hear for people wanting a plastic bag (for a single can of pop, or a bagel, or something
that would travel just as well in paper or in a bare hand) are that they use them for garbage (are
required by their landlord to use plastic for garbage); they are reused for cat or dog waste; that
they "have a handle"; and that the customer forgot their reusable bag. I think either charging a
deposit on a bag, banning them, or charging for them would help decrease the really wasteful
use.
I wish something could be done about bulk and produce plastic bags, too.
It would be tremendous if much of current plastic litter could be curbed, since it so easily blows
into waterways and ends up in the ocean -- to be eaten by unwary wildlife that die from it.
As a coastal state, it is imperative that we provide an example of how to drastically reduce marine
pollution by banning plastic bags.
I don't support a bag ban - I am sick and tired of new legislation for every problem - just help to
educate people.
reusing your own bags is good, reusing someone elses is VERY BAD
Why are you even waffling about banning plastic bags? Get 'er done now!
I believe that if all retailers stopped providing plastic bags people would bring their own and we
could make huge improvements in the economy and the environment.
One trip to Baja California or Mexico and you'll never use a plastic bag again. They are literally
stuck on every fence post, tree branch, bench, you get the idea. They never go away.
i am in favor of ban
if i can not use plastic gro bags i will have to buy them for garbage
Clear plastic produce bags are more re-useful as at the dog park for picking up waste and along
streets for picking up trash. Please do a public education reminder campaign that Oregonians Do
Not Litter! Thanks for doing this survey.
Ban them
I'm not sure what I would do without receiving the plastic bags from retail/grocery stores because I
reuse them around the house in so many ways.
jjjj
If stores go only to paper bags, they cost more and their costs will be passed on to consumers.
Things are expensive enough as it is without adding more unnecessary financial burdens.
I think the plastic bags should be banned. If I had no other choice, I would always have to
remember to bring my own cloth bags. The reusable bags should be washable so there is not a
possibility of food contamination. Also paper bags are wasteful and we should not simply be
using those instead of the plastic bags.
This proposal makes since, please stopthe use of plastic bags, they do harm to animals and the
environment...it's a no-brainer!
Since the city wants to raise taxes, money could be better spent on necessities rather than new
logos and surveys. Plastic bags should be at the bottom of the list for Eugene expenditures.
I would not be sorry to see plastic bags go away
Reuseable bags are difficult and time-consuming for the store employees to use. Generally
noticed that it takes 3-4 times longer to fill w/groceries. Resueable bags also are subject to
bacteria from previous uses. We put plastic bags to good use and do not contaminate the
environment with them.
I hate the plastic bags. I try to re-use them as waste basket liners, etc. but they are so flimsy they
don't work well. They also don't hold that many groceries. As far as I know Sanipac won't take
them.
Attachment D: Text responses from consumer plastic bag ban survey
I say ban them. I can deal with the consequences.
I don't get the difference between using plastic from the retailer and me having to buy plastic bags
for the same use - mostly waste disposal.
It should be up to the business to decide if they want to offer plastic, paper, reusable, all, or none.
What gives government the right to make business decisions for private business. The city
doesn't have the money to start up another feel good project and this is why they don't have
enough money for current programs.
I really really hope that this comes into effect. Single use plastic bags are so unnecessary and
horrible for the environment. Also consider requiring all housing developments to host recycling
locations on site. It is really sad that most greek housing on campus and rental units aren't
required to provide this. Time to get with the times! Thanks all:)
We need to carry our groceries home in these since we usually walk to the store. We can carrie
lots more in plastic than paper. They are stronger. And we use them to follow our dog around to
pick up after her. My neighbor has even come over asking for spare plastic grocery bags when
she runs out. Getting rid of these is crazy! Don't do it. We don't want to have to shop in
Springfield grocery store.
If you ban the bags, people will quickly get use to bringing their own. Especially if they have to
pay for bags.
Re using plastic bags is a real plus.
Stop providing plastic or paper. Shoppers will easily adapt.
Thanks for conducting this survey! In addition to the plastic bags in landfill problem, they are
made from petroleum-based products, which are non-renewable and very energy intensive.
a bag ban is a great step to take: small, in the larger scheme of things, but effective. and one
would think it might be cheap, as well. it has my full support.
Rather than ban the bags, impose a $1 tax on them - that will cut down on their use, but it allows
the consumer the choice if they happened to forget to bring their own.
I own several re-usable bags, but I usually forget to bring them with me. I always wind up using
the single use plastic bags,and I hate it. I think reusable bags should be offered by stores for a
deposit, like milk jugs sometimes are. Then if you forget to bring them, you can pay a small
deposit on them, and get it back when you remember to bring a bunch in.
Single use bags are terrible for the environment, bad for wildlife, and a nuisance to recycle. They
either need to be recycled more effectively (curbside) and efficiently, or to be phased out entirely
in favor of re-usable bags.
We prefer no to receive plastic bags at retail stores.
It would be nice if more grocery stores offered paper bags over plastic (Safeway & Albertsons).
What about requiring "plastic" type bags made of biodegradable material (corn gluten I think)? As
incentive, retailers who provide them would not have to accept recycled bags.
I don't think it is a big deal to bring cloth reusable bags into stores. Frankly I think way too many
people also use too many produce plastic bags - you don't need to put 2 apples in a plastic bag -
more public awareness in stores would be good. There are times however if I forget my bag or
buy something/or too much that won't fit into my bag I need some sort of option. Also if something
is susceptible to water damage needs a bag- it rains a lot in Eugene
Just do it! Quit wasting time and pass the ordinance.
I don't want someones urine stained reuseable bag on the counter with my food. People are pigs
and will bring disease to the store.
I WANT TO HAVE A CHOICE TO EITHER USE RETAILS PLASTIC BAGS........IF PEOPLE
WANT TO USE THEIR OWN THEN GOOD FOR THEM!! DON'T TAKE MY CHOICE AWAY---I
AM A TAX PAYER WHO SHOULD HAVE RIGHTS
Attachment D: Text responses from consumer plastic bag ban survey
Portland offers a very small container for composting materials. Why can't that be encouraged
with the garbage companies the next time they wan to raise their rates or extend their permit.
Whatever leverage you have you should us.
I am opposed to a ban BUT would love to have the retailers not use plastics as a first. Have them
available, but have people have to ask for it. I do use the plastic and paper that I get from the
stores. I do forget to ask for the paper to often and the plastic seems to be the first up.
It takes hundre4ds of years for plastic bags to break down in the land fill. People are just plain
lazy ! I rinse my fabric bags after each trip to the store and place them back in the car when they
are dry for the next trip. So easy to do.
Let's ban those bags!
I support a ban
Our family reuses plastic bags a minimum of 3 times, wash & rinse, often 5+ times. We are very
conscious of the plastic disposal problem, aware also that they were a potential substitute for
reducing paper use to preserve our trees. They did that, which we were glad for the opportunity to
reduce tree cutting. The ability to carry heavily loaded bags into the house.
(Diapers are another non-
deteriorating problem.) We would really be handicapped at our house without the bags, and
besides convenience, it was a way to acquire sacks when the kids were little and our money was
extremely tight. As we age, it is the same situation. We would have to spend extra money (and
sacks are quite expensive as an independent purchase) to have them for the purposes we need
them for. They are a less expensive means of packaging purchases for stores as well, and other
types if packaging is considerably more expensive. As for cloth bags, I see people putting fresh
vegetables in the carts without wrapping, along with bloody wrapping of meat packaging, as well
as in the cloth bags. I'm amazed at how lax people have become! The single-use plastic sacks
are at least cleaner and help protect the buyer a little more than a cloth sacks--most protective if
the cloth sack has been used before. It doesn't change the fact that they didn't cover the
vegetables and/or not put them in a different sack than the meat, but a single-use sack is a help. I
also shop for a lot of stuff at one time to conserve fuel expenditure, and the cloth bags fray easily,
and I have to keep buying them to reuse. That costs more than I can afford these days. I recycle
and haul my own garbage too to control disposal costs. I would be willing to do more extensive
and effective recycling if a better method were created, even pay a little more at the disposal sites
to be able to continue using plastic sacks. I think it would just add way more cost to my consumer
costs and that it would be a huge mistake to prevent their use. There's way more that will be
negatively impacted that should be considered than just the single solution to a disposal problem.
I would rather do something more to effectively dispose of them than have to eliminate them at
the stores. Please take that into real-life consideration before you just write us off without putting
yourselves in our shoes. There's way too much of that in government as it is.
Banning single-use plastic bags is the right thing to do for the environment!
Attachment D: Text responses from consumer plastic bag ban survey
I believe plastic bags have alot of secondary uses. I keep many for these uses and recycle the
rest. I don't like the reusable bags since I hate the thought of someone putting their bag on the
counter at the store after it has been trampled by their dogs or cats at their home or car. To me it
is a health concern since many people are slobs and I don't want bacterial or pet hair from their
house attaching itself to a bag that I am forced to bring in and set on the checkout counter.
If folks feel they must remove sanitary plastic bags for hauling groceries, produce, vegetables,
meats, etc. because people won't or can't recycle them then there is not much I will be able to do
about it. However, DO NOT allow the plastic bag ban to be a justification for the stores to charge
ANY amount of money for paper bags. Maybe you folks are too young to remember when the
stores provided paper bags, but I am not. There is no reason any store cannot provide these
bags free of charge. It is an insult to every tax payer to allow the stores to not have to purchase
plastic bags and then allow them to force the customers to pay another 25 to 30 cents per trip to
the store.
I used to work in the paper business prior to the mill closing, and yes we made paper bags back
when there was a market for them. The cost between a paper bag and a plastic bag is minimal so
don't let this turn into just another cost for the consumers. We all already pay enough in taxes
and fees.
I reuse the plastic bags as kitchen garbage can liners. Before that I used plastic garbage can
bags ourchased from the store. Eliminating the retailer palstic bags will only result in the public
once again using purchased ones. The problem with the bags being in the waste collection sites
will still be there.
Despite the inconvenience, I believe banning plastic grocery bags would be a good idea. If the
plastic bags were banned, it would provide greater incentive for me to remember to take along my
re-useable bags when shopping. However, I think the city would have to provide bags for picking
up after dogs at local parks to avoid creating an issue with dog feces left on the ground and
possibly affecting water quality - currently, most people are pretty conscientious about picking up
after their pets because there are always plastic grocery bags available.
Charge a storage fee at landfill on garbage based on breakdown time.
I would love to get rid of single-use plastic bags and rely on reusable or paper bags (which I can
also reuse and recycle).
Eugene is a leader in sustainability efforts, by taking this significant step to reduce consumption of
a harmful source of single use plastic, we can continue to be leaders in promoting sustainable
alternatives and help to clean up our environment. Why do we need a product that we use for a
few minutes, and has a life of several hundreds of years and causes so much harm to wildlife, the
scenic beauty of our state, and costs our tax payers so much money to unclog storm drains &
recycling centers. Please do the right thing and eliminate plastic checkout bags from Eugene, and
include a 5 cent charge on paper bags to further encourage people to bring their own bag.
Banning single-use plastic grocery checkout bags is likely the best way to solve this problem.
Banning plastic bags is a great idea. Other states have already done this, and it's worked
wonderfully.
I do not favor a ban on plastic bags as I reuse and/or recycle.
i am concerned about having only a paper bag option, if i forget my reusable bags, because it
rains a lot here and paper tends to be impractical in the rain.
Charge customer for every plastic bag provided by store
Attachment D: Text responses from consumer plastic bag ban survey
I re-use and wash pastil bags but would be happy to not use them at all and bring my own bags to
shop. the reusable ones are inexpensive and accessible at most businesses. There could be
more inexpensive bags made available at a greater range of stores besides grocery stores.
This is a stupid idea--and probably won't stop with groacery bags. Next will be trash bags, dry
cleaner bags, clothes bags, and anything that comes in plastic. So get off this, and do something
better with your time and our money.
If we did not get plastic bags at the gracery, we would just have to buy them to put garbage in.
I think local govt. should STAY OUT of my PRIVATE LIFE.
Recycling is important for everything possible and I understand the necessity of it. But rather than
put a ban on the plastic bags perhaps charge a few cents for anyone who wants them. I'm
thinking about people who work in that industry and need their jobs. Environmental sustainability
is important, but people are more important.
There is really no use for single-use plastic bags...people will get educated real quickly when they
aren't there. They should be banned.
Don't waste more of the city money on this issue. Encourage choice and educate people. Do not
ban them. Since you are talking about banning items what about banning smoking? Ban items
that have too much fat or too many carbs. Ban cars that get less tan 30 MPG or should that be
50 MPG?
we shouldn't ban plastic bags if it's going to cause grocery stores to increase prices. Food is
already too much of a cost burden to our many low income families
I would love if plastic shopping bags were banned.
I'm in favor of this proposal. Most people I know have become used to the idea of re-usable bags.I
don't feel the cost of a small change in people's habits are nearly as much as the seen and
unseen benefits this can bring to our community. Councilors, please stand up and take a stance
for the betterment of our community:)!! J and C Alcorn, River Road
Before getting in line at the grocery store I look to see what type of bag the people ahead are
using and on more then one occassion I have changed lines due to the filthy reusable bags
people bring to the store. If the city decides to ban plastic bags how about supplying a FREE
place for people to wash their bags or have a city employee stationed in the entryway of every
grocery store and check for bacteria. If plastic bags were banned in Eugene I would do my
grocery shopping in Springfield.
I also think the plastic bags are more useful to homeless people when it rains.
Ban plastic bags, please.
I fully support the movement of banning plastic bags. Please let me know what else I can do to
help in this cause!
We shop in Eugene three to four times per month. We would prefer if stores only provided only
paper bags which are easily recyclable and made from renewable resources. Plastic bags have
become a blight in neighborhoods around stores, and along roadsides.
I really like the plastic bags. If they go away I'll just end up having to buy more trash bags which
will still end up in the landfills. If I'm forced to give these up could you at least make the law state
that if I bring one(1) reusable bag to the grocery store with me I don't have to pay for the
additional paper bags?
Thanks.
Shoplifters would love to bring non see through bags into stores. Health standards should matter
too. People will bring there nasty bacteria infested bags into (sanitary) stores. I will shop
elsewhere, if this happens.
I believe the city counsel has bigger fish to fry than what to do with single use plastic bags.
Attachment D: Text responses from consumer plastic bag ban survey
I use the bags for my garbage. I don't see how buying plastic bags for my garbage will be an
improvement. Will purchased bags be better for the environment? Is this yet another cost that I
will have to bear? What is the alternative for disposing of trash? The trash carriers prefer that
trash be bagged and it does cut down on accidental litter. I think everyone should be required to
reuse the stre bags for their trash!
I think that there should still be a choice whether someone uses a one-time use bag or reusable
bag. One-time use bags can be recycled anyway and if there were more places to recycle them, a
lot more people would and it wouldn't be an issue anymore. I don't think there has been a plastic
bag that I haven't recycled in quite a while. I think that it is hard to always remember to bring
you're own bag from the car or home. People are forgetful at times and always will be. Charging
people for a paper bag when they don't remember to bring their own is a bad idea. I have always
been pro-choice so to speak.
I would love to see us rid our town of these nasty bags!
I use the plastic bags for trash cans and other things so I think we should come up with other
viable uses for them instead of banning them.
Plastic bans should be banned and paper should have a fee--suggest 10c. Driving users to paper
from plastic is a bad idea--remember, the GHG impact comes from the production, and in
production, paper bags actually have a slightly higher impact. However, they don't have the end of
life problems of blowing about and causing other problems. Make reuse the norm, and charge
people who prefer the convenience of a disposable bag.
I shop a lot in eugen and I may have to go elcewere.
the goal is worthy but the means should be education NOT government regulation....we have too
many regulations now....city government has more important issues and problems to address
I would be happy to shop in Springfield where I won't have to wonder where reusable bags have
been before they were placed on a grocery check-out counter. Maybe we could just let the dogs
into the grocery store. Filthy proposition you are proposing. Just filthy.
Paper bags cause a lot of damage to the environment, furthermore, while polyethylene is a by-
product, paper is not.
The process of making a paper bag is more damaging:
http://www.treehugger.com/culture/paper-bags-or-plastic-bags-everything-you-need-to-
know/page5.html
Finally, many heavier duty reusable bags are imported from Chinese manufacturers. Does
recycling and reusing bags help? Yes, if they are also washable and thus hygienic, and the
person has enough and brings them any time to Safeway when they have a family of four to
feed...
Should the city police this given the large number of costs and benefits? Rather, maybe the city
should just educate the shopper of the different choices and let the people decide.
I'm against this ban. Our government doesn't need to tell us which type of bag we can or can't
use. There are more important issues to deal with in Eugene than plastic bags such as bringing
more jobs to the area, public safety, and schools.
please keep bags available for produce and meets to help reduce contamination
Attachment D: Text responses from consumer plastic bag ban survey
If you prohibit stores from providing free plastic bags, then I will have to purchase bags for
garbage disposal, wrapping of foodstuffs, etc. Or find somewhere to shop where there are not so
many regulations.
We mostly shop in Eugene
Please help save the future. Place as big a ban as you can.
I often reuse so-called single use bags a number of times, first for shopping or to keep air from
greens in fridge, then for garbage (larger bags) or dog pickup. I would be purchasing and
throwing out bags for the later 2 purposes if I could not reuse plastic shopping bags.
I sometimes don't bring my own reusable bag from home in order to get some plastic bags to
restock my pile. We reuse plastic bags to help contain our bathroom trash before putting the trash
in a bigger can and recycling the bag, we use them for dirty baby clothes while on trips or out and
about. It's also easier to carry the plastic bags versus paper bags when you have a child on one
hip and 3 bags to carry.
My reuse of plastic bags causes them to become unrecyclable. If I didn't have them to use I would
have to purchase plastic bags.
I kick myself when I forget to bring my own bags to the store....I really hate those plastic bags and
I feel like most people are not good about at least trying to recycle them if they have them. I really
don't see a reason for them....other cities have banned them...why can't we? They are not
necessary when other, viable and easy options are also available.....paper and/or bringing in your
own reuseables. People will adjust! We're good like that. :)
I think there needs to be a bigger push for biodegradable or oxio-bioplastic bags. These bags
breakdown faster than paper bags when exposed to the environment.
I can't tell you how violently opposed I am to an ordinance prohibiting plastic bags. Our garbage
service can encourage recycling, but government should not tell us what to do. This is over-
reaching big time. I will vote you out.
I think this is a great local solution to a worldwide problem that is impacting human and wildlife
health and the oceans. This ordinance is important.
I would really like to see plastic bags disappear/banned altogether because of the environmental
impact they have had on this planet.
Attachment D: Text responses from consumer plastic bag ban survey
Please Do Not support a ban on plastic bags! Such a ban is ill conceived, costly to both business
and consumers and attempts to address a non-existent problem.
The plastic bag ban is focused on “single use” bags. In my household and virtually all of those I
am acquainted with these bags are far from single use, and in fact often used many, many times
over before being disposed of . We use them to: carry lunches to school, wrap up leftovers in the
fridge, line trash baskets, pick up dog waste, store Christmas decorations (some are more then a
decade old), collect trash when walking and many other things. In all cases the bags are used
again once they bring in the groceries. Banning these bags would cost our household money in
purchasing replacement bags for similar purposes. A ban on plastic bags would do nothing to
reduce waste in these cases, it would merely force me to pay for what I had previously received
for free.
The bags are hugely convenient. They are lightweight and strong and with the loops and small
size, I can carry literally 3 times the amount I could with paper or even cloth bags. Often I can
manage a single trip in the house with these bags where I might need to take 2 or 3 trips with a
paper bag.
Given today’s economy this is not the time to pass new legislation which increases costs to both
businesses and consumers, ultimately increasing the cost of living. The manufacturing of these
bags creates jobs as well. If you are concerned with a future problem of “bag pollution” then put
your efforts towards supporting increased recycling efforts and bio-technology which would
enable the bags to break down rapidly when exposed to the elements. Both of these solutions
create jobs without passing along costs for business and consumers.
I spent much time this past March walking on several beaches on the Oregon coast covering
nearly 15 miles of coast line during the Spring break. During this entire time I saw no plastic bags
on the beaches, except of course the few I kept in my pocket or hands to collect trash and items
of interest. If these bags were banned it would cost me money to purchase a beg to collect trash!
The plastic bag ban is a poor idea and the wrong approach to an insignificant problem. Please do
not support this legislation.
Banning plastic bags is not necessary. Increasing awareness of recycling and resue would be
better. People would then use more paper bags which is a worse environemntal option.
I would fully support a plastic bag ban. People will fuss at first but they will get used to it. We
need to change how we live, and Bring Your Own Bag will become the new norm.
I think the risk of banning the bag, or anything for that matter is that we (the recycling community)
may alienate our natural allies. Americans don't like being told to do or not to do anything. We
should educate shoppers about why plastic bags are bad, then put the owner of Market of Choice
out on the front lines to tell everyone how successful taking them out of his stores has been and
let people choose the right thing to do.
I SUPPORT THE BAN OF SINGLE USE PLASTIC BAGS!
I think people should be encouraged to use fabric bags, however in a city with lots of rain and lots
of non-drivers I don't think the option of plastic should be removed.
I love the idea of a ban on plastic bags... I'm infuriated with stores that instruct their checkers not
to offer a choice between plastic and paper. Stores also need to provide a strong motivator (25
cents or so) to encourage customers to use reusable bags.
Attachment D: Text responses from consumer plastic bag ban survey
While I am not a big fan of the plastic bags myself, I do use them both in grocery shopping and at
home and on occasion and would miss their presence. For example, I prefer to bag my meat in
them because I don't want meat juices leaked onto my other groceries. I think that educating
people would be a more useful tool than legislation to ban them. I also disagree with charging for
the paper bags if that is still on the table.
We support the banning of plastic AND paper bags.
Reusable canvass bags are all that is needed, even to replace ppaper bags
retailers should be required to recycle the plastic wrapping used in their received goods.
My husband and myself really feel that plastic bags should be banned. Thank you
I just want to say FUCK YOU for wasting tax dollars and my time on this.
the bags in question are marked with the universal recycling symbol for HDPE (#2)
Why doesn't the Oregon garbage hauler recycler pickup take them as legally mandated -By
Oregonlaw the hauler gets a discount on their "tipping fee" to pay for pickup and recycling all the
marked plastic - not just milk jugs and newspaper and cardboard that can be sold at a profit -
that's the problem!
Let's ban all plastic bags in Eugene, we have done so on Maui!
Let's move to paper!
Plastic bags are devastating to wildlife and to our
ocean health. In the end, that means devastating to us as well. We need to act for the future, not
always the short term. We're all in this together.
Leave plastic bags alone! This is VITAL to me. Government has no busines micro-managing
personal choices. And I VOTE!
I support a plastic bag ban 100%!! As it is, I'm really lazy about making sure I have my reusable
bags with me, and I think there are a lot of people like me - a push in the right direction would be
good for everyone.
BAN THE BAG!
I have used fabric bags, baskets and crates for 40 years. It is easy and no problem whatsoever.
Taking a nice bag TO the grocery store is EASY. In parts of Europe they do not supply any bags
at all. Most of us have too many plastic bags in our homes; hence the waste. For those who
defend free bags because they want to use these free bags for trash I say buy some; they are
cheap. Put a value on them and their prevalence will decline. Better to have fewer bags than too
many.... The Bottle Bill put a value on bottles and cans....
This survey is not a real survey and use of the data to create law is unscientific and a waste of
money.
I would LOVE Eugene to ban plastic bags. They are too convenient, too harmful. If we can
change this one thing, it would be really awesome.
Lets be a city that other cities look up to for our environmental actions: rather than one that sees
that it works for others so we should do it also.
Step 1: use reusable bags
Step 2: if I forget them, use plastic
Step 3: if plastic bags are in good condition, reuse for cat box. If not, recylce at grocery store.
There are other ways to clean the cat box, so I'm not reliant on the plastic bags.
We need a 5 cent deposit on both paper and plastic bags. At all retailers, not just grocery stores.
Target, Lowes, Taco Bell, etc.
We don't need single use plastic bags. Most of us grew up without them, and got along just fine.
They are wasteful and taxing on the environment. They just end up in the landfill or as litter on the
streets.
Attachment D: Text responses from consumer plastic bag ban survey
I don't want the eco-freaks and tree-huggers telling me what options I have and what to do. When
I buy groceries, the number of bags I need varies. Charging me to buy bags is not only
inconvenient, it is a financial strain on tight budgets. I've never had a wet plastic bag break (and
damn few tear), but I've sure had a lot of paper bags tear, wet or dry. For the merchant to provide
free sacks is the price of doing business.
Support the ban, please stop using plastic bags
Plastic bags are not a major issue as other plastics that are in use and discarded. before any ban,
there needs to be solid, verafiable data showing how plastic bags from Eugene are impacting the
enviorment in such a negitive way compared to other plastics. Remember, we went to plastic
bags due to teh cry that paper bags were causing too many tress to be cut down.
We hope you do NOT ban them.
Too many "bans" on things instead of education and making reuse/recycle a desirable thing to do.
There's even money in it.
No more plastic bags! It is time for people to find alternatives, or pay for each bag if they want to
continue to use them.
I would like to see a ban on plastic bags.
THANKS FOR YOUR EFFORTS in this regard.
I support the plastic bag ban in Eugene 100%.
recycling everything needs to be easy or people won't do it. but i'm sorry, it is NOT hard to
remember to take your own bag, or to ask for a paper bag. the plastic waste is appalling. please
pass this ban!!!
get rid of plastic bags, they're evil.
I can't state how strongly I feel about the need to ban plastic bags. Of course, I believe EmX
should be extended out West 11th, too.
Please let me use single-use plastic bags !!!!!!!!!!!!
Please do ban them. The life of a bag is horrifying.
We will change when we find it hard to keep up the old ways but most people won't change until
something breaks their pattern.
I support the ban on single-use plastic bags.
Thanks.
I agree that we need to recycle our bags and try and remember our reusable bags, but I believe
we should still have the option to use plastic bags.
Personally I think this is a stupid idea again by the city of Eugene. What about all of the stores
like Goodwill and all of the other stores like that. If it were to happen why not just the large store's
like Freddy's or Safeway, Albertson where the majority of shoppers shop. If this becomes a law it
would really hurt a lot of business just trying to survive, and the idea of charging for the paper
bags is probably the craziest idea yet. Before the plastic bags we used paper bags and the cost
was always added to the cost of the merchandise and nobody complained.
reusing your own bags get messy and dirty and it takes the retailer longer to bag all the different
types of bags. The cloth one's don't standup and are hard to fill with groceries. We have
recycling for plastics and should use that. This way we have sanitary bags all the time and the
retailer handle sanitary bags not dirty personal bags. I feel it is a pain for them and for us to have
to wait while they figure out how to load each different bag a consumer brings in. I have seen this
in San Jose, CA Looks like a big pain and if you forget your bags you have to buy them anyway.
Just charge a couple cents more and call it good.
I believe and single use bags, both paper and plastic, should be banned.
Attachment D: Text responses from consumer plastic bag ban survey
Getting in the habit of using reusable bags is fairly easy and the bags are sturdier and carry more
items. I heard people make the excuse that they like have some plastic bags to line trash cans
with, however and alternative to this would be to use NO plastic bag and combine trash with other
waste later. Thanks!
The negative environmental impact of plastic bags is awful. It's easy to get in the habit of bringing
your own reusable bags.
RIDICULOUS idea to ban plastic bags! i see people using far fewer plastic bags at the store. if
people have 2or3 items they don't even bother w/a bag, or bring their own. THEY CAN BE
REUSED BY CONSUMER. i'm sure there are far fewer being thrown away or recycled now than
there were 5 years ago b4 the cloth 'craze' started 'here'. some items NEED a plastic bag due to
their inherent messiness. banning the bag is just another way for a few politicians w/their own
agenda to gain attention to a problem that IS being solved by the consumer. give people 5cents
back for every bag they bring to the store -- charge people 5cents for every plastic bag they need
to walk out with -- EASY, SANE SOLUTION.
let's get the law passed to bag single use plastic bags in Eugene!
If you ban plastic bags, I will have to go out and buy plastic bags to deal with household waste.
Many other people will do the same thing, and you'll see the same amount of plastic bags in
landfills. Please, make them easier to recycle, PLEASE DON'T BAN THEM!!
Reusable bags are not safe for food products and are difficult to launder and I do not use hot
water in my washing machine.
Plastic bags are horrible. They really need to be done away with. People need to learn to use
cloth or some kind of permanent bags.We are such a throw away society.
They should be banned.
i don't like the idea of being forced to be 'earth friendly'. it's my American right to use a plastic bag
if i want to without a penalty.
I will start shopping in Springfield if you ban plastic bags.
People bringing their own bags is unsanitary and I don't want to be around them. Paper bags fall
apart and cause messes. Keep the plastic bag.
I believe a legal ban is an expensive and unneeded waste. If you choose to not use plastic bags,
retailers already provide paper bags. Or you can use your own bags. Most of the time I select to
use paper bags but do regularly use plastic bags for cold items (frozen) or meat. I find they
perform much better than plastic or any food item that may condense or leak. Completely
restricting the use of plastic bags would force me to resort to using the less effective paper bags
for all items. Further I reuse the plastic bags at least once and then usually use them as trash
bags. If you really want to propose useful regulation, force retailers to have both paper and plastic
bags readily available. I often find that retailers do not have paper bags stocked at all checkouts.
RECYCLED paper bags are just as good!
If Portland and Corvallis can ban the use of plastic bags why can't Eugene? The stores all have
paper bags to use and these can be recycled curbside. Plastic bags are a bane to the
environment and our society in general.
Please do not ban the bags. My lifestyle is actually dependent on them. I have special trash cans
to use them. I like the handles. The plastic bags available for purchase are different. They don't
fall apart in the rain. I also get paper bags from time to time which I also reuse. I prefer the status
quo, but if you must do something, please consider a charge (nickle to dime) to be collected by
grocers to fund clean up or recycling programs. Or maybe there are biodegradable plastic bags
that could be required.
Attachment D: Text responses from consumer plastic bag ban survey
I really do not want to see a ban on plastic bags. I re-use those bags as my garbage bags at
home and so I don't have to buy other plastic bags for my garbage.
I also am SO tired of government stepping in and telling me and corporations what we can or can't
do in our lives or dictate items we have to use or buy! This is getting old.
Why does Eugene have to do a survey? Why can't our city council just make the decision when it
is for the good of the environment and the people of the city. Did Portland and Corvallis need
surveys too?
Thank you for offering Eugene consumers this survey. If a citywide campaign were created that
urged consumers to bring their own bags to the store, emphasizing this message on billboards,
TV commercials, local internet sites, etc., I feel that we would see a surge in support for a plastic
bag ban. It's so easy to bring one's own bag (BYOB); in Europe and other places people have
been doing it for decades! Anyway, thank you again for offering this forum for public response.
please leave well enough a lone... i do not want to pay more money so the retailers can pretend to
charge more for the items because of the bag charge
I believe that plastic bags should be banned, except for those used for fresh vegetables and fruits.
Plastic bags loaded with groceries can damage your hands. If for no other reason they should be
banned because they fly around our lovely deserts and snag on the fences
Leave the plastic bags in the stores!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Protecting the environment is more important than using plastic bags for convenience. If plastic
bags were banned or limited people would adapt, just as they have with the smoking ban.
Plastic bags are better for shopping needs. If they are not provided a Eugene stores, then I will
shop in Springfield stores and no longer support Eugene businesses.
Please ban plastic bags in the city!
The plastic grocery bags are probably one of the most reused item ever invented. They are
cheaper than paper bags, lower carbon footprint, and are a lot stronger than paper. I can carry the
groceries in one hand that would take multiple trips with paper bags. The reusable bags are bulky
and filthy, and washing them really shortens their life. I can store hundreds of plastic bags in one
bag and find new ways to reuse them almost every day. As you can tell I am a huge fan of these
bags, and highly irritated at our elected officials displaying such stupidy. It seems they are trying
to make our lives more difficult and more expensive.
I know the city has been considering a ban for at least six years. I attended a couple of the council
meetings. It's time to ban these bags! Look at Portland and Corvalis, Los Angeles, for goodness
sake. People will accommodate to the idea a lot sooner than some think.
There were no questions about paper bags.
As I mentioned earlier, this survey is biased. I know many people who use plastic bags for animal
waste and as kitchen or bathroom garbage bags. Banning plastic bags from stores will only mean
more people buying packaged plastic bags for these uses.
Meanwhile, paper bags require more energy and more water to create and to recycle than plastic,
thus are not at all a sustainable approach. They also cost more, which will drive up prices on
groceries, a cost which will inequitably impact the poor.
Actively promoting reusable bags for those for whom they make sense, and upping the fines for
littering, is a far more sensible alternative to banning plastic.
Attachment D: Text responses from consumer plastic bag ban survey
I understand that co-mingled recycling promotes recycling. But when I see what some people put
out for recycling I'm discouraged. Items are dirty and the recyling bin becomes another garbage
can. Therefore, I save up my sorted recyclables and every two or three months take them to the
Glenwood transfer station.
Please ban these bags!! Thanks!
do not create a tax on store provided bags. We need something to take our purchases home with
even if we forgot our re-usable sack. that will just create resentment for something that used to
be free and the cost is already built into the price of the goods we buy.
If large cities can ban the use of plastic bags, our town can too.
Who wants to look at plastic bags caught up in tree branches?!!
When I lived in San Francisco they banned plastic grocery bags and I had to BUY plastic garbage
bags for dog poop scooping (I have large dogs & poop bags are too small). I also use these bags
as can liners at home and at work. Work on promoting other uses for these bags, once they are
home & continue to encourage those who are able to bring & use their own bags.I will continue to
use and reuse plastic bags, even if you ban them.
Plastic Bags are not the problem, nanny state government officials telling the population how to
live is the problem. Let people decide which they want to use plastic, paper or canvas bags. Some
times a plastic bag is just the item I want to use and sometimes a paper bag made from trees that
are grown specifically to use for paper products is my choice. Stop trying to tell me how to live,
stop trying to tell me if or how much sugar, salt, caffeine, oil, Trans-fat, soda I can consume. How
about I come over to your house and make all of your decisions for you since you are not smart
enough to live by your own decision making abilities.
P. bags are the greatest invention ever! Before banning, improve recycling options. Charge a
penny a bag for their use.
The only way I would realistically recycle plastic bags is if Sanipac had an option for recycling
them. I do not have time for a separate process.
I would love to see a ban on plastic bags. I take mine back to the store and turn them in for
recycling, but I know a lot of people do not. I would gladly welcome a ban in Eugene.
Eugene so often jumps on whatever cause is news-worthy to the expense of the actual citizens.
Pass the ban, we will all adjust and use our own bags, or pay for paper bags.
I fully support a ban on plastic bags within the City of Eugene. They create a huge amount of
trash and waste. As a leader in sustainability and green living, Eugene needs to make this
change.
Gert rid of plastic bags. Anyone can afford reusable bags ; most are only a dollar. I love the
Trader Joe colorful surfboard bags. Many people are lazy and don't care about the earth. I am
sick of picking up litter, including plastic bags that often end up in waterways and on the beach
and can lead of the death of wildlife. Get rid of the bags!
The stores could take off 5 cents for every bag of your own that you use off your bill, but your bag
must be filled to get the money back. .
Bio-degradable bags (like you can buy for dog clean-up) might help as I don't think everyone will
provide their own bags.
Plastic bags are a huge help to people like me who don't drive. Cars are screwing up the
environment more than plastic bags, and there are biodegradable options. People don't realize
how hard it is to grocery shop if you don't drive. A plastic bag ban will just make it that much more
difficult.
I always reuse the produce bags & carrier bags
until they're too soiled for cleaning. I may discard into my garbage stream then, especially if the
bag held meat.
Attachment D: Text responses from consumer plastic bag ban survey
Kudos to you for exploring better options for us & the planet. :)
In January of 2011 the entire island of Maui banned the use of plastic bags. The Walmart provides
no bags whatsoever. No paper, no plastic. Guess what? The world didn't stop spinning,
customers didn't stop making purchases and everyone quickly adapted to paper bags or bringing
their own. The biggest reason people forget to take their own bags is simply they forgot to grab
the bags out of the car. If parking lots had reminder signs that would help a lot.
On the other hand, since the city says they don't have any money to spend on anything but
salaries and benefits I surely hope this 'survey' wasn't an expensive item to put together and that
you didn't contract with some outside entity to write up 8 questions.
I think people can adjust to not having plastic bags.
Ban the plastic bag!
I support the ban. It would help me become more responsible about bringing my own bag.
I am %100 in favor of the plastic bag ban. It is forward-thinking ideas like these that will preserve
our planet for future generations.
I believe that consumers should have a choice in which type of bag they would like to use. Those
who like reusable bags already do their part and those who prefer plastic bags to reuse at home
should be able to do so with the option of recycling them afterward.
All of my single-use carry out bags are reused to line waste receptacles in my home and are used
as containers for waste placed in these receptacles. If single-use bags are not available, I will
have to purchase bags to use as described above. In my case, there will be no net reduction of
the use of plastic bags for waste disposal by banning the use of single-use plastic bags by
retailers. I believe this is true in many households
Please, please, ban plastic grocery bags! But not the clear plastic produce bags. I use some of
them when I walk my dog and recycle the rest.
I greatly appreciate the integrity Eugene has for recycling. Thank you for asking my opinion!!! Best
wishes.
Get rid of the bags! There are too many careless people. The bags are unnecessary and other
options are available.
All of my single-use carry out bags are reused to line waste receptacles in my home and are used
as containers for waste placed in these receptacles. If single-use bags are not available, I will
have to purchase bags to use as described above. In my case, there will be no net reduction of
the use of plastic bags for waste disposal by banning the use of single-use plastic bags by
retailers. I believe this is true in many households.
The only place I know of to take the plastic bags for recycling is Albertsons on 18th.
I always use my plastic grocery bags. I never just throw them away. I would be lost with out
them, and would have to buy plastic bags if they are banned from our Fred Meyers, Bi mart, Etc.. I
am a senor on limited income, and cannot affort to buythe plastic bags.....
I am an elderly woman and the small plastic bags, when filled with groceries, are all the weight
that I can carry. The full recyclable bags are much too heavy unless I use a number of then.
I use my plastic bags every single day. I practically just used plastic bags to move from one
apartment to another - not boxes. The cloth bags cost money and require cleaning if something
should leak or break. The less cleaning I do, the more money I will have to buy groceries. The
plastic bags are my lunch bags everyday.
Also, I will most likely spend less money at groceries stores that don't have plastic bags because I
know I won't remember to have cloth bags with me. The stores will lose money because I will be
worrying about whether I have enough bags to carry all my food and stuff with.
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.
Attachment D: Text responses from consumer plastic bag ban survey
A plastic bag ban should be implemented
Let's follow Corvallis and Portland and ban these ugly things.
I use the plastic bags only if I have to - they break more easily, and I would really like to see them
gone!!
I will shop in Springfield if plastic bags are banned.
Lived in Seattle where they were banned unless you were willing to pay for the luxury of a plastic
bag - good solution - with money going to recycle agencies
as a user of Eugene's many bikeways, I often see discarded plastic in bushes, streets and
waterways
I am in favor of a ban on single use plastic bags. If there were to be a charge for getting one, I
think it should also apply to paper bags as both are costs to the retailer, with paper being more.
Raise taxes so you can mess with people more.
I think that consumers should pay for their bags. that will hit home. if they want a bag that'll be 50
cents please. other countries do this. the u of o is now having a surcharge if you'd like a cup with
your cup of coffee. it makes one think twice. this is my thought. it certainly would make me
remember to bring my bags. it also readjusts the mindset of the consumer i think. if you have to
buy your bags, it reminds you that you are the one responsible for this.
Ban the plastic bag!!!
I support elimination of plastic bags. I can be trained to bring my own bags and so can others :).
Thanks
I oppose any ban on small plastic bags that are used for fruits and vegetables. I am in favor of
banning larger 'carry out' plastic bags as long as there is a paper substitute.
The ban seems extreme. How about mandating garbage carriers offer recycling as a first step?
I try to use my cloth bags as often as I can but sometimes I forget them at home or in the car.
Can't the plastic used to make the bags be formulated to be bio-degradable? Then these bio-
degradable bags could be the only LEGAL bags that stores could use.
this survey was biased in the questions. I do not want the option of plastic bags taken away. That
was not posed in the survey but it was suggested it would be.
Plastic bag ban is overdue in Eugene. Why are we behind Portland and Corvallis on this issue?
It's about time they're banned in Eugene, why it hasn't been done already. It's just a matter of
changing people's habits. PLEASE pass the ban! Would like to see more done around
nonuse/reuse of plastics.
if plastic bags are not available, i must purchase plastic bags that do end up in the garbage. so
what is the difference?
I live out of town and do all my shopping in Eugene. If there is a plastic bag ban, I will be forced to
shop elsewhere in order to ensure that my needs are met.
reusable bags are an extra expense for the elderly and low income, as is 5 cent charge for paper.
Place user tax on each bag, use revenue for sole purpose law inforcement. Support would be
great and two very important issues would be solved with very little fuss.
I would not support a plastic bag ban if there was a charge allowed for paper bags.
Do not ban plastic bags
Doing away with free plastic bags provided by the retailer would leave a lot of people having to
buy plastic bags to get rid of dog poop and or cat litter. Unintended consequences might be
LESS recycling of plastic and MORE purchases of newly made plastic.
please follow the lead of other progressive western cities and ban the bag.
Get rid of them and while you're out it go back to glass milk bottles and water fountains instead of
plastic bottles please.
Attachment D: Text responses from consumer plastic bag ban survey
The use of plastic bags should be stopped wherever possible. There are much better options to
their use. Minor adjustments to one's habits are all that is necessary. Easy adjustments; it took
me awhile to bringing my own bags - but eventually it becomes habit.
thanks for pursuing this!
The free market a LIBERTY works!
I resuse my plastic bags all around my home. I would have to purchase bags to replace the ones
I am getting with my groceries. Just by simple obervation, you DON'T see abandoned plastic
bags in the streets. This proposed ban is driven by mis-information rather than logic.
as ever, your answer selections are limited, so then are the more detailed responses that should
be necessary to create the information you are allegedly looking for to properly inform your client
(the city) for making decisions like this.
Please keep the option on plastic bags. We're often in PDX and to get a brown paper bag is often
too big for what we've bought. I use my plastic bags for trash - if they weren't available, I have to
buy trash bags that really would have only one use. And what do you do when you buy meat?
Don't ban plastic bags.....
I remember back in the 80's they wanted to to stop using paper bags because they were a
byproduct of trees. It just seems like when there is a knee jerk reaction to something you want to
band it. Find an easier way to recycle these plastic bags so we can keep reusing them.
It's become a habit to take our own bags to the grocery. Now that we are used to it, it is easy.
We still get some plastic bags at other kinds of retail, but it's much less. I support banning them
at groceries. It is an easy transition and good for the planet.
Plastic bags are great, there always clean when you get them when shopping, unlike the cloth
material bags they get nasty unless you wash them after everytime you go shopping. And I use
plastic bags for others things afterwards such as cleaning out the cat-litter box, there great for
that!!
It is a gross over reach of City government to determine the types of consumables that its citizens
are aloud to use. What will be next? I do however believe that it is the job of Eugene citizens to
continue to inform others as to the benefits of reusable and paper bags. At that point the market
will decide the fate of the plastic bag, as it should be.
Plastic bags should be eliminated entirely.
Please ban!
I prefer paper bags, but where I shop the most (walmart), I never remember to ask for them.
Other places I shop that ask me which I prefer at the checkout, I always ask for paper.
If bags are banned and lane Apex and Sanapac costs for labor go down 40%. Willwe see our
garbagebill go down?
Eugene is broke! Doesn't the City Council have something better to do than this????
Many of my neighbors also use these bags for dog pet waste
Should be a personnel and business choice and government should stay out of it.
I store and use them for other recycling items / cans / plastic containers / cardboard rolls - boxes
etc. then put the whole thing in recycle bin. Never just the bags so they don't blow away. I wish
the younger
generation was more careful.
I am AGAINST banning single use bags for any reasons. They are very handy for other things
and it's not the government's business, in this case. I liken this effort to what the Mayor of New
York City is proposing: Banning large sized soft drinks. I certainly favor recycling facilities for
them.
CHARGE A 25-cent FEE for each new bag you furnish. People will start remembering their bags.
garbage disposal companys should recycle the plastic bags.
Attachment D: Text responses from consumer plastic bag ban survey
Please respect consumer's right to choose how they shop. I would rather have the choice to use
a single use plastic bag or my own reusable bags and not be dictated to by the government which
I should use. Aren't there more important things the government should be dealing with?
I work in a retail grocery store and am absolutely disgusted at how filthy the majority of the
reusable bags are. People want their meat in the same bags and it is a collection of germs! If
Eugene bans plastic bags, people really need to start cleaning their bags. It is truly disgusting!
I am tired of government telling us what we can and cannot do. Our freedom has been paid for in
blood and I plan on keeping mine. Government cannot tell us what we cannot do or what we can
or cannot have. It is unconstitutional to do otherwise. You should be more concerned about
creating jobs instead of worrying about other stuff. No body can get a job in this city or state for
that matter. Concentrate on the big things.
I use the bags to cleanup after my dogs when i walk them
1-ease of recycling encourages recycling.compost options need to be made available to
homeowners
2-banning plastic bags would make dog owners PAY for single use doggie poop bags and
therefore I think a total ban unreasonable
question 4 will only accept 1 answer
If there is a ban, I will shop elsewhere.
The City should not be telling me what kind of bags to use.
I think we need to focus more on educating people about recycling instead of banning them.
plastic bags are important when carrying things that end up with condensation or in the rainy
weather for those who are pedestrians or ride the bus or ride a bike. I seen a guy lose his gallon
of milk on the bus once because his paper bag broke from getting wet in the rain. I know quite a
few people who also use them for picking up after their pets. if you ban the plastic bags people
will either start shopping in other towns or be forced to buy small garbage bags which are thicker
and take longer to break down. I really think education is definitely the more cost-efficient method
of handling this.
I think the city needs to ban plastic bags! It will help with the landfills and the toxic waste that is
produced when they are made.
This seems to be another petty area the City is butting into when it has many other more
important issues to focus on. It is not the City's place to tell me how to live my life and take away
my choice as well as increase my grocery bill which is already skyrocketing while my wages are
constant!!!
I strongly support this ban.
Bags with big holes and tears I take back to retail stores for recycling. All others I use for trash
can liners, trash for cleaning out the car, yard debris, wet clothes after swimming or anything else
that comes to mind.
I am against banning plastic bags because I enjoy using plastic bags due to their versatility and
functionality. I have opted out of using reusable shopping bags due to the fact that they cam
inhibit bacteria and other diseases. There have already been sickness outbreaks linked to
reusable bags. I have seen many gross looking reusable bags walking through the grocery store
that it is hard not to wonder if there is a bacteria sitting on the loading tables at the checkouts.
My point is that I don't force you to use reusable bags, so don't force me to go without. Especially
when I do reuse my plastic single use bags. I know I am not alone on this.
I like having the option to have plastic bags. We always reuse them either for dog poop or general
use
Thanks for addressing this issue!
Attachment D: Text responses from consumer plastic bag ban survey
Plastic bags don't take up much landfill space. There are probably more cost effective ways to
use our resources to get the most conservation bang for the buck.
I use the plastic bags as trash bags. It would create an additional expense in both buying trash
bags and reusable bags. It would influence me to drive to Springfield to shop.
Because of my age and disability I need my bag to be VERY light, and this means I generally
have about 8-10 bags/week. I cannot use paper because they fill them too full and cloth bags
have been proven to transfer bacteria from meats to anything else subsequently carried in that
bag. Please, NO BAN on plastic bags!!!
Only use plastic when I do not have my own bags with me and they do not offer paper (for
example, Target).
I 100% support a plastic bag ban in the city of Eugene.
Any time I hear a dumb idea such as this one, I picture someone setting in a room without
windows. They have nothing else to do so they come up with these useless ideas. I have
reuseable bags, but don't use them because it is so hard to keep them clean. Putting chicken or
fish in them is just asking for trouble.
I reuse the plastic, but it is flimsy and has holes so it is not good for most things. I think a ban or a
5 cent per bag fee is a good idea.
Imposing taxes and bans on products and services, in the city, will only drive consumers to shop
in local communities not affected by by this rule. This in turn will hamper small business profits
and make big businesses think twice about wanting to do business in the city limits.
I use them for my household trash.
For some people - young, elderly, disabled, people on bikes, etc. plastic bags are useful and in
some cases
necessary for carry items. And are we going to ban plastic garbage bags next?
The City of Eugene has more important things to worry about than whether or not plastic bags are
used to carry grocery and other purchases home in. Quit trying to legislate behavior and put your
energies into solving serious issues such as the increasing gang related violence, property
crimes, and budget cuts facing the citizens of Eugene.
Choices are needed for how I use my plastic bags. Do not ban plastic bags. Have the retailers
participate in education and recycling efforts. I'm fairly liberal, kind to the environment, but do not
like the continued encroachment of government determining our individual choices.
A ban on single use plastic bags is a not needed and is a waste of city of Eugene resourses. The
city can't balance its budget now. Why are we taking on another cause? It's nothing but a feel-
good proposal for those living in south Eugene. The city should concentrate on core services. Let
the market decide whether to use or not to use plastic bags.
I strongly support all levels of government legislating against plastic bags.
There is so much that needs to be done to protect our environment....water quality... global
warming... I'm not sure the energy invested in banning plastic bags is the best use of our human
resources. I say charge for them and people will stop using them.
It irritates me that I will be charged a fee for paper bags if this is initiated. The people who are the
exceptions always punish those of us who try to comply and do the right thing. I am sick of it!
The consumer and retailer survey do not address the consequences of too many plastic bags. A
good question would be: How concerned are you that plastic bags create an environmental
hazard. Or: How often do you find yourself with too many plastic bags?
I think that if the option of plastic bags are not available, them people will get used to bringing
bags. People at first don't like change and will whine but they'll get used to it. We need to rid of
these one use bags. Such a waste. Other countries get by without them and so can we.
Follow the European models. No personal bag, get charged up the whazoo for paper bags. Oh,
you want plastic bags? Double the price!
Attachment D: Text responses from consumer plastic bag ban survey
Plastic bags are a huge waste of resources. It's not difficult to use reusable cloth bags. People
need to be responsible. Plastic bags also create a totally preventable litter problem. There is no
reason to keep using plastic bags from retailers.
I dispose of plastic bags when they are a container for other things.
I live part of the year in Maui County, Hi where plastic bags have been banned since 2011. It was
a very easy transition. and has made a huge difference in the number of bags seen blowing in the
wind, caught in the trees and floating in the ocean.
Plastic bags are great. All one needs to do is be responsible and recycle them.
If you ban them I will just have to buy plastic bags for the cat box and poop scooping in the yard
and on walks.
It's nice to know there are no serious problems in Eugene. Can you tell me where I should recycle
the gang tags on my mailbox?
Eliminating the free garbage bags for the poor seems arbitrary and punitive. HACSA doesn't
provide recycle options or even garbage disposer units, and require that we use plastic garbage
bags in all their public housing units. Now I'll be required to further whittle at my very small
monthly income buying trash bags and reusible shopping bags.
I agree that the plastic bag should be banned. People need to start realizing that they are
destroying the oceans, are expensive to make. We should not be living in a "throw-away" world!
I fully support this initiative!
You need to stay out of our business and our lives. It is not your job to interfere in EVERY
SINGLE ASPECT of our LIVES...and CONTROL AND GOVERN EVERYTHING!!! LEAVE US
ALONE!!
Plastic bags are an issue only because folks do not recycle them- they should have a deposit
associated with them, and especially for those who use them for dog poop.
Thank you for conducting this survey.
I fully support this idea.
I do almost all of my shopping in Eugene. I also work in a retail outlet where we use single use
plastic bags. I am in favor of outlawing them.
If people had to pay for paper bags it would not take long for them to remember to bring in their
own bags.
WE HOPE THAT THIS SURVEY IS NOT ANOTHER EUGENE CITY COUNCIL"MAKE US FEEL
GOOD". WE NEED THE BAGS THAT THE STORES PROVIDE. DO YOU RELIZE WHAT A
SMALL AMOUNT OF SPACE PLASTIC BAGS TAKE COMPARED TO EVERYTHING ELSE
THAT WE PUT IN OUR GARBAGE CANS?
if plastic bags were banned, we would find other ways the haul our merchandise, it should be all
stores not just grocery stores.
I really don't get why we are so stressed about plastic bags while plastic packaging for everything
from amazon.com books to every electronic device under the Sun is not considered.
It's totally obvious that we need curbside recycling of plastic bags, plastic from "packing air"
packaging, plastic from electronics, etc.
How about having Sanipac providing another recycling bin for these kinds of plastics??
I watched a woman with her small child walk down the street with 6 plastic bags filled with
groceries. If that store would spend money on giving those reusable bags away as bags to be
reused, maybe people would remember to bring them back. Easier to carry and more fits in one
bag.
Attachment D: Text responses from consumer plastic bag ban survey
I would be fine banning plastic bags. Using reusable fabric bags is something I have wanted to
do, I just haven't purchased any and remembering to bring them would take getting used to.
As I consider the demise of the carry-out plastic bag, I do not see myself eliminating these bags
from my daily use. For garbage can and waste basket liners, animal waste, etc. I'll just purchase
bags and continue to use plastic. I also find the potential for cross contamination in reusable bags
a real concern.
I want Eugene to ban plastic bags.
I've been known to just have them put my groceries back in the cart, at which time I take my cart
to the car, and load up boxes that exist in my trunk/hatchback. Works great! No bags! (except
for veggies and meat.
Aside from the fact that there are additional uses for so-called "single-use" plastic bags... it would
be fantastic if the city government kept its nose out of decisions that rightfully belong to
businesses and customers.
Will have to cut more trees if you outlaw plastic bags. The ecofreaks should be all over this one.
At the very least let us have a vote on this dumb rule. We are TOLD too meant times this is what
you are going to to!
I've carried my own bags for over 30 years (department stores, grocery stores, etc) and used to
find people rolling their eyes or wondering what I was doing. Now it's more thank you's.
I finally bought bags for my family, who also use them. The hard part for them is to remember to
take them out of vehicles.
Our community just enacted a single-use plastic bag ban. If people want a paper bag, there's a
charge for it.
PLEASE consider a ban on plastic bags. If that is not doable, then please look at implementing a
per bag surcharge to customers.
Ban them. They are a blight on the planet.
whatever will all those pet owners do if the source for plastic bags dries up..will they have to carry
their pet dooin their hands when they pick it up?
why don't you people get a life. You have better things to do then waste time on this
Shop Eugene about once every two month's.
I don't want to see a ban on the plastic bags. My family finds many uses for them around the
house after bringing them home. I would be nice to have easier recycling options/locations, but I
much prefer using the plastic bags with the handles versus the paper bags with no handles. More
plastic bags can be carried at one time and makes them easier to transfer than paper bags. I do
have reusable bags, but am constantly forgetting them.
I keep cloth bags in my car, but often forget to bring them in with me. Simple solution would be a
sign in parking lot and/or on entrance saying, "Did you remember your own bags?" I am
personally in favor of this bag ban, although I think bags do need to be available for those who
can't afford to purchase or have forgotten theirs. In the old days, people brought their baskets to
market. Sometimes the old time-honored ways are the best.
Get rid of plastic bags!!!!! Come on Eugene be more progressive and make a change!
spend TAX money on services. this kind of thing tells me the city has more than enough
resources andTAX money.
I think that there should be a 5 c additional charge for a plastic bag.
I am sick and tired of government deciding to BAN items like these; why not BAN disposable
diapers! They do NOT break down after years of being in the dump! I think the time would be
better served on more important issues why we are subsidiizing local cities---example:I heard
that several raft boats were used basically on my dime(subsidies) for people going down the river
last wknd! This is wrong! It takes money out of riverguides etc. who struggle to make ends meet
now without having to try and compete with the city of Eugene!
Attachment D: Text responses from consumer plastic bag ban survey
Stop wasting my tax money for things like this and stay the hell out of my fucking business.
It is all about educating people, i.e.,
-cloth bags are given away by some retailers, if people look for them, so they don't cost anything.
-they are NOT unsanitary, just throw them in with the wash monthly.
- etc.
if we want more illness we we do this or we leave the junk in the store by keepping the bags
This isn't a survey about whether or not to ban the bags, this is a bag-use survey.
I am willing to volunteer to get people informed about why it is important to ban plastic bags and
allow the consumers to be informed. Please inform the community with ways to get involved to
help this serious issue of too many plastic bags.
I don't feel that it is government's job to tell me that I can't use them. Stop wasting tax payers
money on this stuff and do something that will make a difference.
I'm a Lane County Master Recycler and believe this plastic bag ban is crucial.
If plastic bags are banned I would have to purchase them for home use.
Please do the ban on the bags. It makes me upset to see so many plastic bags coming out with
some shoppers.
With so many people in Eugene still unemployed, uninsured, paying outrageous city taxes for
gasoline, and generally barely making ends meet, it would be nice to see city council spend their
time and money on REAL issues as opposed to a ridiculous plastic bag ban.
Banning plastic bags would be good for the environment but would make shopping not as user
friendly.
I think they should be banned
I will support the ordinance. Just need to focus and retrain old habits. We are improving each
month. I wish that there did not have to be a law to do this but I respect and want the environment
to remain and prosper for my children and my potential grandchildren.
Why does government have to take away our right to use plastic bags that are more sanitary for
the grocery clerks then handling people's dirty reuseable bags?
What will we use that the garbage company will accept for vacuum dirt and cat litter?
I use these bags for many messy purposes for which I would need to go out and buy heavier,
commercially available bags that produce more waste. If Eugene bans their use, I will shop
elsewhere whenever possile.
If some people want to reuse or recycle plastic bags or use reusable bags, nobody is stopping
them. However, don't stop me from asking for and using plastic bags. And don't forget that plastic
was the solution to using paper for bags, which are once again being offered as a plastic
alternative. I guess we should not have knee jerked our way away from paper based on over
emotional feelings of the environmentalists.
Cutting way back on plastic bags in stores is a great idea, but they do have their place. When
having to walk home and carry groceries in the rain, a plastic bag outside of a paper bag is
necessary, if you do not have your own. We often forget to carry our bags with us. Also, I use
them for many, many other things around the house.
If this ban goes through, I will go over to Springfield to do my shopping!
There are much more serious problems in Eugene and the US than plastic grocery bags. The
politicians should be addressing the serious problems not the trivia, that is what they are paid for!
A complete ban on plastic bags would be wonderful - at least try to make this work! Please!!!
If you stop these bags I will shop in Springfield
I hope there will be no more government mandates put on the public. Please allow private
business to put in place incentives to consumers in regard to the use of plastic bags.
Attachment D: Text responses from consumer plastic bag ban survey
For sanitary reasons, I love plastic bags. I'll probably purchase plastic bags and use them. The
reusable bags you can now purchase will be a huge landfill problem within 5 yrs. I'm already
seeing them abandoned here and there. And they're coated with dyes etc.
One problem I see is that retailers use the plastic bags as marketing, by using there logo on them.
With reusable bags they loose this. So now they sell reusable bags with the same logo's. Only
problem is we consumers don't care who's reusable bag it is, we just grab the ones we have.
What we need is a pre-sale or give away by the retailers, of their bags. If they are free they get
the free publicity, up front, because once everyone has enough bags there won't be the need for
more . We need a way to cover for those of us who may forget there bags. Maybe a slight charge
that could be offset if we returned the bag back to the retailer, clean and in good repair.
i think that banning plastic bags are one of many stupid ideas the city of eugene has come up with
I am old and have back problems. Plastic bags make it easier for me to carry my groceries in.
It's easy to use reusable bags for groceries, but I would strongly prefer plastic bags at other kinds
of stores. I can't imagine bringing reusable bags to the mall, for example.
I like WinCo's policy of taking 6 cents off the grocery bill for each bag you bring. Now there's
some incentive for these hard times!
It still amazes me how many people I see using plastic bags. I'm of the belief that as long as it's
voluntary, only a small percentage of people will make the effort.
Please ban plastic bags. We don't even need the small ones for produce. Lots of Eugenians wash
their plastic bags, even the little ones, and then use them over and over, which is good. But it
would be even better if we all decided to find alternative containers, such as washable cloth bags
of different sizes, to meet our containing/carrying needs. Baskets and reusable, durable bags are
better than plastic bags of any size.
Join with Springfield and ban them together!
I would prefer that they just be banned or have a hefty charge to persuade us to remember to
bring our own. I'd be more likely to remember after a few charges for forgetting them.
I vote for banning single use plastic bags!!!
There is no need for a new ordinance. The current situation is efficient and effective and does not
need changing.
I would support a ban on single use bags - it would encourage me to change my bad habits.
The big hullabaloo about banning single-use plastic bags is a substitute for some much more
substantial measures to provide a much larger volume of pollution reduction/recycling/reduction of
petroleum dependence. Those plastic bags are a minor amount of our petroleum waste.
If stores charge for paper bags and do not offer plastic, people will learn to remember their own
bags more. If there is no cost associated with using disposable plastic bags, we will continue to
use them.
I fully support the ban on plastic bags and see it as one of the only tools the city has to reduce the
use of them by consumers. Behavior change will occur once plastic bags are removed.
I'm pleased that the city is making progress towards banning plastic single-use carryout bags and
plastic single-use products, in general.
The city has no business restricting public use of any non-hazardous item. We have far too many
governmental restrictions on personal liberty as it is and the city and state need to refrain from
legislating every detail of our personal life.
I support the endeavor to cease the use of plastic bags in Eugene 100%. Please get the
community involved more in this campaign: We care too!
Great job tackling this issue!
If you ban I will not shop in Eugene again!! You will loose Local Business from my entire family &
neighbors! Keep that in mind!!
Attachment D: Text responses from consumer plastic bag ban survey
I support the ban on single-use, nonbiodegradeable, plastic film bags.
I often forget my own bag(s) when going to the store and end-up getting plastic or paper bags as
a result. Maybe less options at the store, such as no plastic bags would make me more adamant
about bringing my own. Either way, plastic bags are a waste.
I completely support a plastic bag ban.
You always want to provide *some* option when a shopper either doesn't have a bag or doesn't
have enough of them.
I do not support a ban on plastic bags. I don't use plastic bags often as I much prefer other
options, but this is a silly waste of government effort and community time.
I definitely support a plastic bag due to downstream contamination...
Why not have a contest among the schools for poster art demonstrating the multiple use abilities
of the plastic bag. Require retailers to support and prominently display recycle bins for the bags.
Educate, do not force your will on others..
Any way the city can reduce trash production is a-ok with me. Another hurdle is take-out food and
drink containers.
100% support banning plastic bags in the city of Eugene!
I'll probably buy less products.
plastic bags should not be banned but a program such as the one in washington dc where all
bags are taxed and proceeds go to environmental clean-up programs should be implemented.
Please do NOT impose a plastic bag ban. Create incentives and help make it easier for people to
recycle them. Banning bags should not be a top priority for the city of Eugene.
we also re-use & recycle vegetable & bulk purchase food quality plastic bags; mostly these days
bookstores & fast food are our main source of plastic bags. I sure hope the grocery store
collections really do get recycled, as they are our most familiar & convenient recycle-points.
politics at ravensgard dot org
Oppose ban even if there's not 'enough' recycling - in some ways plastic bags are more eco-
friendly than paper and it's not like anyone is ever forced to use them.
I support a ban on plastic bags.
Attachment D: Text responses from consumer plastic bag ban survey
Mandate from GoPetition Changing the World:
We the people, citizens of all countries of the world, wish to request that our political and business
leaders especially in the plastics manufacturing and retail grocery industries make a concerted
effort produce and sell bio-degradable plastic garbage bags that are not toxic to the worlds air,
water and land and to make this a major priority to prevent further damage to the worlds oceans
and the environment in general.
We realize in the 21st century that our ecosystems are threatened by not only our consumerist
mindsets but also by the lack of availability of environmentally friendly products such as bio-
degradable plastics and plastics products in general which are biodegradable and not toxic to air,
water, land, animals and human beings.
Since plastics are such a necessity in the packaging, delivery and storage of food and water
which we use daily, we are not easily able to eliminate using plastics from our lives.
We request that our governments do a better job in working with business to bring about changes
which makes bio-degradable non-toxic plastics etc. more readily available to consumers in major
retail and grocery chains around the world and if neccessary make this a government mandate to
prevent further destruction to the worlds oceans and environment in general.
We no longer wish to be a part of the massive environmental destruction which is going on
through non-biodegradable plastics pollution and humbly request that our governments take the
initiative and govern concerning this issue, this is an issue which we feel needs immediate
attention.
Please use the technologies available to us in the 21st century of advanced chemistry and
information technology which includes increasingly powerful computational capacity to solve the
huge and dangerous threat of toxic non-biodegradable plastic...the health of planet Earth and the
wonderful human beings and wildlife that live here depend on it.
We also wish that corn ethanol be eventually phased out since this puts a strain on the worlds
food supply and that some of this remaining excess corn production which was used for ethanol
be used to make biodegradable plastic lids, food wrappers and garbage bags etc.
For groceries, whenever possible I use boxes the store is going to get rid of because items don't
roll about in my vehicle and I normally 1-2 boxes instead of 10-12 plastic bags. If boxes aren't out
(usually the boxes eggs are shipped in, with handles), I will ask a clerk if they have any in the
back. When emptied, I reuse them at home or recycle them using my curbside recycle bin.
I appreciate not having to buy plastic bags for purposes for which I reuse my plastic store bags.
Either way, the plastic ends up in a landfill, except that I use the bags for transport of goods and
then reuse for practical purposes (garbage, use as dry container, doggy cleanup, etc).
I do not support a plastic bag ban in the city of Eugene. Education, not legislation, is the key to
reducing the amount of plastic bags that end up on our beaches and in our oceans.
Attachment D: Text responses from consumer plastic bag ban survey
http://www.eugene-or.gov/DocumentCenter/Home/View/6301 <-- shows your bias!
http://www.banthebagspdx.com/ <-- shows your bias.
you do have 1 link that is a ban on the ban link, but I can see when you're placating me! But I
know what's really going on, this is a "formality" so that you can show you gave people a voice.
the decision has been made, you're banning bags! With out a vote your'e going to effect a lot of
people
trying to legislate people's choice is wrong. Let the people decide. Just because you're elected
by the people doesn't mean you speak for ALL people. Since this will effect people in this town
let PEOPLE VOTE if they want to get rid of bags?
Waste Management has stated due to the thickness of the bags they decompose in less than 2
years in landfills.
Attachment E: Text responses from retailer plastic bag ban survey
Question 1: What types of single-use plastic carryout bags do you currently offer to your
customers at checkout?
box
cellulose and other
both
both
All, we use only used bags
reused paper and plastic
We offer both types for what is most sensible, I cannot select both types on this site.
Recyclable biobags
both but you can only check 1 here, we also reuse boxes for them
paper and plastic
gift bags
Both plastic and paper
Question 2: Do your employees ask customers whether they would like a single-use plastic
carryout bag?
We don't offer plastic
see above. Our customers dnate their used bags
no employees
we have reusable plastic bags
we do not offer plastic bags at Point of Sale
unemployed
Ask if they need a bag or not. All we carry is plastic.
Question 3: What percentage of your customers decline a single-use plastic carryout bag?
n/a
unless it is raining then the opposite is true
don't offer
We don't offer plastic
not an option
Most of our customers have 1 or 2 items and decline a bag, if they have bought more, they usually need a
heavy plastic bag to hold their purchases.
only because they don't want or need a bag, not because it's plastic
I don't use them
NA
unemployed
for the elderly, disabled incapable of holding paper or laundering cloth in which the handles break with little
weight, this is very detrimental. I am an environmentalist who uses these bags for garbarge too and storage.
Please make some exceptions and let Corvallis know I can't shop there when these bags are eliminated. I
have no one to help me carry bags and live alone. I realize the horrible damage they can do but I have to
survive with Alzheimer's, temporal artritis, and NOW cancer. Thank you for listening. I wish i had a
wonderful solution. Also I have horrible bowel and urinary incontenance & need to put my waste into these
bags daily.
Question 4: What thickness in millimeters (mils) are the single-use plastic carryout bags you
provide to customers at checkout?
No text response option
Question 5: Approximately how many single-use plastic carryout bags does your store provide to
customers in a year?
10k
Attachment E: Text responses from retailer plastic bag ban survey
500
n/a
7000
0
3000
who knows. We NEED THEM
3 large rollls
5/10/2012
1500
200000
0
2000
550,000 in the Eugene area
4 million
0
unknown,we do not keep track
1000
0%
25000
quite a few, several thousand at least; maybe about 10,000 up to 30,000 a year
We sell nails and fasteners, so bulk sale bags are small and heavy. Also long lasting and multi reuse
250000
12000
I don't know
12000
none we have reusable ones
12000
0
0
4500
1000
unknown
0
10000
we do not offer plastic bags at POS
4000
300
A lot
29000
? 5,000
Unknown
10000
Question 6: If single-use plastic carryout bags were banned, describe any impacts to your
business:
Increased cost of bags, additonal shipping costs on bags
Our prices would increase. In addition, our products contain liquid. In the event a leak occurs, paper would
have disastrous results.
none
Attachment E: Text responses from retailer plastic bag ban survey
we would support this--no impact of significance
We sell paper products (books, magazines) in a pedestrian area. Cars are never close by. Customers
purchases may be damaged.
None but it would positively impact the environment.
We would not be able to package large togo containers in standard size paper bags/ this would mean a new
design would have to be used which would likely have to be very bulky. Our largest container is a square foot.
this shape does not do well in a paper bag unless it were custom made for us. A small percentage of
customers use the plastic bags anyway. But the few that do would have to accept another alternative. We do
not automatically give out plastic bags but ask the customers first if their order does not fit into our more
common #6 and #12 paper bags.
Terrible impact!!!!
not sure how farmers market customers would take home their produce....
I would have to throw out the package we have been using for the last 10 years.
We only use paper currently so it will have no impact.
increased cost due to changing product, affect profitability.
We would move to Springfield
None
I would have to invest in other methods of transporting my products to my customers. The return of the
basket?
Naturally, it would increase the cost of doing business with that size alone 400% if replaced solely by same
size paper bag. If customers use a reusable bag, then impact would diminish. However, reusable bags
present possible health issues from unsanitary customer bags.
How would I bag items unless I start buying paper bags?
0
I guess we'd have to switch to paper
None
none
cost of paper bags
I would move to another state, or another county that was less idiotic. I cannot do business here in Lane
County with all your ridiculous PC rules.
We would not have a stock of used and donated plastic shopping bags to offer. We would turn to boxes (used)
and other containers.
With time to transition, I do not see any issues.
none
We would have to provide (recycled) boxes to carry out the awkward items. Our employees would have to go
the back room to find the right size. Paper is used, but does not adequately hold most of our heavier items.
None
While I don't use them - I still don't support the idea of banning them through legislation - I wan't people to
choose my buisness because I don't use them - it sets me apart and it educates the customer. a ban will not
do this.
It would drive up costs and require me to increase prices. It is difficult to survive in the current economic
climate for both myself and my customers.
cost, storage of bags, double baging would be needed in alot of cases. paper bags are not as strong or as
reusable as the plastic we use
none
heavy
None, but this survey is noteably a waste of tax payer money.
0
Attachment E: Text responses from retailer plastic bag ban survey
unable to satisfy customers request
I SELL BOOKS. BOOKS DON'T LIKE MOISTURE. IT RAINS HERE ALOT, EVEN DURING BUSINESS
HOURS. BOOKSTORES NEED AN EXEMPTION111
none
The customer would adjust.
none
Increased paper bags and give away reusables.
Too big to comprehend
When we quit offering plastic in 2008 we did not see a significant increase in paper bag use. Our customers
used their own bags or re-used paper bags.
it would be helpful to have the ban
Angry customers asking for forms to recall the mayor.
Plastic bags are essential to keeping our products fresh. Banning plastic could put our company out of
business.
We would need to redesign our check-out counter in that is located in a very small space. The plastic bags
currently hang on a hook for the checker to fill with purchased goods.
We wouldn't have anything to provide to customers to carry their items out in.
Costs would increase marginally
Question 7: Does your store take back single-use plastic carryout bags for recycling?
We do reuse single use bags that we bring from home. etc.
We have in the past but not currently.
We ask for and are given used plastic bags by customers
reuseing not recycling
Discounts for reused bags
Question 8: If your store does not take back single-use plastic carryout bags for recycling, why?
we don't use them
0 demand
n/a
do not use so don't need to
No financial incentive....ie: scrap steel generates income.
We don't give customers plastic bags
Experience with customer recycling was inconsistent and when they were not recyclable we discontinued and
have not resumed collections
N/A
I do take them back for reuse, but not in any quantity
Since I don't offer them I don't really want to get them back
we dont offer single use bags
I don't use them therefore I don't take them back
We do
Question 9: What type of retail store do you operate?
farmers market stand
Farmers Market Stand
books
Farmers' market
farmers market produce stand
Business to Business Services
Hotel Restaurant, Dry Cleaning and Gift Shop
Organic produce delivery service
Attachment E: Text responses from retailer plastic bag ban survey
BRING Recycling, non-profit hardware/dry goods
gallery
Auto Parts
Fabric store
auto parts
Muzzleloading Gun Store
Question 10: How many full-time employee equivalents (FTEs) does your Eugene store(s) employ?
7
5
16
4
45
1.5
3
16
24
2
10
5
we don't have a store; we are two owners/operators
3
7
15
45
40
19
15 full 40 part time
84
4
200 to 250
18
40
11
1
2
25
8
5
21 +- season
40
0
41
3
160
22
12
3
2
Attachment E: Text responses from retailer plastic bag ban survey
2
65
04/05/2012
none
5
3
17
400
6
30
150
150
4.5
3
15
Question 11: Please provide any additional comments here:
We use a lot of small ziploc bags, they are reusable and we buy the thicker mil so that they are reusable for
longer.
This is one of the stupidest wastes of time. Plastic bags are cheap and compact. I can order a bundle of 1000
that takes less space than 100 paper bags. As a consumer it's even worse. I use the bags to pick up after my
dog, but maybe that doesn't count as "recycling" even though he alternative is to buy plastic bags. Fix the
budget and quit wasting time and resources on telling people what to do.
The city needs to save money. Our business saves hundreds of companies and municipalities money. The city
of Eugene does not seem to want to engage a local company that can reduce their waste, environment
footprint and save money.
our customers overall would support this
Plastic bags should not be banned. Let consumer decide.
Dislike using plastic bags ... paper bags are problematic: 1) Not water proof 2) not strong 3) expensive 4) take
up lots of storage 5) cost more 6) cost more in freight charges (more deliveries because of storage problems)
I think a ban on plastic bags would be great. They are difficult to recycle and become an environmental
hazard. There are plenty of more responsible ways to carry purchases.
This ban will have an effect on our business, the plastic bags are commonly re-used by customers as trash
bags etc. It comes to question who is gaining from the ban? Re- use is the oldest form of recycling and is still
used today by many people. the replacement bag would likely be expensive to design and purchase for one
location, when our other locations can simply continue using the franchise standard bags.
We should be able to use plastic bags! Can't believe the council should even have the power to stop the use of
them! We are a farmers' market operation, not a big store. We shouldn't be included in any attempt to ban
plastic bags anyway.
I have researched this issue some and find the statements and science to be in opposition to the reasons
given to ban the bags. If you want to be kind to the environment for real, then this approach is somewhat
dishonest. Perhaps the city should ban all bags, paper or plastic. You should ban #6 plastic if you are really
concerned about the environment. Talk about negative impact! That plastic is not recyclable at this time and is
used as a single use throwaway hot food or drink or packing material. It has far more deleterious effect on the
environment.
We can't fund the animal shelter,the sheriff,or the schools,but when it comes to crap like this the City of
Eugene has all the money in the world to waste.
Attachment E: Text responses from retailer plastic bag ban survey
As a citizen I feel the city could spend time better than policing use of bags. Education is a better option. Our
organization supports a ban, personally I feel it is a flash in the pan, we face many more pressing issues to
address first.
I think the bag ban is a bad idea. Most of our customers don't use them, but when needed, they are more
convenient and they make more sense than paper or a box that will get thrown out. We recycle all our
shipping boxes. Most people reuse their bags as trash bags
I believe most of the bags in the landfills are from waste basket lineing, not throwing out. If the free store bags
are banned people will have to buy Hefty plastic bags for waste baskets, what's the diff other than cost?
This survey suffers a huge sampling error. It is not a true survey. Use of the information collected is extremely
biased due to the sampling error. Use of biased information to make law is wrong.
AGAIN, THE PRODUCT I SELL IS RUINED BY RAIN, SO I NEED TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE PLASTIC
BAGS WHEN IN RAINS. OR IS IT THAT YOU THINK EVERYONE BUYS THEIR BOOKS AT AMAZON?? IS
THAT WHAT YOU WANT??
Just ban them like other cities have done. They are bad for the environmental and difficult to recycle.
Our customers went right along with this when we quit offering the plastic bags. It lines up with what most of
them want.
Our store is in Springfield but want our voice heard!