It is past time for San Juan County to join the global movement to reduce plastic bag pollution. Many cities and even whole countries around the world, concerned with plastic pollution, have banned their use.
A Single-Use Plastic Bag Ban for San Juan County enhances marine protections, promotes public and environmental health and shows a strong stewardship ethic by our leaders to our community and visitors alike.
Friends of the San Juans wants you to help support this ban because:
• Plastic bags break down into micro particles that never go away, they just get smaller and absorb toxins like PCBs, BPA and mercury.
• Data documenting the presence of micro plastics in every water sample taken in Puget Sound translates into ingested plastics by all our wildlife - the salmon and the iconic Orca…even humans.
• Research has shown only 5% of plastic bags get recycled so to stop this form of pollution we must stop its use at the source.
• Single use plastic bags are commonly found littering roadsides and beaches threatening the health and welfare of all in our community.
The San Juan County (SJC) Council is considering a recommendation by SJC Public Works Department to ban “single-use plastic bags” for San Juan County in 2016. The Town of Friday Harbor also is looking at this ban as most of the businesses using this kind of bag are within the town limits.
It's critical that you speak up now while the local councils are looking at this issue.
