Let's encourage reusable bags and ban single use plastic bags!

Our region, state, nation, and world are being rapidly overwhelmed with plastic waste of all types; very little of it (only 5–10%) is recycled and most of it ends up in our waterways and food, and thus ultimately inside the bodies of all animals, including humans. It's frightening to ponder that microplastics have been found in human placentas!

To begin to deal with this plastics crisis, the City of Frederick will soon consider legislation that would ban single use plastic bags in certain retail situations. The Sierra Club has conducted a variety of studies to determine the most effective elements to include in plastic bag ban legislation for municipalities. To encourage shoppers to bring their reusable bags to the store, the bill bans single use plastic bags and includes a provision that paper bags would be offered for a nominal fee of 10 cents each, with the retailer keeping the fee.

A number of municipalities in our region have passed similar bills, and we can use information from their experiences to inform how we arrange our program.

Please show your support for encouraging reusable bags and banning single use plastic bags in the City of Frederick by writing to the Mayor and Alderpersons, or by attending the workshop they'll hold at City Hall on Wed. Feb. 8 at 3 PM.

Thank you!