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Plastic Bag Ban Discussed In Annapolis

WJZ News
Oct. 26, 2007

Mike Hellgren
Reporting

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(WJZ) ANNAPOLIS, Md. Annapolis and Baltimore push to ban plastic shopping bags.

Mike Hellgren reports on the cost, the environmental impact and the corporate critics.

It is a question Marylanders have been asked for years--paper or plastic? But it could soon be a thing of the past in Annapolis.

Producing plastic bags uses oil and they take hundreds of years to biodegrade. That can choked the bay and kill wildlife.

It's a cost that one Annapolis alderman believes is too high and he wants to convince his colleagues.

"I know their hearts, minds, love for the environment, especially the Chesapeake Bay. I have no doubt this will pass on Nov. 19," said Alderman Sam Shropshire.

But for critics, including big grocery store chains, it comes down to the bottom line.

Paper bags cost 5 cents each, compared to 2 cents for plastic. Plastic is more space efficient.

"It takes seven trucks compared to one truck to deliver the same amount of bags to a grocery store and more space in the landfill," said Donna Dempsey, spokesperson from plastic bag Industry.

Making paper bags uses 14 million trees every year. Plastic bags use 12 million barrels of oil.

In San Francisco, a ban now in place takes 100 million plastic bags off the streets, saving 340,000 gallons of petroleum. It's the equivalent of taking 140,000 cars off the streets for a day.

"If they thought one more step, one more chess move away, if all their customers were bringing their own bags, it would save them lots of money," said Brian Calahan, an Annapolis business owner.

A ban has been introduced in Baltimore, although its sponsor says it likely won't pass in the latest council session.

"You like the choice of paper or plastic, but you also want a clean harbor; you want clean neighborhoods," said Councilman Jim Kraft.

The ban in Annapolis would be the toughest in the nation, with huge fines for violators. But some customers already want to bag it.

"The whole thing seems silly to me" said Dave Provine.

More than 90 percent of shoppers now use plastic bags. Annapolis is also considering expanding recycling campaigns and providing reusable canvas bags who live there.

Click here to read the ordinance.

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