Press Room

Annapolis retailers warm to idea of banning plastic bags

By Kristen Wyatt, Associated Press

ANNAPOLIS (AP) — As Annapolis prepares for a vote to enact what would be the nation's toughest plastic-bag ban — and the first on the East Coast — a few merchants gathered yesterday to support the idea.

The city council in this waterside community of about 40,000 will consider next month whether to ban retailers from using plastic shopping bags. The proposal has sparked opposition from town grocers, but some retailers said the tough ban is needed because plastic shopping bags are clogging waterways and landfills.

"It's going to cost us a little bit more, but you've got to start somewhere, folks," said Gary Amoth, owner of Hard Bean Coffee and Booksellers, which overlooks the city dock. Mr. Amoth said he recently switched to paper bags even though they cost more.

"I think the greater good has to outweigh the small, little things," Mr. Amoth said.

Alderman Sam Shropshire, who introduced the ban, said he has the votes to get his ban approved by the eight-member council Nov. 19.

"I fully expect ... that this legislation will pass," Mr. Shropshire said.

San Francisco and Oakland, Calif., passed plastic shopping bag-bans, but those ordinances would exempt compostable plastic bags when they take effect. The Annapolis ban would prohibit any plastic bags.

Mr. Shropshire said the bags need to be banned altogether because the different kinds of plastic bags would get mixed up.