Ordinance To Impose A Fee On Plastic Grocery Bags In Aspen

By Matt Lewison


Plastic bags have grown to be one of the key environmental issues at present. They contribute to environmental havoc in many different ways. Irreplaceable natural resources are used for the production of plastic bags. The plastic bags are used only once for a short time and then placed directly into the garbage. Plastic waste disposal is a problem that does not have an effective solution. Indeed being not biodegradable, many of these plastic bags continue damaging land as well as oceans for many centuries. They cause the death of many of marine birds and animals, add to landfill waste and also generate rubbish. Many countries are making attempts to eliminate the use of plastic bags. Numerous towns and cities in the U.S. are coming up with laws prohibiting plastic bag use.

Ordinance to Impose a Fee on Plastic Grocery Bags in Aspen

As stated in an interesting report in Post Independent, an ordinance to charge grocery store shoppers a fee of twenty cents for providing either plastic and even paper bags was revealed in Aspen. With the 1st reading, the regulation gained almost total support from the council members with a 4-1 vote. But yet nearly all members still have several unanswered questions and wish further specifics. Many questions relate to the 20 cent number and the reasons for deciding upon this amount.

Questions Surrounding the Proposal

Council member Adam Filch is a supporter of the eco-friendly cause. He also distributed complimentary recycled shopping bags to voters while campaigning for council seat in spring. Yet in the very first reading, he was the only individual to vote against the regulation. Even though reasons behind this have not been clarified, earlier Filch showed concern about the advantages of a 20 cent service charge in reducing the use of plastic bags. He furthermore expressed a need to learn how the amount was reached and whether or not this represents the cost of gathering a thrown-away plastic bag.

Although some members consider that the charge is simply too modest to decrease the utilization of plastic bags, others like Steve Skadron believe that a 20 cent charge may perhaps be too high. As stated by him, a 10 cent or maybe a five cent charge ought to be considered. Apart from the individuals, the ordinance will also have an effect on grocers. Charging a fee for a grocery bag could be a burden for the stores. As stated in the existing proposition, 5% of the fee goes to the stores as a remuneration for the extra expenses. Yet council member Derek Johnson states that this could be inadequate. 5 % of the charge will mean around $100 per month, which is extremely low since the supermarkets may have to put money into electronic register reprogramming and also employee training. They could also encounter productivity loss. According to Johnson, the issue should be talked over with the grocers.

Grocers can use reusable custom bags to promote both their business and the green cause. The biggest intent of this move is to limit the use of plastic bags. However in case the fee is unproductive in inspiring people to give up plastic or paper bags in favor of reusable grocery bags, it would earn the city approximately $1 million within the year.




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