Bag the Ban: Some Say Plastic Bag Ban Is Bad for Washington

Although Edmonds has banned the use of single-use plastic bags and , not everyone is behind the idea.

, a few commented that the ban, enacted in 2010, may be overkill, and another pointed to the availability of biodegradable plastic bags.

Mark Daniels, vice president of sustainability and environmental policy for Hartsville, SC-based Hilex Poly, testified on Wednesday in Olympia about the impact the legislation would have on consumers, the economy and the environment.

Hilex Poly is a manufacturer of recycled content high density polyethylene (HDPE) bags, films and related products. It runs a Web site called Bag the Ban and is active in working to defeat plastic-bag bans nationwide.

“Washington residents interested in reducing litter and protecting the environment would be far better served supporting a statewide recycling program rather than an all-out ban on retail plastic carry-out bags, a policy which will only push consumers to alternatives that are less sustainable, not more.

“The truth is, banning one product that makes only 1 percent to 2 percent of litter will have no meaningful impact on litter. Instead, it will result in forcing consumers to use products such as reusable bags, which are mostly imported from China, made from foreign oil and are not recyclable, or to use paper bags, which have a larger carbon footprint than plastic bags.”

Daniels says there is a better way. According to Enviornmental Protection Agency data, he says, plastic bag recycling increased 24 percent between 2009 and 2010 nationwide.

“Washington has the opportunity to show real environmental leadership and enact a comprehensive recycling plan that actually reduces litter, saves American jobs and protects consumer choice.”