Moses Lake plastic bag ban discussed
MOSES LAKE - Banning single-use plastic bags could soon be a topic of discussion in Moses Lake after city council members received a letter from a citizen suggesting such an action.
"I moved to Moses Lake one year ago and work at the local hospital as a registered nurse," wrote Rachel Hunter. "As a nurse I strive for health and wellness. I propose that Moses Lake ban plastic bags in the city."
Hunter, a 23-year-old originally from Blaine, went on to say bags made of reusable cloth or recyclable paper could be offered instead.
"Why go to the store to fill a single-use plastic bag and then throw it away?" she wrote. "Why not reuse?Ê Let's make Moses Lake set an example for other cities."
In fact, several other cities around the country - from San Francisco, Calif., to Brownsville, Texas - have already passed ordinances requiring retailers to provide only recycled, compostable or reusable bags.
Large grocery stores in Portland, Ore. will stop offering plastic bags this fall. In Washington, Edmonds' ban took effect last year and Bellingham will go "bagless" starting in 2012.
The Washington State Legislature rejected two plastic bag bills last session, one of which would have banned retailers from providing plastic bags and the other would have imposed a two-cent tax on each plastic bag distributed at retail stores.
"This has been a topic of discussion around the state from a few years back," City Manager Joe Gavinski said Tuesday.
"When you look at what plastic bags do to the environment, I think it's a good idea," Councilman David Curnel said. "I really think it's something we should consider as a city council."
Curnel called for a public hearing to weigh the issue.
Hunter said in an e-mail Wednesday she thinks a lot of citizens might agree plastic bags are overused and not necessary if they were given the chance to speak on the issue.
"I just think Moses Lake is a city with a lot of opportunity and it will grow and become better with small ideas like this one," she wrote. "I am just one person - a young one at that - but I have the education and the eyes to see that some things are not needed and we need to speak up for ourselves and our planet."
Councilman Bill Ecret said the Vision 2020 team looked at the issue about three years ago and have a lot of information which could be used.
"Our group suggested to many of the retailers they should promote their reusable bags and they already do," Ecret said. "They do a really good job."
While he too would like to have a discussion on the issue, Mayor Jon Lane said business interests should be involved.
"I would also like to know what some of our major retailers in town, what they're thoughts are," Lane said. "I'm sure there are some economic considerations to this."