EcoVida: New Proposed Fee On Plastic Bags Causes Worry
Paper, plastic or neither? Thanks to a new fee proposed by city employees, that plastic bag you use at the store could cost as much as 10 cents.
Marty Howell, El Paso’s sustainability manager, said the fee wasn’t designed to bring more revenue to the city.
“What we are hoping to do is reduce litter in town, clean up the city, and also reduce the impact on the storm water utility,” said Howell.
Not all environmentalists agree the move away from plastic is for the best.
The Environmental Literacy Council said paper bags take more energy and resources to produce than plastic.
The city said it’s not trying to push for people to choose paper. In fact, they said the main goal of the fee is for El Pasoans to choose reusable bags instead.
Even though reusable bags could help keep the city clean, experts warn if bags aren’t regularly washed, they can harbor dangerous bacteria, particularly when used to carry raw meat products.
With the fee, the city hopes to change behavior and keep litter off the streets. But some say the fee will turn them toward other products.
“If they are going to charge extra, I’m just going to go with what’s cheaper,” said plastic bag user Michael Dawson.
If you aren’t ready to give up using plastic bags but still want to ensure they don’t end up in a landfill, many local grocery stores accept used plastic bags including Walmart, Target and Albertsons.
