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Board creates plastic plan

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Also by Jacquelyn Ryberg:

As record approaches, city expects more snow today (February 5, 2008)
Watchdog uneasy about animals on cold (February 1, 2008)
December snow storms deplete Madison budget (December 13, 2007)
Residents must wait for safe ice skating (December 10, 2007)

by Jacquelyn Ryberg

Tuesday, February 19, 2008

Madison’s Commission on the Environment considered creating education programs to stem plastic grocery bag usage in the city at a meeting Monday night.

The commission continued their discussion from last month about plastic bags and ways to remove these non-biodegradable items from the downtown area without levying taxes and banning them altogether.

“I think that there are options on the table that we could in all likelihood pursue,” said George Dreckmann, recycling coordinator for the city of Madison, who presented a report to the commission about alternatives to plastic bags.

According to Food Marketing Institute, the average American visits the grocery store 2.3 times per week, taking home between five and 10 bags each time. And with a total of 100 billion bags used each year in the U.S. alone, an average of 12 million barrels of oil are used solely for this production.

“Obviously from a litter perspective, if someone throws away a paper bag it will biodegrade at some point, whereas the plastic bag will not,” Dreckmann said.

Madison is not the first to consider alternatives for plastic grocery bags. Ireland was first to take action with a tax initiative in 2002, while other countries around the globe that discourage plastic grocery bag and bottle usage include Australia, Bangladesh, China and Italy.

“You could pursue a ban, you could pursue a deposit program, or you could pursue a recycling requirement,” Dreckmann said. “Every one of those options would have some environment benefits and some drawbacks.”

Although other cities have instituted bans or levied taxes, the Commission on the Environment is not looking to move in that direction just yet.

“Maybe working with the mayor’s office we could encourage [alternatives] through letters to editor, start a publicity campaign or get prominent businesses to voluntarily cut back on the use of plastic bags,” said Bill Sonzogni, a commission member.

However, some members did not agree that relying solely on Madison residents to voluntarily stop using plastic bags would solve the excessive usage and unnecessary pollution.

“I think the indication is that we try and try, and eventually people find it is not going to work trying to control,” said Reginald Weide, a member of the commission. “Bags are basically out of control.” The commission arrived at a general consensus that an educational program would be fitting until further action such as bans or taxes prove necessary, but some concerns with funding and functionality arose.

“I’m worried if we don’t have our ducks in a row we are going to allow others to alienate the whole program and alienate the public,” Sonzogni said.

Bruce Dickie, environment commission member, voiced concerns with funding, saying, “If we are going to do an education program, we’ll need money from the city budget, and that won’t happen this year.”

However, Dreckmann said it is possible.

“I am enthusiastic about launching a waste reduction campaign which 15 years ago I thought was a waste of my time,” he added.

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