Tacoma seeks opinions on banning or restricting disposable bags

Tacoma city officials want to hear what the public thinks of restrictions on disposable shopping bags.

The Office of Environmental Policy and Sustainability is gathering comment in anticipation of city leaders possibly moving to regulate shopping bags next year.

The city is considering rules for plastic and paper bags “typically given out at check-out aisles. … Disposable shopping bags do not include other paper or plastic bags such as deli and produce bags, advertising and promotional bags, pet waste bags or yard waste bags.” Restaurants and nonprofit charitable organizations would likely be exempt.

The city will collect comment through an online survey at cityoftacoma.org/ShoppingBags until Dec. 20. The survey asks if respondents use disposable shopping bags and how, whether they would support a ban or a fee on bags, and how high of a fee the city should charge. The survey questions assume that low-income individuals would not have to pay bag fees.

People can also make their thoughts known at the Dec. 8 meeting of the Sustainable Tacoma Commission. It will meet from 3:30-5:30 p.m. in the Tacoma Municipal Building, 747 Market St.

According to a city press release, 13 other communities in the state have disposable bag regulations.

Plastic shopping bags make up less than 1 percent of Tacoma’s waste stream by weight but can harm wildlife and make neighborhoods look unsightly if not discarded properly, according to the city.

This story was originally published November 23, 2015 at 12:12 PM with the headline "Tacoma seeks opinions on banning or restricting disposable bags."