Tacoma: Plastic bag ban is not the answer

Re: "Tacoma's plastic bag ban debate continues, with a few questions," (TNT, 12-1).

Talk about government overreach! Let the Matt Driscoll's of the world use their own "reusable totes" and "feel good about it," but let the rest of us have freedom of choice.

Driscoll obviously does not do much shopping for a large family that would require carting many plastic totes into and out of each store. He actually suggests that social engineering by government is a good thing, and "wouldn't Tacoma love to add its name to the list of progressiveness" such as the "forward-thinking cities like Seattle, Olympia, and Bellingham."

I say absolutely not. Both plastic and paper bags are completely recyclable, and take far less energy and resources to produce than the plastic totes. Let's encourage recycling of plastic bags, as opposed to a ban or a fee from our "nanny" city government.

This story was originally published December 2, 2015 at 11:30 AM with the headline "Tacoma: Plastic bag ban is not the answer."