Two months after Carbondale leaders balked at banning plastic bags at every store, the town’s Environmental Board is back with a new proposal.<\/p>\n
Or rather, several proposals, including developing a plan to reduce most kinds of plastics, from bottles to straws, joining other recycling advocacy groups, and, yes, expanding the bag ban.<\/p>\n
If the goal is a reduction in plastic use, expanding the bag ban to more Carbondale retailers won\u2019t make a huge difference by itself, but it\u2019s still an important step, says Frosty Merriott, former town trustee and member of the appointed Environmental Board.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think the proclamation to come up with an orderly reduction of all single-use plastic is more valuable, quite frankly, than the bag ban,” Merriott said. “But the bag ban has been successful, so I\u2019d like to see us build on that and send that message, because it will help in the education of the general public.”<\/p>\n
The E-board, as its known in Carbondale, would like the town to declare Tuesday \u201cfreedom from single-use plastic day,\u201d and commit to having a strategic plan in place by the next Earth Day, April 22, 2020. <\/p>\n
That doesn\u2019t mean the group isn\u2019t pushing for an expanded bag ban. At a May meeting, the town Board of Trustees declined to extend the bag ban town-wide, but Merriott thinks it\u2019s still important to increase the number of stores that don\u2019t provide plastic shopping bags.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat we tried to do was reduce the scope of the expansion
\nof the plastic bag ban so it didn\u2019t just go town-wide for all establishments,\u201d
\nMerriott said. <\/p>\n
The E-board recommended two options that would include five or six stores in the bag ban. <\/p>\n
Currently, grocery stores of more than 3,500 square feet are not allowed to provide plastic bags to shoppers, and charge 20 cents for single-use paper bags. <\/p>\n
The current ban only affects City Market, but the E-board would like to extend the ban to retailers, as well. That would affect Ace Hardware, the Roaring Fork Valley Co-op along Highway 133, Dollar Tree, Basalt Bike and Ski, Napa Auto Parts, and Sopris Liquor and Wine.<\/p>\n
The E-board also suggested raising the square footage limitation to 9,000 square feet, which would exempt Basalt Bike and Ski from the ban.<\/p>\n
Merriott believes the board will at least agree to a proclamation, and the commitment to create a realistic plan by next year. <\/p>\n