End the Tide of Rising Plastic

December 31, 2009

Reusable Bags Ordinance Proposed for Wilton

Plastic bags have increasingly appeared in Connecticut’s roads, streams, rivers, beaches, and trees. In response, in 2008, Westport implemented an ordinance banning plastic bags in all retail checkouts.

Supported overwhelmingly by Westport residents, elected officials of both parties, and merchants, the ordinance has been a resounding success – promoting sustainability and eliminating much non-bio-degradable waste. Now our town selectmen are beginning to explore a similar ordinance for Wilton.

According to the New York Times, "up to 100 billion plastic bags are used each year in this country. It takes 12 million barrels of oil to make a year’s supply. While convenient, they choke wildlife, create litter, overload dumps for generations, and expel harmful chemicals when they do break down."

How Would a Plastic Bags Ban Work?

Like the Westport ordinance, a Wilton reusable bags ordinance would not deny people the right to use plastic bags, but rather, prevent merchants (particularly supermarkets and drug stores) from giving them away free.

Liz Milwe, one of the sponsors of the pioneering Westport ban, said "this ordinance is about communities making a difference". Westport successfully implemented this ordinance in March, 2009, and considerably reduced its plastic waste. This ordinance is about communities making a difference.

A ban would focus on restricting retailers, not residents – in Westport nonprofits and yard sales are excluded. Low cost reusable bags can already be purchased from many of Wilton’s retailers, usually for under $1.00 per bag; bags with the store name and logo provide marketing benefits to the merchant.

Fast Facts

  • In 1977, plastic bags were first introduced in the U.S
  • In 2007, over 1 trillion plastic bags were used worldwide
  • In the U.S., over 100 billion plastic shopping bags – 450 per adult – are used each year.
  • The amount of plastic in municipal solid waste grew from under 1% in 1960 to 12% in 2006.
  • There is a Texas-sized flotilla in the Pacific Ocean &ndash, about 50% of which is plastic.
  • Voluntary efforts to reduce plastic waste have not proven successful – fewer than 2% of plastic bags are recycled.

Find Out More

Jonathan Cunitz, who helped spearhead the Westport ban, will be speaking to the Wilton Board of Selectmen about Westport’s experience at the February 1st Wilton Board of Selectmen meeting (held at Town Hall at 7:30 p.m.). All residents and merchants interested in learning more about the initiative are encouraged to attend. You can also contact Selectman Ted Hoffstatter for more information.