James Martin lifts a plastic bag at the eastside Kroger store Thursday. Also at the counter are paper bags, as well as cloth bags available for purchase. Staff photo by David Snodgress
Bring Your Bag Bloomington (BYBB, if you’re into abbreviations), a group of concerned citizens formed by the Center for Sustainable Living last summer, is pushing for the Bloomington City Council to address the issue of single-use plastic bags such as those commonly used at grocery stores.
Over the past year, the group has looked at ordinances in more than 130 other cities, two states and about 70 countries that ban the use of plastic bags. They sought advice and guidance from council members and staff to put together guidelines for a potential ordinance.
Group members hope to make a presentation before the nine-member legislative body before the end of the year, complete with a video of the “Bag Monster,” a character in a costume made of 500 plastic bags (the number each American uses annually) who has made appearances at the Bloomington Community Farmers’ Market, the Fourth of July parade and other events around the community.
The group is proposing one year for adjustment, one year during which there would be a 15-cent charge (all proceeds going to the retailer) for using both paper and plastic bags and a complete ban on plastic bags after another year with a 15-cent charge remaining for paper bags. Some plastic bags, including those used for produce bulk items, prescription drugs and wet items, would be exempt from the ban, which also wouldn’t include thicker bags such as those used at Kohl’s.
“We really are pushing for people to bring your own bag,” said Sura Gail Tala, a member of the group.
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