By Bill Lawyer
The documentary begins innocently enough with a plastic bag floating along a street, like a tiny cloud buffeted by the wind. A cute musical soundtrack plays in the background. But within a few minutes, viewers of “Bag It” learn how big a threat the millions of plastic bags tossed on streets, in streams and rivers, and filling up landfills, poses to life as we know it.
The film and the panel discussion that followed were co-hosted by Rye’s Sustainability Committee and the Environmental Auxiliary Committee of Rye Country Day School, where the event was held October 21.
While everyone was treated to delicious hors d’oeuvres and refreshing beverages served in glass goblets before the screening, the 75-minute film was heavy going, with a number of gruesome scenes showing the sickening and often tragic outcomes of our overuse and dependence on plastics.
“Bag It” is a low-budget film, narrated by Jeb Berrier and directed by his wife, Suzan Beraza. The two of them did most of the camera work as well.
Their story begins in Jeb and Suzan’s Colorado hometown, the snow-capped Rocky Mountain peaks in the background. From there they expand their view to some of America’s larger cities, several European countries, and out to the middle of the Pacific Ocean.
Despite its serious subject matter, the film’s humor and charm keep you engaged, even when you’re being inundated with facts and figures on the environmental mayhem caused by plastics.
Mr. Berrier demonstrates the way people deal with the bags they’ve accumulated – stuffing them in drawers, using them to pick up pet poop, and frequently just “throwing them away.”
But then he adds, “Where is away?” He proceeds to show us.
As the film progresses, Mr. Berrier broadens its scope to include many other types of plastics — water and baby bottles and skin-care product containers, among them — and the problems they cause.
In addition to the fact that single-use plastic bags are hard to recycle, the film highlights other reasons why plastics are bad: they don’t decompose; they use up huge quantities of fossil fuel; and they wreak serious biological damage to birds, marine life and humans – particularly children. Some of the most painful scenes to watch involve the carcasses of dead albatross, whose stomachs are filled with plastic bottle caps.
Following the film, four panelists discussed two approaches to dealing with plastic problems: education and legislation. Sleepy Hollow Middle School teacher Michael Garguilo talked about his environmental action club’s project to eliminate single-use plastic items from the school this year.
They’ve made great strides, including switching from plastic spoons and forks to a “spork”. His wife, Kristin Quell-Garbuilo, who teaches at Westchester Community College, described some of the educational efforts being carried out at that level.
Two speakers from Westport, Connecticut described their efforts leading up to the ban of single-use plastic checkout bags from all stores in the community. They emphasized the importance of starting an education and voluntary compliance program before trying to enact a ban.
The Rye Sustainability Committee is currently working on such an approach and will bring its recommendation to the City Council in November. They have compiled a FAQ sheet, which appears on this page.
Note: To view the three-minute trailer of “Bag It”, go to www.bagitmovie.com/trailer.
Q: Why do we need a retail shopping bag ordinance?
A: Single-use, disposable plastic bags are a major source of litter and pollution in our environment. These bags do not biodegrade, are extremely difficult to recycle, and can only be “reused” once before being discarded. Most are never used more than once to transport goods from a store. The proposed ordinance is part of a larger educational campaign to encourage the use of reusable bags, thereby contributing to a cleaner, healthier environment.
Q: Is the problem really so serious that we need to pass new legislation?
A: Yes. There is nothing useful about single-use bags. The lasting damage from a disposable plastic bag that is used – on average — for only 12 minutes before discarded, is huge. Plastic bags will remain in the environment hundreds, if not thousands, of years, and destroy wildlife, clog storm drains, and fill landfills. This legislation will demonstrate that Rye understands the need to protect its environment by moving away from our “disposable” habit to a “reusable” one.
Q: Why isn’t an education campaign enough to get the point across?
A: Sometimes education is not enough to change habits that are considered part of everyday life, but are actually of no value to the community, and can be harmful to many. As members of a community, we accept regulations imposed on us every day: we’re not allowed to litter; we must recycle; we are required to pick up after our dogs; we must use a seatbelt. This legislation is similar to these forms where voluntary compliance has not achieved the desired results because of reluctance of individuals to change their behavior.
Retail establishments impose rules too, that we, as shoppers, accept: Costco, for example, has imposed its own “regulation” by not offering bags to customers. It’s good business because it cuts costs.
Q: Is this a new concept?
A: No. To date, hundreds of towns, cities, and countries have similar ordinances, including Westport, Connecticut, Southampton, N.Y., Chestertown, Md., and San Francisco.
Q: What about “biodegradable” plastic bags? Why not use them?
A: Studies have shown that these types of bags do not effectively disintegrate back into nature . A far more important point is that these bags are disposable and thus run counter to the objective of reducing the amount of waste and pollution in our environment.
Q: Why aren’t paper bags targeted?
A: The objective of the ordinance is to promote the use of reusable bags by reducing our dependence on single-use bags. It is a simple fact that single-use plastic bags are a chronic litter and pollution problem while paper bags, though not ideal, have far higher recycling rates and will biodegrade.
Q: Won’t the proposed ordinance hurt business owners, as paper bags, on average cost more than plastic?
A: Although they are less expensive than paper bags for retailers, plastic bags represent an insignificant portion of retailer operating expenses. No Westport business, for example, has closed down due to the elimination of plastic bags from its inventory as a result of the town’s 2008 ordinance.
The ordinance is part of a larger campaign to reduce single-use bags. The use of disposable bags will decline as shoppers adopt reusable bags, allowing businesses to purchase less disposable bags and promote the sale of reusable ones.
Two studies conducted by Fairfield University one year after Westport passed its ordinance show a significant increase in reusable bag rates (approximately 50% at the Westport Stop & Shop relative to those in neighboring towns; approximately 10-15% in Wilton and Norwalk). The Westport Stop & Shop management embraced the spirit of the ordinance to its advantage through the use of store signs and sales of reusable bags. The Proposed Ordinance
Q: To whom does the Checkout Bag Ordinance apply?
A: The ordinance targets only retail transactions. The goal is to reduce the use of disposable plastic bags, which are often discarded less than an hour after, but remain in our environment virtually forever.
Q: Who is exempt?
A: The ordinance does not apply to plastic bags used for personal use in the home, the sales of goods at yard and tag sales, and sales by non-profit organizations.
Q: What plastic bags from a store can still be used?
A: The ordinance does not apply to thick plastic bags — those that are at least 2.25 mils thick and sometimes called “reusable” shopping bags — and plastic bags made of very thin plastic material with a single opening that are used for produce, meats, dry cleaning, newspapers, or other items.
Q: Is the proposed ordinance too limited to make a difference?
A: No. By targeting the plastic bags that are used for the least amount of time before being disposed, we can make a real impact in our community.
Q: What is the effective date?
A: Six months after the date of passage.
Q: What is a recyclable paper bag?
A: A recyclable paper bag contains no old growth fiber, is 100% recyclable overall, contains a minimum of 40% post-consumer recycled content, and displays the words “Reusable” or “Recyclable” on the outside of the bag.
Q: What is a “reusable bag”?
A: A reusable bag is one with handles that is specifically designed and manufactured for multiple reuse and is made of cloth or other
fabric, and/or made of durable plastic that is at least 2.25 mils thick.
Q: Can retailers “sell” shopping bags to customers?
A: Yes. Any bag provided by a retailer can be sold to its customers, including ones made of paper, cloth or canvas. Retailers are encouraged to promote the use of reusable bags, and sell them with their logo, if desired.
Q: What is the proposed enforcement procedure?
A: The City of Rye is not required to check stores for compliance, but will respond to any complaints. A notice of non-compliance will be delivered to the person in violation of the ordinance.
Q: What is the proposed penalty for non-compliance?
A: Up to $150. Each day that a violation continues will constitute a separate violation and penalty.
Q: What will I use if I need to line my trash bin or pick up dog waste?
A: Garbage and newspaper bags will still be available.
—The Rye Sustainability Committee
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