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Single-use plastic bags

Last year the Washington state Senate approved a ban on single-use plastic bags; however the ban stalled in the House, even though the bill had broad public support, including support from the state’s grocers. The bill includes an 8-cent fee for each paper bag the stores hand out. The American Forest and Paper Association objected to this, fearing customers would reject their products.

Single-use plastic bags are the biggest contributor to the growing environmental crisis of plastic pollution, killing thousands of whales, birds and other marine wildlife each year. Two billion plastic bags are distributed annually throughout the state, and nationwide less than 5% are recycled.

On Jan. 15, 2020, the Washington state Senate once again voted to approve the ban on single-use plastic bags. Let us strongly encourage our state House representatives to support the will of the majority of Washington citizens and pass the bill to ban single-use plastic bags.

Colleen Robisch

Otis Orchards

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