Push to Ban Plastic Bags in Guilford Gaining Momentum

GUILFORD, CT - A group that would like to see Guilford join the small number of towns in Connecticut to ban single-use plastic bags made a presentation to the Board of Selectmen at its August 20th meeting.

Terri Cain explained that Bring Your Own (BYO) is a group of residents concerned about the global problem of plastic waste. They have been building a community consensus and partnership since the spring.

A major partner has been the Guilford High School Environmental Club.

Molly Babbin a recent GHS graduate gave a brief presentation on plastic pollution in the environment, particularly in oceans. The largest contributor is single use plastic bags. She noted that 60,000 bags are used every five seconds. On average people use a bag for 12 minutes and it lasts 450 years in the environment. Only 1-3% is recycled.

She added that 32 countries have banned plastic bags and that California and Hawaii have
state bans.

The towns of Westport and Greenwich have bans as well.

Ironically, on Thursday, Grocery chain giant Kroger announced that it will be discontinuing single-use plastic bags in its stores by 2025 as part of its ongoing sustainability program, called “Zero Hunger | Zero Waste.” The move towards sustainability will encompass all of Kroger’s family of stores, including: Quality Food Centers, Food 4 Less, Ralphs, Dillons, Smith’s, King Scoopers, City Market, Fry’s, Harris Teeter, and more.

According to a press release from the brand, an estimated 100 billion single-use plastic bags are thrown away in the U.S. every year and less than 5 percent of plastic bags are recycled. “The environmental consequences of single-use plastic bags are well known,” Mike Donnelly, Kroger’s executive vice president and COO, said in the release.

Back in Guilford, advocates state options include a straight ban on plastic with a transition to paper or banning plastic and adding a separate fee on the paper bags. The ultimate goal is to have people bring their own bags, the group told the selectmen.

They have collected 500 names and have also gotten support from businesses such as Bishop’s and Big Y and they have submitted a sample ordinance from Greenwich.

Selectman Louis Federici said this is commendable and worthwhile. He questioned if there are costs associated with this.

Cain said there is no cost.

Selectwoman Sandra Ruoff asked what would be the biggest reason people would not want to support this.

Cain said that some people on a budget who may not be able to afford the bags.

She suggested for those who couldn’t afford it, they could provide bags through social service agencies and there is a method to make your own bags.

Selectman Charles Havrda said possibly the fees for the bags could be used to fund and supply reusable bags.

And Selectwoman Susan Renner said if two of the biggest suppliers in town are supportive why not try something voluntary first rather than creating a law.

Cain said she can get the board research, but that does not work as well as a ban. And the ban that works the most is the one that also charges for the paper bags.

Babbin said it is harder for an individual store in a larger chain, such as Big Y to do this voluntarily. They have said that corporate would only allow them to change if an ordinance is passed.

There was discussion about Walmart. Babbin said what she has found in her research with regard to educational campaigns versus research is that the campaigns work initially, but then people go back to old habits.

There was discussion about other groups in town who have been focusing on the same issue. Cain said they could all work together.

First Selectman Matt Hoey said he would like to expand the charge of the Energy Task Force to work with the selectmen and legal on this issue.

He added that they need to create a groundswell of public support for this so there are no obstacles
for approval.

Photo by Jack Kramer