Politics & Government

Chicago Aldermen Mull Plastic Bag Ban -- Again

Chicago alderman want to put a measure banning distribution of plastic bags to customers at retail business back before the City Council.


Chicago alderman are once again considering a ban on plastic bags at retail businesses after a similar proposal died in 2007.

Members of the City Council’s Health and Environmental Protection Committee discuss a ban for more than two hours on Tuesday, the Chicago Tribune reported.

Ald. Proco “Joe” Moreno (1st), sponsor of the proposed ordinance to ban plastic bags distributed to customers at stores, was one of several aldermen that said it was time to end the debate.

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“Our environment has waited too long” for a ban on the bags that litter streets, clog sewer drains and end up in landfills,” Moreno said. “Our neighborhoods have waited too long to get this garbage out.”

The Tribune reported that several environmental activists and high school students spoke in favor of the ban.

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The city has had a plastic bag recycling program in place since 2008, a statement on the Illinois Retail Merchants Associations website said.

Grocers, convenience stores and pharmacies are already required to act as collection points for plastic bags. The retailers are also required to report annually regarding the number and weight of bags recycled and other information to track the progress of the mandate, according to the merchants association.

Moreno has advocated dismantling the city’s plastic bag recycling program and banning plastic bags altogether. Plastic bags used to bag produce, protect food from contamination, and bags that can be cleaned and reused are exempt from the program would be exempt from the proposed ban. Recyclable paper, compostable and reusable bags are also defined under the proposed ordinance. The ban would apply to all retailers.

Tanya Triche, vice president and general counsel for IRMA, spoke out against the ban, saying that paper bags would cost more and affect profit margins. Higher costs from the paper bags would be passed on to consumers and possibly deter grocers from opening new stores in the city, especially in areas considered “food deserts.”

Instead, Triche suggested that retail businesses charge customers for each plastic bag.

Moreno said he would be open to a phase-in plan for the plastic bag ban, but did not support charging consumers for bags.

“Your industry has had six years — six years — to come up with a comprehensive — your words — solution, and nothing has changed,” the Tribune quoted Moreno. “We are not preventing anyone from charging for these bags. If you stores want to charge for them, go ahead.”

Ald. Matt O’Shea (19th), who attended Tuesday’s meeting,  said on his Facebook page that the ban on plastic bags could potentially hurt mom-and-pop business as well as consumers.

“I have spoken with several business owners throughout our community and believe that banning plastic bags will hurt small businesses and result in an additional tax passed on to consumers,” O’Shea said.

No word yet what Mayor Rahm Emanuel thinks about the measure.

The committee tabled voting on the ban until April 15.


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