Sunday, September 9, 2012

Bag it!

The Rhode Island Chapter of the Surfrider Foundation was one
of three environmental advocacy groups actively debating Barrington's
proposed bag ban. (By Tim Faulkner/ecoRI News)
By TIM FAULKNER/ecoRI.org News staff
An opponent of Barrington’s proposed plastic bag ban posed the rhetorical question to the Town Council at its Aug. 22 hearing, “Why haven’t local environmental groups shown up to take a stance on the bag ban?” 

Presumably, he was referring to the most recognized state environmental groups, such as Save The Bay and the Audubon Society of Rhode Island.



Some environmental groups, of course, made themselves heard at the hearing. Environment Rhode Island initiated much of the debate by gathering supporting signatures from 340 Barrington residents and 14 businesses. The Rhode Island Chapter of the Surfrider Foundation and Clean Ocean Access also participated in the debate.
“Make Barrington a leader on this issue,” Channing Jones of Environment Rhode Island said to the Town Council. “If Barrington will start something, it will spread to other places around the state.”
“Barrington is just one town,” said Joseph Roberts, a member of the town's Conservation Commission and the sponsor of the bag ban. “Ultimately, it needs to be an effort that moves beyond one town.”
The following are responses from Rhode Island environmental groups regarding Barrington's proposed plastic bag ban:
Save The Bay. Rose Amoros, director of communication. “We applaud local community advocates and Shaw’s for taking action in this case. Given limited resources, our efforts as an organization are focused on tackling a multitude of direct threats to (Narragansett) bay such as habitat decline/loss, erosion, sea level rise and water quality issues that threaten bay health and the safe use of the bay. It is always great to see citizens mobilize around a local issue with the goal of effecting positive, community-level change — as in this situation.”
Audubon Society of Rhode Island. Eugenia Marks, senior director of policy. “Audubon has not taken a position on this particular vote, but in the past we have supported legislation and policies that ban or seek alternatives to plastic bags. While plastics serve a useful purpose where durability, lightweight and flexibility are needed, plastic shopping bags, originally disposable, although now recycling is encouraged, litter. The state’s requirement that retail stores offer paper bags to customers who request them is not uniformly followed and, of course, no resources go to enforcement."
The Nature Conservancy/Rhode Island chapter. John Torgan, director of ocean and coastal conservation, says The Nature Conservancy lacks the resource to get involved with this community ordinance. "Our decision not to take a formal position on this was a matter of capacity, not a judgment on the merits of the bag ban. We are always happy to offer advice and information.”
Clean Water Action Rhode Island. Jamie Rhodes, director. “I've signed a letter of support for Environment Rhode Island's organizing work. Clean Water's position is that we encourage municipalities to evaluate whether a bag ban is the right decision for them. Plastic bags pose a unique danger to our environment because they are generally a single-use product which is not accepted in our curbside recycling program. They are required to be collected by grocery stores, but this level of inconvenience for consumers is a barrier to achieving significant levels of collection in Rhode Island. CWA is focusing on the statewide policy that will be debated in the upcoming Senate Study Commission for printed paper and packaging materials. This will necessarily include discussion of not just plastic bags, but also the prevalence of plastic wraps and packaging that is used not just by retail customers but also in wholesale shipping.”
State Department of Environmental Management (DEM). Nicole Poepping, legislative liason. “DEM has no position on the local bag debate going on in Barrington."
Rhode Island Resource Recovery Corporation (RIRRC). Sarah Kite, director of recycling services. “This is a local solid waste initiative, and as such, RIRRC has no role other than to provide guidance if requested. Guidance has not been requested."
Sailors for the Sea. Lauren Curley, director of communications. “We try to stay as neutral as possible. It’s fair to say (Sailors for the Sea) looks to educate individuals and encourage people to make smart, healthy decision on a day-to-day basis. ... To reduce the amount of waste that makes it into the environment certainly would have a positive impact.”
Clean The Bay. Kent Dresser, president, noted that Clean The Bay isn't policy oriented, but focuses on cleaning up larger marine debris and abandoned vessels. As someone who works on the bay, Dresser said he sees plastic bags in the water daily.
Jones said the lack of direct participation by these organizations doesn't mean they don't support a ban. "There is broad public support in Rhode Island for banning plastic bags, and the environmental benefits of a bag ban are clear. I expect that other environmental groups in the state will voice their support for the issue as public discourse around it builds."
The Barrington Town Council intends to announce its bag ban ordinance at its Sept. 10 meeting. A public hearing on the ordinance is scheduled for Oct. 1.