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Plastic bags are detrimental to the community because they do not fully degrade in our oceans or land environment and introduce unsafe chemicals into our environment. Plastic bags create the potential for injury to or death of marine animals through entanglement and ingestion. Further, it takes anywhere between 500 to 1000 years to decompose. The expansive usage of single-use plastic bags and their typical disposal rates creates an impediment to the City's waste reduction and recycling goals while creating unsightly litter. The widespread use of single-use plastic bags presents recycling challenges and frequently contaminates materials sent to recycling facilities. As an alternative, reusable bags can reduce waste and litter, protect wildlife, and conserve resources.

The city's plastic bag ordinance 2018-4208 will prohibit the use/distribution of single-use carry out plastic bags on the right of way and to sidewalk café patrons.

 Alternatives

Paper – This bag style is generally made from recycled paper,  which is gathered and processed within recycling paper mills. In some instances, the paper is made from fresh paper pulp which is the thin shavings of wood from trees. Paper bags are also recyclable as long as they’re not soiled.

Cotton – Cotton bags are a fashionable alternative to plastic. Be sure to look for bags that are 100% cotton. You can also take it a step further by opting for organic cotton options.

Linen – Linen, similar to cotton and other textile based bags, is a natural, biodegradable material.  Linen is made from the cellulose fibers that grow inside the stalks of a flax plant which is one of the oldest cultivated plants in history.

When shopping for produce, it’s difficult to not be tempted to pull at the wheel of smaller plastic bags scattered within our grocery stores.  The good news is that alternatives also exist for produce bags!

Alternatives

Cotton – This textile is made from the fiber harvested from the cotton plant. Like many textile based produce bags, cotton bags help keep fruits and vegetables fresh longer than plastic bags. The breathable fabric allows ethylene gas to escape when compared to plastic alternatives.

Muslin - Muslin is a type of thin cotton weaving that allows more breathability. It resembles cheesecloth and is both reusable and washable.