Mar 24, 2008

Businesses oppose bag ban

City council may impose restrictions on usage of plastic, Styrofoam containers

By Banks Albach / Daily News Staff Writer

Dozens of Palo Alto businesses have come out against city plans to possibly ban plastic bags and Styrofoam containers.

In a petition that will be presented to the city council tonight, roughly 40 businesses are trying to make the case that a ban would not work and would hurt stores and restaurants.

"Please don't punish local businesses just to make an empty environmental gesture," the petition reads. "Products don't litter, people do."

The city council is not scheduled to discuss or take action on the petition. The body last discussed imposing restrictions on March 17 and is set to weigh the bag ban, and possibly take action, on April 21.

City staff is also crafting a proposal to restrict the use of Styrofoam containers in Palo Alto, which should be ready for council review this summer.

According to a March 17 staff report, 11 Alaskan cities, San Francisco and Oakland have all passed bans on plastic bags and seen more people using reusable bags. The cities of Berkeley, Santa Monica, San Jose and Fremont are considering similar measures.

Another possibility is a tax on plastic bags similar to one that Ireland passed nationwide in 2002.

According to the city staff report, plastic bag usage dropped 90 percent in that country after the tax was implemented.

Council Member Yoriko Kishimoto said something needs to be done and that she would support some type of ban.

"To me it seems like a no-brainer," Kishimoto said. "I believe we definitely need to drastically reduce our use of plastic bags."

Referring to the staff report, Kishimoto said cities have tried for years to increase their plastic bag recycle rates, but the rate still hovers at about 5 percent.

At least one council member is waiting for more information before deciding what he thinks of a ban.

"I haven't formed an opinion on this yet," John Barton said. "I need to know what kind of a difference (a ban) will make."

The proposed restriction, intended to further the goals of the council's Zero Waste Operational Plan, reflects growing concern about the effects the single-use bags have on the environment, especially the ocean and marine life.

Israel Rind, owner of Izzy's Brooklyn Bagels on California Avenue, said the ecological damage is a concern for him. Rind didn't sign the petition opposing the ban, but a manager at his store did.

Rind said that if the city bans plastic bags, it should also help businesses make the switch to the costlier biodegradable bags.

"If there is a viable alternative, I don't see any reason to be opposed to (the ban)," Rind said.

In his petition, Joey Donnelly of Wahoo's Fish Tacos in the 2300 block of El Camino Real stated that he's explored other packaging options, and none are financially reasonable.

"It would be too expensive for a new business at this point," Donnelly wrote.



E-mail Banks Albach at

balbach@dailynewsgroup.com.