Alaska City Could Repeal Plastic Bag Ban

A citizen’s initiative might overturn the prohibition passed by the Homer City Council.

September 25, 2013

HOMER, Alaska – Last year, public testimony pushed the Homer City Council to approve a ban on plastic bags. This year, a city resident’s campaign might reverse that decision, the Homer News reports.

Justin Arnold delivered a petition asking for a ballot vote on the ban during the November elections. The question, “Shall Homer City Code Chapter 5.42 prohibiting sellers from providing customers with disposable shopping bags be repealed?” will appear on the ballot. “Yes” repeals the ban, while “no” affirms the ban.

The ban covers only thin, plastic shopping bags called “t-shirt” bags, but not thicker plastic bags or plastic bags for dry goods, medicine, produce or meat. The ban took effect January 1, but retailers could use up their current stock after that date.

“I’m not balloting for the bags so much as I’m balloting against the government telling us not to use them,” said Arnold. Councilmember Beau Burgess co-sponsored the bill. “I think people underestimate the impact of plastic on food and the impact plastic has on the environment,” he said.

Both Arnold and Burgess believe they will win come November. Lately, plastic bag bans or fees have been cropping up all across the country.

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