Plastic Shopping Bag Survey - Thurston County

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Plastic Shopping Bag Survey

1. Check the box that best describes where you live.

Response

Percent

Response

Count

Bucoda 0.8% 29

Lacey 24.8% 939

Olympia 30.4% 1,152

Rainier 1.7% 65

Rochester 2.9% 108

Tenino 2.1% 80

Tumwater 7.0% 265

Yelm 7.1% 269

Unincorporated Thurston County 17.4% 658

I do not live in Thurston County 5.9% 222

answered question 3,787

skipped question 0

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2. Please rate the following statements:

Strongly

AgreeAgree Neutral Disagree

Strongly

DisagreeN/A

Rating

Average

Response

Count

I always recycle my plastic

grocery bags.43.4%

(1,496)

30.9%

(1,066)

11.3%

(390)

7.9%

(273)

4.5%

(154)

2.1%

(71)1.97 3,450

I am concerned about the amount

of litter and trash plastic bags

create.

57.0%

(1,955)

27.5%

(943)

8.9%

(306)

3.0%

(104)

3.4%

(116)

0.2%

(6)1.68 3,430

I always use reusable bags when I

shop.

20.4%

(699)33.7%

(1,157)

24.0%

(825)

13.8%

(472)

6.7%

(230)

1.4%

(49)2.52 3,432

Making plastic bags uses too many

resources.42.2%

(1,423)

24.3%

(819)

20.1%

(678)

5.4%

(183)

6.4%

(215)

1.7%

(56)2.08 3,374

I always reuse my plastic bags for

other purposes, like picking up pet

waste or lining my trash can.

63.7%

(2,199)

27.3%

(942)

4.9%

(168)1.7% (58) 1.0% (34)

1.5%

(52)1.47 3,453

I am concerned about marine

animals and birds being injured or

killed by plastic bags.

62.3%

(2,135)

23.3%

(799)

8.1%

(279)2.7% (92)

3.1%

(106)

0.4%

(14)1.60 3,425


skipped question 293

3. Are plastic bags recyclable in your curbside recycle cart?

Response

Percent

Response

Count

Yes 12.4% 429

No 61.5% 2,130

I don't know 26.1% 906



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4. The average American uses 350-500 plastic shopping bags each year. How many of

these actually get recycled?

Response

Percent

Response

Count

5% 63.7% 2,163

35% 28.1% 955

65% 5.8% 198

95% 2.3% 78



5. Would you support an ordinance in Thurston County that bans plastic "check-out" bags

in retail stores and allows stores to charge a fee for paper bags?

Response

Percent

Response

Count

Yes 49.2% 1,727

No 25.9% 907

Maybe - I need more information 24.9% 873



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6. We would like to know your thoughts about plastic bag use in Thurston County! (ex: What

do you like about plastic bags? How can we increase bag recycling? What are some

arguments for or against a ban on plastic bags?)

Response

Count

1,569


skipped question 2,218

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Page 3, Q6. We would like to know your thoughts about plastic bag use in Thurston County!(ex: What do you like about plastic bags? How can we increase bag recycling? What are some arguments for oragainst a ban on plastic bags?)

1 Being able to recycle at curbside. Oct 15, 2012 6:35 AM

2 I hate plastic bags but don't want to create new challenges for low-income folksrelated to fees.

Oct 12, 2012 2:18 PM

3 Plastic bags and bottles should be banned. Oct 12, 2012 1:48 PM

4 I like using plastic bags to line my trash cans and to carry items to and fromhome.

Oct 12, 2012 1:46 PM

5 I avoid them and use paper or reusable when possible. Oct 12, 2012 11:23 AM

6 You can reuse them over an over. Oct 12, 2012 11:11 AM

7 Provide incentives to use or switch to reusable. Provide reusable bags for free.Fine businesses that continue to use or provide.

Oct 12, 2012 10:19 AM

8 Don't allow. Make people buy them like in Europe. Oct 8, 2012 12:34 PM

9 -am not in favor of cutting old growth for paper bags. -if paper gags come fromrecycled produts-for sure.

Oct 8, 2012 10:05 AM

10 I can reuse them for other things. However, retailers are too wasteful by notfilling them all the way *shoppers* litter bags when it is not always necessary.

Oct 8, 2012 10:03 AM

11 Light weight. Easy to Handle-I don't forget to take them in. Oct 8, 2012 9:42 AM

12 Have more places to recycle bags. People don't wash their reusuable bags, andI don't like the unsanitary problems.

Oct 8, 2012 8:48 AM

13 We all shold return them to the place where they shopped! Oct 8, 2012 8:36 AM

14 Plastic bags can almost always be used for other than their original purpose. Oct 8, 2012 8:32 AM

15 Make plastic bags that cost 50cents and last to be re-used. Oct 5, 2012 3:24 PM

16 Plastic bags are hazardous to the environment and should no longer beavailable for use. I use paper bags.

Oct 5, 2012 2:34 PM

17 It's good that some grocery bags now give discounts for bringing your own bags. Oct 5, 2012 2:18 PM

18 I like to use plastic bags for garbage-yard waste. Oct 5, 2012 2:17 PM

19 Ban packaging Oct 5, 2012 2:02 PM

20 Light-have plastic bqags recycled in garbage pick-up Oct 5, 2012 2:00 PM

21 Humanity has surpassed the planetary carrying capacity, and it makes senseaccording to the precautionary principle, to take immediate and urgent actiontolessen our impact.

Oct 5, 2012 1:49 PM

22 fold & hand in to food bank.Or reuse at times. Oct 5, 2012 1:29 PM

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23 No more plastic bags.! Oct 5, 2012 1:27 PM

24 Reusable, but these bags are reusable to the max! Oct 5, 2012 12:58 PM

25 My DD clients reuse them and they're free for them. Oct 5, 2012 12:52 PM

26 To be able touse them when I need them for stuff around my house. I agree thatwe should get rid of plastic bags. We are filling up our land fills to quickly.

Oct 5, 2012 12:35 PM

27 I'd support a tax on plastic bags-enought to cause stores to offer a 5 cent rebateto customers for reusing bags. then when the bags are worn and torn, the DEQcould have a $100,000 sweepstates, with 20 broken bags turned intor recyclingto enter.

Oct 5, 2012 12:22 PM

28 I do re-use mine several times over for various causes. Very helpful whencarrying objects containing moisture.

Oct 5, 2012 10:45 AM

29 But they make great poop bags for dogs. Oct 5, 2012 10:43 AM

30 Plastic bags can be useful when you need a cheap waterproof container. Oct 5, 2012 10:41 AM

31 Increase with curbside pick-up Oct 5, 2012 10:39 AM

32 People need to be more aware of bringing your own bag. Oct 5, 2012 10:11 AM

33 Not a whole lot. Make recycling easier for people . Cost. Landfill. Oct 5, 2012 10:09 AM

34 I can carry a lot more at one time in plastic. Oct 5, 2012 8:45 AM

35 Offer it curbside. Oct 5, 2012 8:32 AM

36 ffff Oct 5, 2012 5:11 AM

37 Ban them! Oct 4, 2012 8:47 AM

38 It can be frustrating to be charged a monthly fee to recycle. Oct 4, 2012 8:07 AM

39 Curbside recycle for plastic would be nice! Oct 4, 2012 8:06 AM

40 I would like to see more plastic bags recycling, and more recycling of all that weuse, paper, food, etc.

Oct 4, 2012 8:00 AM

41 We reuse plastic bags alot in our house, but we also recycle them. Oct 3, 2012 9:02 AM

42 I support a ban. Oct 2, 2012 2:27 PM

43 Store signs in parking lots. Oct 2, 2012 1:58 PM

44 Sometimes plastic is useful for chicken at the grocery store. Need reusableoptions for that.

Oct 2, 2012 8:53 AM

45 I like plastic bags but there should be an easier way to recycle. I take them to Oct 2, 2012 7:40 AM

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Fred Meyer but it would be easier to put them in my recycle bin. I use my clothbags when I shop and for a lot more like my trips to Costco. People need moreeducation also on what happens when plastic bags hit the environment.

46 How about an incentive to not use plastic bags and use reusable containers? Oct 2, 2012 7:34 AM

47 How about an incentive to not use plastic bags and use reusable containers? Oct 1, 2012 7:56 AM

48 I use my plastic bags for pet litter. Otherwise I recycle them. Oct 1, 2012 5:22 AM

49 I use plastic bags for pet waste. I'll have to buy them if I don't get them viashopping. I use reusable bags for a portion of my shopping. Having recycling ofplastic bags at curbside would help with recycling. The stores don't alwaysrecycle the ones that you take there. They sometimes throw them in the trash.If they were biodegradable it would help with ones that get loose in theenvironment (it won't matter in a landfill). I wish people weren't so irresponsiblewith disposal.

Sep 30, 2012 5:54 PM

50 Too much governmental regulatoins with zero accountability. Suggest a solutionrather than a regulation. What about paper bags again that are automaticallyrecycled regardless of the direction they go - paper goes back to the land theycame from as trees. Less export of our lumber to other nations and cultures andmore of that wood going to make paper bags. Back up the clock folks and theplastic bags go away in favor of paper. Thank you.

Sep 29, 2012 6:43 PM

51 Reusable shopping bags breed bacteria leading to food poisoning. I find theplastic bags new are safer for food carrying. Plastic bags have been maderecently more fragile. Tear easier, bottoms not fully sealed, thinner. All in theeffort to apease the anti plastic bag people. I do feel for wildlife and the garbagewaste on our beaches. I find it very sad people are so lazy they can't bebothered to dispose of bags. I use bags for pet waste, containing garbage totake to can, To keep food from being contaminated from other foods. I amdisabled and the plastic bags are easier for me to carry vs. paper bags. I wantthe choice to use what I view is best for me. Not to be mandated what I have touse and charged on top of that. Fixed income means just that. We can't affordfood, power, phone, shelter, transportation, medical care and now anothercharge is to be added. NO NO NO NO. Leave my plastic bags ALONE.

Sep 29, 2012 4:24 PM

52 The imposition of bag fees would create a significant problem for those of uswho use the Food Stamps program to feed ourselves, as well as other problems.

Sep 29, 2012 2:49 PM

53 They are re-usable in many ways and I don't need to pay for other inconvenientmethods to carry things.

Sep 29, 2012 1:08 PM

54 I use the bags to line small garbage cans and for other purposes. If they wind upin the garbage, it's because they are full of other garbage. Stop telling me howto live my life.

Sep 29, 2012 11:40 AM

55 The whole "green" thing is way to extreme. The problem is not the bags, it isirresponsible people, government always punishing all over the few.

Sep 29, 2012 10:48 AM

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56 I believe there should be a charge for both plastic and paper bags; therebyenforcing the use of reusable bags. The right sollution in protecting ourenvironment is eliminating the convienence of pollutants. The reuse of plasticbags, for pet wast as an example, still harms our environment. Pet ownersshould use biodegradable bags which are much more size appropriate for thetask.

Sep 28, 2012 10:40 AM

57 I believe it should be up to an individual whether or not to use whatever type bagthey choose. If you are going to require people to bring their own bags, for aperiod of time give free bags to customers. Some people can't afford to buythem. Some elderly and low income people can't afford even the nickel to buythem. If an elderly person has $50 to spend on groceries and forgets their bagand their bill is $47.99, they don't have the nickel to pay for a bag.

Sep 28, 2012 9:45 AM

58 I strongly support a plastic bag ban. I really wanted to attend some of the publicmeetings, but I was unable to do so. I think Thurston county should be amongstthe other cities/counties in the country leading the way in sustainability. Suchbans have been implemented successfully elsewhere with little difficulty and vastimprovements in waste reduction. Plastic does some wonderful things for us, butwe don't need plastic shopping bags!

Sep 27, 2012 6:25 PM

59 Plastic bags can be reused in many ways and I do so, using mine for pet wasteas well as for wastebasket liners and for putting messy garbage in before it goesin the trash can. We can encourage recycling by having the recyclingcompanies take them away--possibly in a separate container as the glass is nowdone. Once amonth would be sufficient. Having merchants charge 5 cents for apaper bag is a big ripoff of the consumer. Did anyone notice how quickly the bigcorporations, e.g. Safeway, quickly stopped giving a credit when consumersbrought in their own bags? Another way to gouge the public and increasecorporate profits. I never let my plastic bags become litter. I have used clothbags, but am concerned about cleanliness, especially where fresh meat isconcerned. A very small percentage of the population would faithfully washthose bags weekly. If plastic bags are banned, how about requiring merchantsto provide paper bags? I shop mostly at Trader Joe's where they always providestrong, reusable paper bags. Education is the solution to the plastic bagproblem.

Sep 27, 2012 12:42 PM

60 I would look to what has been done in other communities regarding plasticshopping bags. What has worked and what hasn't? What are the forces that willoppose such a ban and do we have the political will to withstand those forces?

Sep 25, 2012 11:32 AM

61 I reuse plastic bags for other purposes but i feel that we all need to recycleplastic bags. Every shopping or grocery outlets should have a recycling bin.

Sep 24, 2012 12:51 PM

62 It makes no sense to continue to use plastic bags when most of them end up inlandfills. I think that Thurston County should take a stand and end this cycle ofignorance. We need to honor our environment and become "greener". Yes,plastic bags are great to pick up dog waste, line trash containers...but, not forgrocery or retail shopping. Nothing is worse than buying one item and receivingit in a plastic bag that sometimes gets tossed before even leaving thestore....that is plain and simply, wrong. Curbside bag recycle would help but not

Sep 24, 2012 9:05 AM

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alleviate the problem. Yes, plastic bags are convenient but at what cost....ourfuture, the future of our wildlife, the environment......our children!!!

63 Accepting bags in our recycling bins would be the #1 way to increase bagrecycling....no question. I think most folks don't recycle their bags because theyhave to gather them up somewhere, which takes space, then they have totransport them to a recycling collection area, usually a grocery store. Most often,we forget to take them with us, on our trips to the store, or they sit in the trunk forweeks before we remember them. I'm sure they often get thrown out at somepoint in this delivery system, before the recycling actually occurs. Even if youasked folks to gather them up for awhile and place them in the recycling as abundle, many of us would be thrilled to do this, just to be able to put them in ourbins. I think plastic bags certainly have their value. Many folks use them to linegarbage, or carry things, etc. But, if we make these free, there is widespreadabuse. They must be purchased for use, then people treat them with morerespect, more conservation of their use. I would suggest if they ARE sold, that itwouldn't be as single bag use at grocery lines. A nickle or dime still isn't enoughto avoid the abuse. BAN the BAGS!!! They are a public menace, and ThurstonCounty is progressive enough to act smart on this one, especially since we are awaterfront community, the place many bags end up. Change most often isaccompanied by a nudge to make people alter their habits. This is OK, when weare faced with the environmental degradation we perpetrate on this earth eachand every day. Anything we can do to mitigate that is something we should try.

Sep 24, 2012 8:27 AM

64 The only place i know of that still accepts plastic bags for recycling is FredMeyer. More places to drop off bags of a way to put a bundle of them on with ourcomingled recycling would at least make it easier for those of us who already tryhard to recycle plastic bags. With some education it might even entice others tomake an effort to recycle them. I reuse plastic shopping bags for garbage paleliners. I wish there was a good, durable biodegradable alternative to plasticgarbage bags too.

Sep 22, 2012 9:31 AM

65 I grew up not using paper or plastic bags at stores in Europe. 40 years ago!What is taking us so long?

Sep 22, 2012 7:11 AM

66 Making bags recycleable in curbside bins would be a huge step to helpingreduce the number in landfills.

Sep 21, 2012 3:01 PM

67 I do like re-using plastic bags to store veggies in my fridge and to use as packingmaterials. At the same time, I would rather they be banned to reduce trashentering the waste stream and because they are wasteful.

Sep 21, 2012 10:18 AM

68 get rid of them. go all the way get rid of all bags. make people actually bring themillion reusable ones they have at home or even sitting in their cars! maybe startwith reminders at the front of all major grocery stores!

Sep 20, 2012 6:46 PM

69 I resue bags several times. If not availabe I'm not sure what I'd use. Sep 20, 2012 3:11 PM

70 I like to use them for other things & it's a money saving issue for me, I don't buysmall bags for bathroom or dog waste.

Sep 20, 2012 3:10 PM

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71 Side note: We want used (clean, no holes) plastic bags at Thurston Co. FoodBank. We use all sizes to repackage food for distribution to schools & sites.

Sep 20, 2012 3:07 PM

72 Just use paper. Sep 20, 2012 2:37 PM

73 I like reusing them around the house. Sep 20, 2012 2:34 PM

74 What I like is using thme for doog poop clean up/juice pulp. Sep 20, 2012 2:18 PM

75 Ban plastic bags or some kind of incintive for recycling. Sep 20, 2012 2:09 PM

76 There needs to be more ways to recycle plastic bags. Sep 20, 2012 2:06 PM

77 Curbside bag recycling!! Sep 20, 2012 2:05 PM

78 More recycle locations Include in curbside recycling Sep 20, 2012 12:47 PM

79 Provide more avenues for reuse or recycling. If plastic bags are banned thosewho douse/need them will then need to purchase them.

Sep 20, 2012 12:36 PM

80 No spell check needed-Examine to Portland ordinance that appears to be quitesuccessful-Plagerism is the greatest for of flattery.

Sep 20, 2012 12:35 PM

81 Remebering the re-usuable bag. Sep 20, 2012 12:33 PM

82 Don't have rcycling. Sep 20, 2012 10:46 AM

83 Use reusuable except when I forget them. Sep 20, 2012 10:46 AM

84 The hawks prairie facility makes recycling just about anything very easy. Theyget all my plastic bags that are not repurposed. More grocery stores & othermerchants who use plastic bags should all have a recycle bag container at theirfront doors.

Sep 20, 2012 10:14 AM

85 Provide more information to the public. Sep 20, 2012 9:57 AM

86 It would be nice if my neighborhood recycling receptacle would take them so Idon't have to take them to the grocery store.

Sep 20, 2012 9:53 AM

87 I like plastic bags because I reuse them to pick up pet waste. I also make usefulitems out of them like reusable shopping bags by crocheting them together.

Sep 20, 2012 9:35 AM

88 Come up with a better alternative (financial) Sep 20, 2012 8:28 AM

89 I reuse plastic bags every day of my life - for pet waste, garbage, transportingplants from my garden to friends, packing filler in boxes, and on and on. I wouldbe lost without them. And what about all the grocery items that sweat or leak?Paper bags are a joke in a case like that - they break through! I can put a soiledplastic bag in the trash - think of the water, detergent and electricity I would use ifI had to wash a "reusable" bag. If a paper bag is soiled, I can't even recycle itand must also put it in the trash. What about all the products that are made fromrecycled plastic bags - what would happen to fleece, other plastic items, etc.

Sep 20, 2012 7:11 AM

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Make people aware of the other uses for the plastic bags - and make the recyclebins for these bags more available to the public. Or make a more "recycleable"plastic bag? How much do plastic bags contribute to total waste and litter? I'deven pay a nickle for a PLASTIC BAG!

90 Increase by charing for plastic Encourage paper Sep 19, 2012 2:44 PM

91 I like that we reuse them for trash bags, lunch bags, packing extra clothes-theyhave more than one use.

Sep 19, 2012 2:32 PM

92 They are convient. Sep 19, 2012 2:16 PM

93 Add to curbside recycle. Sep 19, 2012 1:43 PM

94 Lets just stop using them, it may take time to adjust but we will get used toit....Americans fear change!

Sep 19, 2012 12:23 PM

95 More often I reuse the plastic bags until they are totally gone or gross. Sep 19, 2012 12:06 PM

96 They carry light stuff. Sep 19, 2012 12:05 PM

97 More energy is used to make paper bags then plastic bags. Sep 19, 2012 12:03 PM

98 Light and easy to carry groceries in. Curbside recycling would help. The cost forpoor people on fixed income.

Sep 19, 2012 11:04 AM

99 Just continue to put info out there. People will change eventually. Sep 19, 2012 10:59 AM

100 Ban them. Sep 19, 2012 10:44 AM

101 They are hazardous to wildlife. Sep 19, 2012 10:34 AM

102 If we ban free plastic bags people will have to purchase plastic bags to disposeof garbage and pet waste. Who does that hurt? Low income familites!!! Whatabout how many get re-used!

Sep 19, 2012 9:59 AM

103 Charging a fee for paper would create issues for many lower income residents.However, recognising the intersechionality of these issues and acknowledgingthe work of bag give-aways such as these canhelp to create more of an equalcommunity.

Sep 19, 2012 9:53 AM

104 I reuse plastic grocery bags as trash bags rather then purchase commercialbags, as well as for general uses as parent/pet owner/etc (carrying stuff!). Thenrecycle when no longer usable.

Sep 19, 2012 9:49 AM

105 Bags use oil, oil costs money and is harmful to our environment. No need! Sep 19, 2012 9:43 AM

106 Just ban them. We'll get used to it again and figure out another way to get by.We got along for decades before they arrived and we'll get by fine once they'rebanned.

Sep 19, 2012 9:11 AM

107 I don't use plastic shopping bags and rarely shop at stores that supply them. I Sep 19, 2012 6:31 AM

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would support a ban on the plastic but not a surcharge on paper to make foodeven more expensive. Leave it up to the stores. If they want to charge theircustomers for paper then they can if they don't then they don't have to.Mandating the charge just hurts people who can't afford food as it is. Increaserecycling. I would love to be able to recycle all the various types of plastic film. Iwas told that I can't because the plastic gums up the sorting machines that therecyclers use. Plastic film is the largest part of my waste stream.

108 Plastic shopping bags are no worse than aluminum cans or cardboardpackaging. it makes bsolutely NO sense to target these as an evil to be bannedfrom use. We recycle our bags or manage them responsibly for other uses suchas trash can liners. Cigarette butts and general litter are much worse than bags.This legislation to ban the bags is ridiculous and a waste of our lawmakers' time.

Sep 18, 2012 7:30 PM

109 In our area, Costco gets by without providing bags. When the wind blows hard,plastic bags appear in too many unlikely places.

Sep 18, 2012 6:07 PM

110 Plastic bags are easy and sometimes I forget to bring my own. However, I stillthink that we all need to be aware about all kinds of recycling and the countyneeds to educate better and provide convenient recycle place.

Sep 18, 2012 3:37 PM

111 Hard to ban them, especially for EVERY type of shopping. Grocery stores arelikely the highest volume of usage - focus efforts there. Really need to makerecycling easier and increase/improve messaging about the benefits of non-plastic bag use

Sep 18, 2012 2:53 PM

112 Encourage people to revise them for different uses. Sep 18, 2012 2:51 PM

113 I still like paper for certain things. Recycle but mostly use bags. Sep 18, 2012 2:50 PM

114 There is absolutely no need for them. There are viable alternatives thateveryone would use if plastic bags were no longer available.

Sep 18, 2012 2:02 PM

115 Making it affordable to transition for businesses. Sep 18, 2012 1:48 PM

116 Ban use and charge for use Sep 18, 2012 1:11 PM

117 No comment Sep 18, 2012 1:11 PM

118 Improve the quality of retailers' reusable tote bags. Fred Meyers are the worst;they tear and part seams easily. Trader Joes makes the very best. Strong anddurable. I agree with the author that it requires a conscious habit change toremember to take the reusable totes each trip. I'm getting better...

Sep 18, 2012 1:08 PM

119 Plastic bags are often very useful for certain items. They are used with ourshopping bags and then reused.

Sep 18, 2012 1:08 PM

120 Question 4 is leading and UNPROFESSIONAL Sep 18, 2012 11:32 AM

121 thanks for the reusable bag! Sep 18, 2012 11:06 AM

122 Have all curbside recycling take them Sep 18, 2012 11:06 AM

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123 Banning plastic bags cannot happen soon enough. Sep 18, 2012 11:05 AM

124 Grocery stores should have recycle barrels for bags. Sep 18, 2012 11:03 AM

125 I need to be more dilligent about these bags! Sep 18, 2012 11:00 AM

126 More research needed. Keep containers on ships so bags not dropped bycontainer full. Try corn based plastic, etc.

Sep 18, 2012 10:59 AM

127 Store easily. I like resuing them for garbage. Sep 18, 2012 10:55 AM

128 More stores recycling. Sep 18, 2012 10:49 AM

129 I like that I can reuse them. Curbside collection would be beneficial. Sep 18, 2012 10:45 AM

130 Make public aware of how to recycle them... I don't kow how to do.... Sep 18, 2012 10:43 AM

131 So many people can't afford reusable shopping bags, to discontinue use. Maybehelp them get them started, or make recycling more readily availabe!

Sep 18, 2012 10:34 AM

132 Thank You Sep 18, 2012 10:30 AM

133 I want to change my plastic bag habits to reduce the enviromental impact-forcingme to will help.

Sep 18, 2012 8:39 AM

134 Make it possible to recycle in the curbside bins so it's more convienient foreveryone.

Sep 18, 2012 8:37 AM

135 Don't like them Sep 18, 2012 8:36 AM

136 Ilike getting plastic bags sometimes because I always reuse them at least once.I wouldn't mind paying a small fee for them at the grocery store.

Sep 18, 2012 8:14 AM

137 Keep some Sep 18, 2012 8:13 AM

138 I prefer to have no plastic bags available to the public. I is easy to change habitswhen we have to. We can have really lightweight bags or baskets or containersin our vehicle or in the stores themselves, such as in the Food Co-ops andCostcos where there are boxes available for costomers who don't have their owncontainers. I carry my own bags and containers in the back of my vehicle. Irarely forget. I often can walk out with some things in my hands, such as a fewclothing items from a store or a loaf of bread and carton of milk. When I was intheplastic bags available at the grocery stores. That was many years ago.

Sep 18, 2012 7:52 AM

139 Offer more places to recycle plastic bags and maybe charge 5 cents per bag?? Sep 17, 2012 7:26 PM

140 I alway's try to ask for paper or bring my own. But sometimes I for get and getplastic. "Just Ban Them" Charge a $1.00 a bag ! That will stop us all.

Sep 17, 2012 6:14 PM

141 They need to be recycled. Sep 17, 2012 3:51 PM

142 Educating & dialogue directed to get people to think is probably good but Sep 17, 2012 3:42 PM

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legislation is usually ultimately ineffective.

143 I don't like them at all. they rip too fast and nobody puts them in the recyclingbins.

Sep 17, 2012 2:42 PM

144 We always take our reusuable bags to the store but forget them in the car. Putsigns in the parking log "Did you bring your reuse bags"

Sep 17, 2012 2:40 PM

145 I'd rather have paper you can use it for wrapping , drawing, plastic rigps tooeasily. Besides paper is more reusuable, i can do without plastic.

Sep 17, 2012 2:09 PM

146 All bags should be compostable!! Sep 17, 2012 2:06 PM

147 No Sep 17, 2012 1:49 PM

148 Plastic bags often wind up as litter and affect wildlife. Sep 17, 2012 1:48 PM

149 Folks need to hear why the plastic bags are harmfu. They need to see theconnection to their choices and how it eventually harms all of us.

Sep 17, 2012 1:47 PM

150 -----ppard Rocks! Sep 17, 2012 1:38 PM

151 Easy to store for reuse. Sep 17, 2012 1:32 PM

152 I never actually remember my re-usuable bags when I go shopping and I neverwant to buy more so plastic t-shirt bags come in handy.

Sep 17, 2012 1:29 PM

153 Let individuals make the decision. Sep 17, 2012 1:28 PM

154 WE RE-USE OUR PLASTIC BAGS FOR PICKING UP PET WASTE. IF THEYARE BANNED, WHAT WOULD WE USE AND WHY SHOULD WE PAY FORPAPER BAGS? THE COMMISSARY WHERE WE HAVE SHOPPED FOROVER 50 YEARS USE PAPER BAGS AND THEY DO NOT CHARGE EXTRAFOR THEM.

Sep 17, 2012 1:28 PM

155 not a real issue to be dealt with, instead of hopping on the bandwagon lets usesome common sense and leave people to their own decisions

Sep 17, 2012 1:13 PM

156 I like plastic Bags because they have a one Time use,no Germs collect like inreuseble Bags.I use them for my Garbage if I dont have them then i will have tobuy Garbagebags,so the plastic Bags will always be there anyway.

Sep 17, 2012 12:17 PM

157 I do reuse my plastic bags as liners in my garbage cans. Like my mom I couldline them with paper bags. If plastic bags were banned I would be forced to usemy reuse bags which I have a trunk full of. I support banning plastic bags.

Sep 16, 2012 9:03 PM

158 I must admit I am guilty of using plastic bags when I shop. I have a trunk full ofcloth bags as well as bags from Trader Joes. I do use them but if plastic bagswhere banned I would be forced to use them always instead of sometimes. Onthe other had I always reuse my plastic bags as liners in my garbage cans. Iremember growing up my mom always lined the garbage with paper. I can andshould do that too! I am in support of banning plastic bags to help the

Sep 16, 2012 8:59 PM

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environment.

159 I would like to see a ban and we would just have to cope. I currently bothrecycle bags and use them for cat litter disposal and for storing some vegetablesand sometimes for garbage before putting it into compostable bags, since theytend to digest before I'm ready to put them into the bin. You can increase bagrecycling by having curbside pickup. But it is better to not use them in the firstplace. Have a 5Cent charge for getting a plastic bag in the store. Outlaw themfrom stores.

Sep 16, 2012 7:50 PM

160 1. Bags are not the problem. PEOPLE ARE. 2. Bags are being reusedeverywhere: garbage, storing, carrying things, gifting, projects, sorting, etc.

Sep 16, 2012 12:41 PM

161 I'd like to be able to recycle bags in our mixed recycling container. Sep 15, 2012 3:21 PM

162 I like to use plastic bags as liners for my small garbage cans in the bathroom. Sep 15, 2012 9:35 AM

163 I like plastic bags though they need to be thicker/stronger so they don't break soeasy. Love that they can be recycled for other uses. Hate this website ThurstonCounty! Looking for something and it redirects you else where.

Sep 14, 2012 8:37 AM

164 ban plastic bags Sep 13, 2012 12:55 PM

165 Plastic bags are convienent because they are so readily available. Sep 13, 2012 12:54 PM

166 They use petroleum which needs to be discontinued. Sep 13, 2012 12:41 PM

167 Just do it! Sep 13, 2012 12:39 PM

168 Too much plastic in food industry, not just in check-out bags. Sep 13, 2012 12:37 PM

169 Recycle them. Sep 13, 2012 12:17 PM

170 Putmore containers in parts to reuse bags for poop. Sep 13, 2012 10:13 AM

171 I suppose one could recycle the bags as like some sort of lining for yourrecycling can.

Sep 13, 2012 10:12 AM

172 I agree that plastic bags are bad for the environment. Sep 13, 2012 9:39 AM

173 I think we can and should be a leading couty for reducing the use of plastic bagsto as little as possible.

Sep 13, 2012 9:32 AM

174 I think we can increase plastic bag recycling by reminding people more often. Sep 13, 2012 9:31 AM

175 I think we can increase bag recycling if at the enterance of any store we saw abig sign about that. Did you recycle today?

Sep 13, 2012 9:28 AM

176 I would support a plastic bag fee (5 cents) if a person wanted one from a store.Thank you!

Sep 13, 2012 9:26 AM

177 I use paper bags, then "mulch" them with compost. Sep 13, 2012 8:17 AM

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178 We need lots of them. Sep 13, 2012 8:09 AM

179 They can be used as trash liners. Sep 13, 2012 8:08 AM

180 I rather motivate than punish. Sep 12, 2012 3:56 PM

181 I use them daily in my public education classroom. Sep 12, 2012 3:51 PM

182 Lots of lazy people! Sep 12, 2012 3:50 PM

183 They are convenient and make possible to rscycle in the bin. Sep 12, 2012 3:42 PM

184 I prefer plastic for wet & organic garbage. I like the option to recycle at grocerystores. Paper gabbing should be encouraged but charging will not do that.

Sep 12, 2012 3:20 PM

185 I think TC needs to get on board with Seattle and many other 1st world countries(GB) and charge for bags provided in stores. People will learn quickly.

Sep 12, 2012 3:02 PM

186 More information about where/how to recycle pplastic bags. Sep 12, 2012 2:47 PM

187 Didn't know curside recycle included plastic bags. Sep 12, 2012 2:30 PM

188 Plastic bags don't rip as easy. Sep 12, 2012 2:14 PM

189 1, Plastic bags don't leak & fall apart like paper. 2. I don't know. 3. More peoplewill use reusuable bags if plastic bags are banned.

Sep 12, 2012 2:12 PM

190 Bags don't last too long-they get brittle and usually get thrown away in the trashor burned.

Sep 12, 2012 1:58 PM

191 I like the convenience of carrying plastic bags & the ability to use them multipletimes.

Sep 12, 2012 1:40 PM

192 School recycling program to educate kids. Sep 12, 2012 12:48 PM

193 Some people cannot afford, maybe pre-pay for some so that all can have. Sep 12, 2012 12:47 PM

194 Familiar with Seattle's attempt. Reaaly unsure of how a ban would affect me. Sep 12, 2012 12:46 PM

195 Wish bag recycling could be in recycle container/curbside. Sep 12, 2012 10:40 AM

196 Reusable bags carry the strong possibilty of germs contanminating my food atthe market. I don't use when I shop at the market. We reuse or recycle ourplastic bags always.

Sep 12, 2012 10:32 AM

197 Meat needs to be in plastic. Food handling risk. Sep 12, 2012 9:28 AM

198 I hate plastic bags. I came from a town with a plastic bag ban. It is very easy tonot use plastic bags once you get used to it.

Sep 12, 2012 9:14 AM

199 I feel that we don't support recycling as much as we could. I don't recycle nor domy friends, but I hate polluting. Fuck plastic bags. They are terrible.

Sep 12, 2012 8:52 AM

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200 I like them because I reuse them at my house for different things. I wouldn't beagainst banniing them in stores or charging for them. Peace Love & Rainbows.

Sep 12, 2012 8:48 AM

201 keep encouraging people to use their own bags. Sep 12, 2012 8:43 AM

202 I dont think that bag recycling necessarily needs to increase, as it encouragesthe use of plastic bags. I fully support a ban on plastic bags, or a fee for use. Ialready do not use plastic if I remember to bring my reusable bags with me, or if Ionly have a few items. Having a small fee brings the issue of plastic bag use,and the environmental impact from that use to your mind every time that youneed to purchase the plastic bags.

Sep 11, 2012 9:00 PM

203 More stores with recycle bins for plastic bags. Sep 11, 2012 3:08 PM

204 People have a choice, let them decide for themselves. Sep 11, 2012 2:36 PM

205 I can understand banning plastic but to ban them and charge for paer is notsomething I am interested in.

Sep 11, 2012 2:27 PM

206 If cleaned & reused by patron we would not need to have ordanices. Sep 11, 2012 2:19 PM

207 Just do it!! Sep 11, 2012 2:16 PM

208 Get rid of all plastic bags. Sep 11, 2012 2:15 PM

209 A degradable bag would help. Sep 11, 2012 2:14 PM

210 There should be more options for recycling these bags. Sep 11, 2012 2:01 PM

211 I'd really like to have a ban on plastic bags. Sep 11, 2012 1:59 PM

212 I use all my bags Sep 11, 2012 1:54 PM

213 Good Luck Sep 11, 2012 1:48 PM

214 I like the idea of getting a bag credit when I bring reuseable bags. Sep 11, 2012 1:42 PM

215 Fees! Sep 11, 2012 12:56 PM

216 Letting people know how the plastic effects things. And show how easy it is Sep 11, 2012 12:56 PM

217 Do not agree with ordinance to avoid giving out bags. Sep 11, 2012 12:54 PM

218 Have separate plastic bin. Sep 11, 2012 12:53 PM

219 curbside pick up Sep 11, 2012 12:52 PM

220 Make recycling available curbside. Sep 11, 2012 12:51 PM

221 Convience Sep 11, 2012 12:49 PM

222 Charge higher fee for bags, paper & plastic. Sep 11, 2012 12:47 PM

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223 Encourage using recycled plastic bag Sep 11, 2012 12:46 PM

224 Less plastic use other materials like recycled paper. Sep 11, 2012 12:44 PM

225 I want curbside recycling for plastic bags. Sep 11, 2012 12:40 PM

226 Charging customers for plastic bags at retail outlets!! Sep 11, 2012 12:21 PM

227 High taxes on plastic bags. Sep 11, 2012 11:40 AM

228 To reuse as trash bags. Sep 11, 2012 11:35 AM

229 I like to reuse as garbage bags. Sep 11, 2012 11:34 AM

230 I do not like the use of plastic. I prefer paper. Sep 11, 2012 11:28 AM

231 Have environmentally friendly bags at the stores. It is costs dollars, that's ok. Sep 11, 2012 11:28 AM

232 I reuse them because I have them, which I like. I just have too many. Sep 11, 2012 11:07 AM

233 I reuse my plastic bags. They're hardy for shopping at the market. Sep 11, 2012 11:06 AM

234 There should be a small charge for each bag. Sep 11, 2012 11:05 AM

235 I'd be concenred that some small businesses would be hugley affected (butprobably yes)

Sep 11, 2012 11:04 AM

236 Sanitary, reusable, and my store takes them back when I do not needthem. Ever use a paper bag in the rain? Food costs to much to fall tothe ground.

Sep 11, 2012 7:53 AM

237 OK only if they are reusable. Sep 10, 2012 2:34 PM

238 I would rather use recycle or paper. Sep 10, 2012 2:18 PM

239 No more plastic bags! Use more reusable discount instead of charging forplastics!

Sep 10, 2012 2:03 PM

240 Truckers wrap pallets in plastic that is also ending upin landfille=10X worse. Sep 10, 2012 2:01 PM

241 Banning plastic bags is very unrealistic! Much better to educate people on therecycle and especially the reuse of plastic bags.

Sep 10, 2012 1:59 PM

242 If there was mandated recycling. Sep 10, 2012 10:47 AM

243 Waste of my tax dollars to spend time and money on this when there are manymore pressing issues, such as over-regulation and jobs needed.

Sep 10, 2012 9:06 AM

244 Until you ban Glad bags...what's the point? Sep 7, 2012 3:49 PM

245 Make them biodegradeable so thy break down faster/easier. Sep 7, 2012 3:48 PM

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246 I like the idea of grocery stores not unsing any plastic. Sep 7, 2012 3:24 PM

247 I like them for gooey things or to protect in the rain. Sep 7, 2012 3:01 PM

248 Not sure why folks are so against a plastic bag ban since bringing your bags isnot a hard habit to remember. I remember mine!

Sep 7, 2012 2:35 PM

249 Ban them!!!! It's not that hard to take your own bags to the grocery store. Sep 7, 2012 2:29 PM

250 The obvious benefit of plastic bags is the convenience. I think most peoplecould be motivated to recycle bags by understanding the personal benefits. Alotof people aren't motivated by environmental benefits (GHG reduction, harm toanimals/birds, less litter) and don't care as long as they don't perceive to beinconvenienced. People need to understand the direct financial benefit to ourpocketbooks, how the social costs affect our pocketbooks and our localgovernments' budgets (which also affects our personal finances). People needhelp connecting the dots back to "what's in it for me?" I think people also needhelp understanding that reusable bags are inexpensive and as easy toremember to take into the store with you as remembering your purse orwallet...you make it a habit. Some arguments for the ban could be (1) ouraddiction to plastic bags further contributes to our dependence on foreign oil andhow that impacts the American economy, (2) if we reduced by, say, half thenumber of plastic bags used in America in a year, how much money would thatfree up to invest in our economy and jobs? (or other viable comparison), (3) arethe far-reaching consequences of our plastic bag addiction worth the amount oftime bags are used? (e.g., the 30 or 60 minutes from store to home to recycle orgarbage can).

Sep 7, 2012 1:56 PM

251 Easy to use on all kinds of sitiations. Sep 7, 2012 1:34 PM

252 Ambivalent Sep 7, 2012 1:28 PM

253 Don't like them. Sep 7, 2012 12:52 PM

254 Stop using plastic and use more paper bags. Sep 7, 2012 12:45 PM

255 I like to have plastic bags to use as trash bags in my home, to keep in my car forwhen I pick up other people's litter at the beach or roadside, and other variedpurposes. I think charging for them would be an excellent incentive, but thatbanning them completely is tricky because I hate to support companies makingcrappy plastic trash bags. I use my cloth bags about 95% of the time I shop, andwhen I forget them, i either juggle my purchases, or take a plastic bag for reusepurposes. It is a tough decision between encouraging companies to make bagsthat hold up better for reuse because they then take longer to break down. I justmoved to Thurston County and have never lived somewhere that filmy plastic isrecyclable. Paper bags are a huge waste of resources, wood and fuel fortransportation, much heavier than plastic. More effort for letting people knowthat bags are recyclable ( I know, you are probably already doing this, but I havenot seen it). Encourage biodegradable plstic bags, or at least ones made fromrecycled materials... Long winded, but I will support any efforts to get these offour streets, out of the sound, and out of our trash.

Sep 7, 2012 12:01 PM

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256 Yes. Please allow for plastic bag recycling in curbside containers! Also, lids,ets.-all types of plastic!

Sep 7, 2012 10:35 AM

257 I would like to see the stores stop offering plastic bags and go to paper only. Sep 7, 2012 10:28 AM

258 I really haven't put enough thought into plastic bags to have a strong opinion onthe matter. If it is a problem, perhaps better efforts to educate the public ratherthan ban them?

Sep 7, 2012 8:49 AM

259 I like the idea of charging a small fee. Sep 6, 2012 3:36 PM

260 I am for banning plastic bags but against charging for paper. Stores alreadymake $ for their cheaper reusuable bags.Unless they charge very small and themoney goes towards direct social services like the food bank.

Sep 6, 2012 3:35 PM

261 Limiting plastic bag use would be great, but I'm concerned that charging a fee forpaper and banning them outright would disproportionaly affect and pennalizelower income folk who may have limited access to other bags.

Sep 6, 2012 3:09 PM

262 Encourage the use of recyclable bags by providing more incentives for them andmaking them ore accessible.

Sep 6, 2012 3:06 PM

263 Trashcan liners Sep 6, 2012 3:04 PM

264 Plastic bags can be useful in other ways then just at the store. i think we couldmessage the consciousness of our useage. This surveyhelped me realize thatalone.

Sep 6, 2012 2:02 PM

265 Plastic bags are for lazy people! Sep 6, 2012 1:58 PM

266 Make it easier to recycle the bags at curbside. Sep 6, 2012 11:56 AM

267 grocery stores could give a larger discount for bringing reusable bags. 10c a bagis an incentive

Sep 5, 2012 3:03 PM

268 I use them for use at home. Don't have curbside recycle. Sep 5, 2012 10:55 AM

269 Get rid of them. Sep 5, 2012 10:51 AM

270 Begin taking plastic bags in recycing container. Sep 5, 2012 9:40 AM

271 For: rainy days plastic keeps groceries dry against. Too many tossedeverywhere.

Sep 5, 2012 8:58 AM

272 Printed handouts with details on how to re-use plastic bags without enteringwaste steam.

Sep 4, 2012 3:30 PM

273 10 cent/bag charge Sep 4, 2012 3:11 PM

274 I think the city needs to check the science rather than spread untrue statementsabout plastic bags. The fact are that paper bags create more waste. Check itout on line or the Discovery Channel.

Sep 4, 2012 2:54 PM

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275 We would like to see it banned. Sep 4, 2012 2:11 PM

276 I would like to hear the phrase: Flagrant Abuse of our Natural Resourses. All thatI have heard is that it is 'such a waste'. Talk about plastic bottles for all thepeople. Right here in Mottman industrial there are millions of bottles made everyweek. I cannot imagine what it is like world wide.

Sep 4, 2012 2:10 PM

277 Need plastic bags for some items in stores that are leaky! Sep 4, 2012 1:55 PM

278 I do not like them! Sep 4, 2012 1:38 PM

279 Would love to see them gone! Sep 4, 2012 1:37 PM

280 There should be curbside recycling of plastic bags! Sep 4, 2012 1:29 PM

281 They should be banned. Sep 4, 2012 1:04 PM

282 I recycle by using as a garbage bag. Sep 4, 2012 12:28 PM

283 We simply must stop filling our environment with waste that is harmful. Sep 4, 2012 12:26 PM

284 They are too easily used to pack purchases at stores-perhaps an outright banwould lead me as well as others to remember our reuseable bags that are in thetrunk of my car.

Sep 4, 2012 12:24 PM

285 I just think that there's better solution other then burning plastic bags. Maybegoing back to paper.

Sep 4, 2012 12:21 PM

286 I hate everything about plastic bags and would support banning them in ourcommunity.

Sep 4, 2012 12:01 PM

287 Use them for garbage but would use biodegradable bags if plastic were banned. Sep 4, 2012 10:46 AM

288 Trash liners! Sep 4, 2012 10:44 AM

289 No comment. Sep 4, 2012 10:22 AM

290 I use for dog waste from my own yard and while out walking. Sep 4, 2012 10:12 AM

291 They fit my kitchen garbage container. Sep 4, 2012 9:47 AM

292 Allow for curbside pick up-other states allow curbside pick up. Sep 4, 2012 9:45 AM

293 Find a way to recycle at curbside. Sep 4, 2012 9:26 AM

294 Allow them in curbside recycling. Sep 4, 2012 9:14 AM

295 Not a good idea. Sep 4, 2012 9:14 AM

296 Like they can be used for other purposes (such as trash and other uses). Nottoo found of some of the alternative options.

Sep 4, 2012 8:54 AM

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297 I re-use the bags as trash can liners. It is unclear to me whether plastic bags cango into the recyclables. I throw away (in my garbage) the bags that have holes inthem; I only re-use the good ones.

Sep 3, 2012 2:07 PM

298 I would like to see plastic bags go away. there is no need for them Sep 3, 2012 11:34 AM

299 plastic bags littering the streets and freeways shows just how much of a throw-away society we are. Eliminating plastic bags can help change that mentality.Just the texture and feel of a paper bag intuitively tells people how easy it is toreuse or recycle, since we're all pretty used to recycling other paper products.

Sep 3, 2012 8:25 AM

300 I am for banning plastic bags. I would like to help in any campaign for this. Irarely use plastic bags and when I do receive them I either reuse them or takethem to the recycle center. Magen Blevins [email protected]

Sep 1, 2012 1:44 PM

301 I generally use my own reusable bags, but sometimes i don't have them with me.I use the plastic bags to line my kitchen waste can or hold pet waste. I alsocollect any bags with holes in them and return them to the store along with otherplastic packaging, if I can poke my finger through it (recyclable) . If plastic bagsare banned, the county should require stores and drycleaners to take in cleannon bag plastic packaging- wrappers, plastic film, baggies, etc. for recycling.

Sep 1, 2012 1:29 PM

302 I think plastic bags are a waste of resources and that reusable bags shouldbecome mandatory or a surcharge put on plastic bags to support recyclingefforts. I also think they are a danger to marine life and a hazard to the wellbeing of our planet. Credit for reusable bags and charge for plastic or paperwould encourage the use of reusable bags. Some may argue that themanufacturers of these bags will suffer however some risk is always involvedwhen change is necessary.

Aug 31, 2012 2:37 PM

303 Have a contest between elementry schools. Aug 31, 2012 12:44 PM

304 I like to resue them for pet waste & trash. Aug 31, 2012 10:41 AM

305 enforce reusable bags Aug 31, 2012 10:38 AM

306 Because it recyclable and easy to use! Aug 31, 2012 9:54 AM

307 Plastic bag-needs for some waste matters malls & grocery store shouldencourage people to recycle plastic bag carefully.

Aug 31, 2012 9:33 AM

308 Convience Aug 30, 2012 2:21 PM

309 More recycling points of contacts and mandate waste companies to accept them. Aug 30, 2012 1:25 PM

310 They don't rip as easyas paper bags. Have more recycling places at the stores. Aug 30, 2012 1:10 PM

311 Need to make recycling available at more sites and start a research project todevelop and design "plastic" bags that will rot into compost after a specific timeperiod.

Aug 29, 2012 3:36 PM

312 Curbside plastic bag recycling from home would help. Educate school kids about Aug 29, 2012 3:33 PM

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it because they will care and nag their parents when they use them. hee hee!

313 Used properly, plastic bags are an efficient item to use, e.g., pet waste andwastepaper baskets. If plastic bags could be recycled along with other curbsiderecyle, that might decrease littering and detrimental exposure to wildlife.

Aug 29, 2012 9:45 AM

314 Having curbside recycling of these bags would make it so easy to recycle them.They also have other uses, so I'm not in favor of not having them anymore, justmake it easier to recycle them.

Aug 29, 2012 7:29 AM

315 Go TCSW - eliminate those bags! Aug 28, 2012 7:19 AM

316 Until we can get plastic bags eliminated, we need to do something to eliminatethe litter from plastic bags flying out of the one-person trash pick up trucks. Isuggest that large stickers be added to trash cans that say "no loose plastics"and in small letters, "reuse or recycle your plastic bags". Stickers shold be addedto recycle bins that say "no plastic bags". I think on windy days, the trash trucksshould be required to have a secondperson pick up the flying trash. Plus, thecounty should pick up trash soon after the edges of the roadways are cut back,lots of trash visible and easy to get to, especially plastic bags. If not everywhere,at least near Puget Sound. Our roadway drainage ditches become creeks thatgo right to Henderson Inlet.

Aug 28, 2012 6:06 AM

317 More places to recycle! Aug 27, 2012 2:15 PM

318 Plastic bags are insignificant compared to packaging and needless products. Aug 27, 2012 1:14 PM

319 Banning plastic is fine. Paper should be free. Aug 27, 2012 1:11 PM

320 The only thing I like about plastic bags is I always reuse them for many otherthings.

Aug 24, 2012 3:41 PM

321 A better way to recycle plastic bags. Aug 24, 2012 3:29 PM

322 Educate community Ban - 1. Hazard to sea life 2. Take too long to Aug 24, 2012 3:27 PM

323 They create a lot of roadside trash Aug 24, 2012 3:22 PM

324 They are easy to use Aug 24, 2012 3:21 PM

325 They should be banned. it uses to many resources. Aug 24, 2012 3:15 PM

326 I don't like plastic bags. No more plastic bags. Plastic bags riun our ecosystem Aug 24, 2012 2:24 PM

327 Surely someone has invented a bag that is more easily biodegradable? Aug 24, 2012 2:22 PM

328 More info. about where can recycle Aug 24, 2012 1:59 PM

329 Eliminate the plastic holders on beer & pop cans - Please! Aug 24, 2012 1:54 PM

330 How much change in the environment do you really believe will occur ifeverybody recycled their plastic bags?

Aug 23, 2012 3:11 PM

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331 Sometimes more convenient. Can stuff a lot. Aug 23, 2012 3:06 PM

332 All of above Aug 23, 2012 3:02 PM

333 Ability to clean cat box Aug 23, 2012 3:01 PM

334 I think going back to paper bags is one option and good idea. If people changeto using reusable bags they need to know how to sanitize reusable bag.

Aug 23, 2012 2:50 PM

335 I'd like to see curbside recycle of bags! Aug 23, 2012 2:01 PM

336 Too many resources need to manufacture them Harmful to aquatic life andwildlife Ban them

Aug 23, 2012 1:59 PM

337 Increase public awareness More recycling stations Aug 23, 2012 1:55 PM

338 My local TRL library recycles plastic bags for checked out materials. I agree withthis and I think something similar should be done all over Thurston County. I ama strong believer in reusable cloth bags instead of the wasteful plastic ones. Iam for banning the use of plastic bags. Perhaps, an incentive can be given tothose who use cloth bags throughout Thurston County. The limiting of plasticbags would certainly help the community and the planet all at the same time.

Aug 23, 2012 12:01 PM

339 Get rid of plastic bags all together. Aug 23, 2012 10:58 AM

340 Most people do not carry bags for groceries. People might not shop knowing nobags. Maybe have stores give out free shopping bags.

Aug 23, 2012 10:57 AM

341 like them for convenience, sanitary, re-usable (i use a few as waste basketliners), recyclable (local grocery store). if multiple plastic bags were baggedinside a single one and tied off to make a bundle, they wouldn't be the problemthey are loose for recyclers. i'm strongly against a ban, and am stock piling forthat contingency.

Aug 23, 2012 10:48 AM

342 Don't like plastic bags Aug 23, 2012 10:46 AM

343 Plastic bags are convient for number of uses, but reusable are better. Aug 22, 2012 6:42 PM

344 I reuse the plastic bags and do not want them banned or charged for paperbags. Using reuseable bags can cause food containment and are hard to clean.

Aug 22, 2012 5:29 PM

345 Try not to use plastic bags. Aug 22, 2012 3:54 PM

346 Use the store to recycle Aug 22, 2012 3:52 PM

347 More recycle for bags - curbside Aug 22, 2012 3:51 PM

348 All stores should be required to offer options even if there is an extra charge. Itry to use my own recyclable shopping bags as much as possible.

Aug 22, 2012 3:48 PM

349 Banning bags can cause extreme expense. Instead we should reward recyclingin some way, or at least make it easier.

Aug 22, 2012 3:33 PM

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350 I like being able to repurpose plastic bags. Aug 22, 2012 3:32 PM

351 I like easy - I always forget my reuseable bags and I like to use them for otherthings. I would like to be able to use the recycling bin at home.

Aug 22, 2012 3:30 PM

352 Like - easy to use at store Aug 22, 2012 3:27 PM

353 Easy to handle Aug 22, 2012 3:23 PM

354 I like the plastic back because I reuse them. Aug 22, 2012 3:20 PM

355 Do it!! Aug 22, 2012 3:19 PM

356 Disposable are more collapsable - will fit in my jacket pocket. Aug 22, 2012 3:01 PM

357 Build something with recycled bags to show the public exactly what can be donewith the bags versus just throwing them away.

Aug 22, 2012 2:57 PM

358 No, reuseable Aug 22, 2012 2:53 PM

359 Good for wet items, take up little space. More places available for plastic bagrecycling and advertise thse place to make them known.

Aug 22, 2012 2:31 PM

360 I always reuse my plastic bags. But i wish the baggers at the supermarket wouldbag stuff different so its less bags at the end.

Aug 22, 2012 12:59 PM

361 more stores now have reusable bags for sale right at check out stand, good idea.I use maybe 1-2 plastic bags per week, which get reused or recycled.Prefer notto have them banned, but making other alternatives more and more available.Clerks asking "do you need a bag?" helps people think about it more.

Aug 22, 2012 12:22 PM

362 Plastic bags are a detriment to the city, county, country, and world. Living inAfrica and seeing the landscape glittering with plastic (a beautiful, but horrifyingsite) made me not want to touch another plastic bag. I have not taken one from astore since, and re-use the ones I acquire elsewhere as many times as possible,then put them in the pet pick-up containers around town. I fully fully support aban (and will start a cloth bag making business if it passes!)

Aug 22, 2012 11:31 AM

363 I think we should ban shopping bags and people can bring their own fabric bagsor back packs to the stores like in some other countries. I like the idea of beingable to wash them for reuse.

Aug 21, 2012 3:48 PM

364 Not the governments job to control plastic bags. consumers can do so byshopping choice.

Aug 21, 2012 3:33 PM

365 Plastic bags are super for collecting litter box waste for putting in garbage can! Ialso give them to our church thrift store for bagging purchases. Not sure what wewould use for picking up dog waste in the park, but I imagine an alternativewould be found. Thank you for your concern.

Aug 21, 2012 2:58 PM

366 I reuse my plastic grocery bags for garbage bags. I hate the idea of buyinggarbage bags. It seems wasteful to buy something for the purpose of throwing it

Aug 21, 2012 12:05 PM

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away. That's why I "reuse" the plastic bags. However, since I have severalreusable shopping bags, I guess it is equally wasteful for me to take the plasticgrocery bags just to use them as trash bags. Either way they get thrown out. Ithink it comes down to the garbage bags cost me money and the grocery bagsare free to me.

367 I do not like plastic bags, and use them as little as possible. I recycle them at thegrocery store, but it would be easier if we could recycle them at the curb at thesame time as the other recyclables.

Aug 21, 2012 9:56 AM

368 Show pictures of what plastics do to wildlife. Show a picture from "the greatpacific gyre". We've used cloth bags for 30 years and like them better--maybehave a contest for a design(s) for reuseable bags and sell them cheaply to getpeople to buy/use them.

Aug 20, 2012 4:34 PM

369 It is not governments business to interfer with how a store helps a customer takeout purchased goods. What is this country coming to?

Aug 19, 2012 2:09 PM

370 Plastic bags are clearly unhealthy for animals of many kinds, an environmentaldisaster of waste and oil use. I did not want reusable bags at first, but once Iused them, they are a fashion statement, easy to clean, hold more and don'tbreak, so are clearly superior. They do not pile up and make annoying full bagshanging around.

Aug 18, 2012 8:16 PM

371 Plastic bags are extremely useful for many purposes, so I always reuse mineuntil they fall apart. They should not be banned! The majority of reusable bagsfor purchase are made overseas, taking much more resources to make per bag,as compared to plastic. Plastic bags also break down much faster in a landfillthan reusable bags. I do not believe that plastic bags are a major threat tomarine/wildlife. Recycling of plastic bags can be encouraged by offering abonus, perhaps at recycling centers (like aluminum cans) or roadside pick-upwith other recylables. Stores which pay 5 cents per reusable bag which thecustomer brings with, might consider doing the same with the customer's plasticbags. I use my reusable bags at stores which offer the refund, and acceptplastic at those which don't, but then reuse them at home mostly for garbage canliners. Recycling should be encourage, but bags should not be banned.

Aug 18, 2012 2:52 PM

372 Make it easier for plastic bag recycle. Have all grocery stores have a place fordrop off of plastic bags.

Aug 18, 2012 10:20 AM

373 I have no idea why a MUCH higher percentage of plastic bags aren't recycled.The grocery stores, with the exception of Grocery Outlet, make it quiteconvenient. // Also, are plastic bags really essential for newspapers, especiallywhen you have a curbside box for them?

Aug 18, 2012 9:28 AM

374 I'd like to see plastic bags used more responsibly. Aug 17, 2012 4:41 PM

375 I don't like plastic bag. Plastic bags is better. Aug 17, 2012 2:08 PM

376 Have stores use paper bags-not charge them. Aug 17, 2012 2:03 PM

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377 I use for lunch bags, litter pick up. Aug 17, 2012 2:00 PM

378 Bio bags are too expensive. Aug 17, 2012 1:57 PM

379 'Plastic' bag is a misnomer. They are not made from a derivative of oil but naturalgas. To help w/recycling bags: Incentives to recycle-Fred Meyer stores give a 5cent refund per bag for using/bringing your own bag. Do community bag recycledays at events (Thurston Cty Fair) Find ways to reuse/repurpose as trash canliners, dog poop pick up... Banning the bags outright puts bag makers andemployees out of business/out of work. Better to find ways to get the bags backfor recycle/reuse.

Aug 17, 2012 1:46 PM

380 If there was a plastic bag ban people would quickly get used to having to bringtheir own bags to the grocery store.

Aug 17, 2012 1:43 PM

381 OK to ban plastic bags. Don't charge for locally manufactured paper bags. Jobsare created. Renewable resources - trees - can be used.

Aug 17, 2012 12:21 PM

382 Curb side pick up to recycle plastic bags would be great. We currently reuse ourbags or recycle them at local stores that have a bin for recycle. But not all storeshave them. Thank you for making this a priority.

Aug 17, 2012 10:58 AM

383 Make recycling easier - it is a real pain to recycle in Thurston county. One has tobe a mind reader to find plastic bag recycling centers. It is even worse trying tofigure out when glass recycle pickup occurs. When working with NASA, I couldeasily figure out how to build the International Space Station. But Pacific rarelypicks up when they should - so I put out glass recycling out every time the otherrecycle containers go out. We could recycle a whole lot more if you provided aseparate container for food waste. My blue container for yard waste is usuallyfilled within three days after recycle pickup, so no room there for food waste. Ihave to store shredded paper until the winter when I no longer have yard waste.That is NOT feasible for food waste. Thurston county either doesn't have ascrap metal (e.g., old screws, bolts, nuts, gas grills) recycling program (beyondwhat we can put in with paper) or else it is not very well publicized, after all Ihave only lived here for four years.

Aug 17, 2012 10:17 AM

384 The plastic bags are an obvious problem; stop using them. Lazy people don'tcare about our environment, so just eliminate the problem.

Aug 17, 2012 8:58 AM

385 The environmental and health hazards of permanent bags are so much greaterthan plastic bags that to ban plastic would only be a political move to exert powerover the populace. Plastic bags are reusable and do not carry the pathogens ofthe fabric bags.

Aug 16, 2012 2:24 PM

386 Plastic shopping bag are a disgraceful use of resources. In addition, they polluteour neighborhoods and are hazardous to many types of wildlife. At a minimum,users should be charged a fee for each bag that they request from retailers. Atbest, we should eliminate them entirely from our stream of consumption.

Aug 16, 2012 2:23 PM

387 I will still use plastic bags for various things.....the difference is I will buy themrather than re use the store bags.....so your stupid ordinance will cost me

Aug 15, 2012 3:57 PM

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money.,

388 We need to get all trash pickup to allow recycling of plastic bags in our recyclingsystems.

Aug 15, 2012 2:20 PM

389 Some of the foods at grocery stores benefit from non-paper; however, I mostlyuse paper. I also occasionally bring in a basket for purchases or simply don'ttake a bag. I do take our used bags to the grocery store for recycling. I hate thethought of buying, say tampons, and having to carry them out without a bag, andI really have an aversions paying for bag.

Aug 15, 2012 12:57 PM

390 Where I live I am required to use plastic bags to dispose of garbage in adumpster--no paper or boxes. I am single & have small trash containers in myhome, so grocery bags are perfect for me and I always reuse them for garbagethis way. Will store-bought household single-use bags be banned too? Even ifthey aren't, I'm very low income and can't afford to buy plastic bags to dispose ofmy garbage. This is a conundrum for me because I really am concerned aboutthe environment and the effects of human waste on the planet's flora and fauna.A question: Are we trying to get rid of plastic bags in landfills altogether, or is aban directed only at bags that aren't recycled or reused, the ones we all seerolling down streets and sidewalks?

Aug 15, 2012 11:36 AM

391 Thanks for promoting this issue in Thurston County! I think it's high timeOlympia/Thurston County implements a ban on plastic bags for all the reasonsthat other cities in Washington state, the US, and around the world are doing it(largely due to the variety of environmental costs). The only way I can think of toincrease bag recycling is to include them in curbside recycling pick-up. Havingto regularly remember to collect them and drop them off at Safeway isinconvenient and, unless you're someone who strongly believes that recyclingplastic bags is important, you're not going to bother. I think that sums up thementality of the majority of people. If I had to choose between increasing bagrecycling or banning them altogether, I would choose the ban.

Aug 15, 2012 8:25 AM

392 too much plastic but so handy, I don't agree on the charge for a paper bag but Ido think people are responssible for furnishing their own bags and recycling theplastic bags.

Aug 15, 2012 7:50 AM

393 Use paper bags with no charge Aug 15, 2012 5:21 AM

394 put a 25 cent tax on each one and let the market sort it out Aug 14, 2012 10:27 PM

395 Ban the damn bags! As soon as possible! I wrote the Olympia City Council afew years ago asking that they ban plastic shopping bags in Olympia and MayorMah wrote back declining to take any action at all, so I am thrilled at the prospectof the ban. They are not recyclable in Olympia so I can't recycle those whichcome to me. I personally use reusable bags for every type of chopping, not justgrocery shopping. Being disabled, occasionally friends shop for me and oftenuse plastic bags. I reuse those bags MULTIPLE times until they die. Even thenI've often used torn bits of bag as plant ties in the garden. I plan to actually buyor make some reusable bags for my friends to use when helping me in thefuture. Seriously, there is no legitimate argument in this day and age for the

Aug 14, 2012 7:33 PM

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continued use of plastic shopping bags. They are a waste of limited petroleumresources. The are unnecessary. They are expensive for governments (andtheir taxpayers) to dispose of. Businesses and customers were able to dowithout them for centuries. They are a horrible source of litter. They are ahorrible source of environmental pollution that kill wildlife. Etc., etc. etc. And I'msick to death of people who say this is not a government responsibility - itabsolutely is! It has financial and environmental ramifications which are agovernment responsibility. Don't let these naysayers and right wing extremists,with their heads firmly buried in the sand, bully you out of banning single useplastic bags. It will be a great public service to ban them! Please get rid of thedamn things! Thank you...Linda Donaldson

396 Hawaii has set some examples with the ban. Just go ahead. In the long run, allthe whining won't mean a thing.

Aug 14, 2012 6:10 PM

397 Prefer working toward voluntary compliance, however if it takes legislation togarner attention, then it needs to happen. One must keep in mind it is not thesole responsiblity of any one entity... indivual consumer, manufacturer or retailer.Each carries a relatively equal stake in the benefits and impacts of plastic bags. Isay equal stake because environmental degredation affects everyone at somepoint - whether financially, socially or aesthetically. Humans are creatures ofhabit and prefer simplicity and convenience. Making it possible to put in curbsideis likely going to net the greatest recycling return. Some cities say to make abasketball size clump into one bag and put them in recycle. These can thencome out in presort. Getting retailers, grocers and manufacturers on board tohost take back recycling depots, at best, will be second best. Everyone has to beat the table for any solution to be viable. Producer responsibility might be theanswer. But then the consumers have a responsiblity to do the right thing too. Ithink more data needs to come out of the cities where bans were recentlyimplemnted. What has been the net effect? Are there more trash linerspurchased, are reusable bags being disposed?

Aug 14, 2012 3:52 PM

398 I generally use canvas bags, but sometimes don't remember to bring them. Weuse plastic bags in our house as "trash bags". (Why BUY a trash bag? Granted-we don't produce much trash in our two person household.) The local Safewaystore has a bin for recycling any excess plastic bags- but I don't think manypeople know about it. I will sometimes request a paper bag from the storebecause that's what I use to collect recyclable mail and papers, then plunk it intothe recycle bin when full. I don't know about a BAN on plastic bags, but I'd beokay if there were to be a small charge for each one. (Say 2 cents the first year,moving up to 5 cents or so? Any profit could go to recycling awareness? Apenny extra for a paper bag?) Like my friend says, "There are two kinds ofpeople- those who want a bag ban, and those who need to scoop a cat box."

Aug 14, 2012 3:22 PM

399 I like because they are lightweight-I dslike that they are against most that Ibeleive. Easier to recycle if grocery stores had their bins more visible.

Aug 14, 2012 9:45 AM

400 I strongly support plastic bag recycling and plastic bag bans. They are harmfulto the environment in many ways.

Aug 14, 2012 9:32 AM

401 They are convenient but I prefer reusable bags-my problem-I usually forget them Aug 14, 2012 9:31 AM

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in the car.

402 I like reusing the bas for household uses. I prefer reuable shopping bags as theyare sturdier and more environmentally sensitive.

Aug 14, 2012 9:29 AM

403 Plastic bags are easily accessible and can be used for other things after groceryshopping.

Aug 14, 2012 9:15 AM

404 Recycle bins could be placed at city parks for dog walkers to reuse for poop. Aug 14, 2012 8:54 AM

405 Don't have a problem with charging for store provided bags. Aug 13, 2012 2:17 PM

406 I like reusing to line my small wastecans, otherwise I recycle clean grocery bags. Aug 13, 2012 2:16 PM

407 Customers should drop the used plastic bags back to the store, where tey collectthe used bags back!

Aug 13, 2012 1:58 PM

408 reusable Aug 13, 2012 1:57 PM

409 I want to have bag recycle available at the curb. Aug 13, 2012 1:53 PM

410 I reuse my plastic bags to scoop my cat boxes. If the bags have holes in them, Irecycle them at the store. I think the real problem is that there are too manypeople. We will never clean up all the trash, or the environment or saveendangered species until we get a handle on population growth. Why shouldstores get to charge consumers for bags? If we do the self checkout, we don'tget a discount for doing the checker's job for them. Don't know all the answers,but the real problem is simple-too many people.

Aug 13, 2012 7:48 AM

411 At our house we use plastic bags for trash bag in our cars, for the food bank. Wealso recycle them at the store that we shop at. We use themfor so many thingthat I would hate to seem them go. They only cost the store about 3 to 4 centseach. As much as we buy when shopping for food we would need dozens ofreuseable bags.

Aug 12, 2012 7:34 PM

412 A fee for using plastic or paper bags would make people think about it more.Stores should coach their employees to go easy on the bags, pack moreefficiently. I'm sure you're following the results from some other programsregarding this - hopefully it's working well. There is way too much thoughtlessand unnecessary waste. A small fee for bags might help. I would vote "yes" ona bag ban.

Aug 12, 2012 8:49 AM

413 I hope that this ban passes and the pro plastic bag lobbyists can't buy thisdecision. I have been using reusable bags for about 2 years now. It took awhilefor me to develop the habit to remember them and take them into the store, butnow I would rather carry items out by hand then use a plastic bag. As an avidoutdoors-woman, I have seen far too many plastic bags around our county lakes,streams and wetlands, street gutters and vegetation. We have a better optionnow, lets use it. If people had the option of setting out their bags like they dotheir glass for recycling they would recycle more. People just don't remember totake them to the grocery store bin to recycle. On the other side, i could seepeople arguing against a ban because some people are really strapped for cash

Aug 11, 2012 9:01 PM

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and paying $1 per reusable bag might seem insane to them.

414 At this time, when the economy is SO bad and so many are struggling to make itthrough the month....WHY are you considering this NOW?? I do not feel plasticbags cause the issues that most say they do. Maybe in bigger cities like north inthe Seattle area, this could be true. But not in this county. Everyone I knowreused the plastic bags...as I do...or they recycle them. And I have never seenany mammal or bags in the waters around this area, either. Don't do this or if youdo, put it to a vote!

Aug 11, 2012 6:29 PM

415 I hate plastic bags. They don't "stand". I wouldn't object at all to paying for bags,though I wonder if this will change shoppers' habits in the long run. At first itwould generate publicity about the issue, but habits are hard to change. I keepmy reusable bags on the front sest next to me, and I always take one or two intothe store - even if I am going in for one item. (One item always seems to turn into more once I am in the store.) I haven't bought trash bags in decades - we usepaper bags in the kitchen trash can. I can't see any benefit to plastic shoppingbags but if others like plastic bags, great - they can be used as reusable bags -though I rarely see this happening in stores.

Aug 11, 2012 3:21 PM

416 I believe we should choose, as a county and/or City of Olympia, to ban theplastic bags. We should do so in an informed, gradual way so that the publiccan prepare for it, mentally and physically. It will take some tolerance and thecourage to rise above conventional habits....change always does. Short of atotal ban, I would support a 'tax' on plastic and paper bags....with the funds goingtowards the clean-up necessary for their existence, and perhaps also tax breaksand/or grants for organizations that re-use or re-purpose the bags for otherproducts. I absolutely believe that right now, we should be able to curbsiderecycle our plastic bags. Not being able to do so, and needing to take them to agrocery store, is the single greatest impediment to recycling them. There wouldbe a huge spike in recycling this plastic, if this were made possible. Of courseplastic bags are very useful....perhaps with a ban on their free use as grocerybags, we could allow them to be sold in packets....to be used more wisely, lessoften, and with a little sting to our pocketbook.

Aug 10, 2012 8:44 PM

417 why charge a fee for paper? stores don't now, why charge when plastic notavailable? We travel a lot and plastic bags are everywhere in every state. Isupport gettng rid of plastic.

Aug 10, 2012 10:18 AM

418 Ban them!!! It is ridiculous that we use so many of these bags, we have otheroptions. We also need to ban the "produce" style plastic bags too! I don't likeanything about the plastic bags, nothing at all. Increase recycling by charging 25cents per bag m(if not banned), and have bins at every store.

Aug 9, 2012 1:24 PM

419 I always reuse my plastic bags. In fact, my friends from a neighboring countysave their plastic grocery bags for me. I reuse them as garbage liners, but mymain use for recycle is for picking up pet waste. And donating them to the dogparks and entrances that have pet bag containers for people to place plasticbags in. I would not want to see plastic bag banned. A fee maybe, but not aban.

Aug 9, 2012 10:49 AM

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420 I love plastic bags! Aug 9, 2012 8:36 AM

421 I find so many uses for the plastic bags I get that I would miss them if theyweren't available anymore.

Aug 9, 2012 7:34 AM

422 At this point and time goverment needs to leave this issue alone and thank aboutwhat really more importaint. Fix the roads, public safety, Open the new jail. Stopthe fluff and focus on the more importaint issues.......fed up with this crap

Aug 9, 2012 3:00 AM

423 I bring my own shopping bags most of the time but like to have a supply ofplastic bags on hand for many reasons - collecting trash, transporting wet ormessy items, using for laundry when traveling, sorting and storing craft items,etc. I think emphasis on reducing use of plastic bags is more reasonable -maybe charging for them which might get people's attention more than the centsoff for bringing a bag, or using more biodegradable bags. I read that somewherein Ireland where plastic shopping bags were banned, sales of plastic trash bagsand liners went up because people still needed bags.

Aug 8, 2012 8:40 PM

424 If you take a single link out of a chain, what do you have left? Scrap metal. Allplastic can be recycled. From bags to cars to furniture to prosthetic limbs. Itsmelted down. I have seen many, many thousands of wildlife deaths in photosand in real life caused by these horrible things. People are too lazy and unwillingto change for any reason. The people as a whole society have to be forced tochange for the protection of that which gives us all life. We are killing ourecosystems and therefore ourselves. We cannot move to Mars. We only got oneEarth. We only get one chance. And this is it. It starts here and it has to startnow. Will you take the first step and lead the way to the future? Or will you cowerin the darkness and wait, in fear and ignorance, for death to take your children'slives before your very eyes? I choose to step.

Aug 8, 2012 6:17 PM

425 I have no problem bringing my own bags when I shop and I now prefer it. I wouldrather use paper bags than plastic bags. I would support a plastic bag ban.

Aug 8, 2012 2:54 PM

426 More recycling bins. Aug 8, 2012 10:06 AM

427 Make options available. Aug 8, 2012 9:55 AM

428 Make biodegradeable bags cheaper. Aug 8, 2012 8:36 AM

429 Against-not sure poor people can afford bags. Aug 8, 2012 8:29 AM

430 I need them for many purposes and sometimes forget to take along to g. stores. Aug 8, 2012 8:13 AM

431 It's too high. People waste way too many. Aug 8, 2012 8:12 AM

432 Allow plastic bags in recycle bin in Olympia. Aug 8, 2012 8:11 AM

433 Have none. Aug 8, 2012 8:06 AM

434 At the very least charge for plastic bags we can learn to use less plastic! Aug 8, 2012 8:04 AM

435 keep govenment out of my life Aug 8, 2012 4:24 AM

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436 While plastic bags are convenient and light weight to use I feel that every storeowner and store chain that uses plastic bags for bagging should be required tohave a bag recycling container/program to collect and recycle the bags. (Not justa few grocery stores in the area). I also think the plastic bag industry should alsobe held responsible for helping to collect and recycle the product at the locallevel. Plastic bags should either be banned or made and certified from plantmaterials that can organically breakdown over time (or dissolve when submersedin water). In addition, I'd like to see the County ban the use of Styrofoampackaging materials (from food containers to shipping material).

Aug 8, 2012 12:17 AM

437 See number 5. Aug 7, 2012 9:42 PM

438 Concern for fee for paper for poor people- don't like that idea Aug 7, 2012 6:33 PM

439 i reuse tbe bags that i receive at the stores Aug 7, 2012 5:51 PM

440 I ma all for using reusable cloth bags whenever possible. I am concerned aboutenvironmental impact, the only drawback is, not everyone has a car, and it rainsa good portion of the year here. Cloth bags are not water resistant, plastic is. Ifyou have to get your purchases home on public transportation or by foot clothbags have their drawbacks in inclement weather. If they could make reusablebags water resistant or sealable I think you would have a lot more support. I dotry to use cloth bags as much as I can, but you don't always have one when youdecide to go to the store.

Aug 7, 2012 2:58 PM

441 Ban the bags. :) Aug 7, 2012 2:11 PM

442 Plastic bags are handy and reusable more awareness. Aug 7, 2012 2:06 PM

443 Recycle at curbside. Aug 7, 2012 2:03 PM

444 Some people can or will reuse them like myself. Aug 7, 2012 2:01 PM

445 I like that I can reuse them around the house and they do not take up alot ofspace. Simply provide more awareness. Thre are people who utilize bagscorrectly and recycle.

Aug 7, 2012 1:59 PM

446 i do use plastic bags to clean my cat's litter boxes. since i go to the co op withmy own reusable bags, i ask my coworkers for the plastic bags from theirhouses. dog owners who walk their dogs around the neighborhood will needsomething to put their dog's waste into, but maybe i am unaware of alternativesto that situation. either way, this is awesome, and i support thurston county'sidea to ban plastic bags! YAHOO! very cool.

Aug 7, 2012 1:03 PM

447 I would strongly support a plastic bag ban in Thurston county. I was doing someresearch on starting a petition to ban the bag in Thurston county when I foundthis website. I think that plastic shopping bags are unnecessary, unhealthy,wasteful, and many other cities have already successfully proven thatimplementing bag bans is easy. Change can be instigated by the people butultimately has to come from the laws and leaders. Please do the right thing andput Thurston county one step in the right direction- NO MORE PLASTIC BAGS!

Aug 7, 2012 11:49 AM

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Thank you!

448 The reusable bags gave been known to carry e coli and most recently MRSA.You need to make this information known to the public and not hide it.

Aug 7, 2012 10:17 AM

449 Mandate that grocery stores have a plastic bag recycle bin at the front of thestore. Some already do but most do not.

Aug 7, 2012 9:11 AM

450 Obviously, convenience, but that is highly shortsighted as it does not take intoaccount the production of them and the (safe?) decomposition of them. Makethem recyclable at every store and have bins in the mall too. I'm all for a ban. Ineed the help to resist the easy but ultimately destructive choice of plastic bags.We all do.

Aug 7, 2012 8:49 AM

451 I like refusing plastic bags in some of my trash receptacles but they still end up inthe trash eventually. Preaching at folks doesn't seem to change their behavior(except for young folkd) so how about pictures with short but factual captions ofmarine animals and birds caught in plastic bags and maps and photos of theplastic stews in the oceans. These could be posted in stores, on communitybulletin boards…and on county websites and information sent to the public. Nobig deal made of them but where people can easily see them. In addition placesthat recycle the bags need to be more numerous. increased

Aug 6, 2012 6:28 PM

452 I do not have a problem using and recycling my plastic bags. Just ban the use ofplastic shopping bags and go back to basics. I do not have a problem with goingback to just brown paper bags and cloth shopping bags. I DO have a problemwith charging to use brown paper bags. What did/do stores do now? Are wecharged for using their bags? Have you considered curbside "recycling" ofbags? Doing the same thing we do now when we take them to the store torecycle - shopping bags within one bag for pickup - no loose bags or the offendergets fined. May sound harsh, but if paying for shopping bags at stores isdraconian, then the next logical step is fines. Thank you for letting me vent.

Aug 6, 2012 6:26 PM

453 If you would have curbside recycling of the bags it would be nice. Has for a banI would be 100% AGAINST it,,

Aug 6, 2012 5:44 PM

454 Use to share garden produce and other items that would soak through paper. InThurston Cty, I see many people using reusable bags, anyway, but wouldprobably see more if stores again started paying a small amount whencustomers use them rather than threatening to charge when a customerrequests a bag.

Aug 6, 2012 1:23 PM

455 I use my own bags. I carry them in my car. The biggest argument against is forthe situation when you are without a bag for some reason, but that is a prettylame argument. I support making recycling much easier (curbside is best) and aban if possible.

Aug 6, 2012 12:04 PM

456 I recently became aware that reusable bags often harbor bacteria and should becleaned frequently. The ones I have cannot be machine washed, but can bewiped down with disinfectant. Consumers should be made aware of this andstores that "sell" their paper bags should be required to provide, for purchase,

Aug 6, 2012 11:34 AM

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bags that can be sanitized.

457 We need to create incentive for businesses to reduce their use. So many timescashiers have bagged my purchase before I even have a chance to say I don'tneed them. If this cost businesses more money, I'm sure they would train theirstaff to ask. Plastic bags are a problem but there are a lot of other moreconcerning things that are ending up in our waste stream (e.g. electronics,hazardous materials, etc.).

Aug 6, 2012 8:31 AM

458 If the plastic was compostable, or we had a plastic composting program, thatwas maybe a group being funded by grant money to use mycellium to comsumeplastic, that would be nice. Otherwise I do not support the production ofresources that cannot be returned to the planet in their raw materials. Thank youfor initiating this process in changing the way we incorporate our economy withthe ecology.

Aug 5, 2012 8:39 PM

459 if plastic bags can be recycled, that is news to me. i never see drop off places atgrocery stores any more.

Aug 5, 2012 3:07 PM

460 I don't necessarily agree with banning plastic bags because they have anenormous amount of secondary uses. I think the only way you can get people tostop using plastic shopping bags is if residents were afforded at set toaccommodate their family size. Plastic shopping bags are free, reusable andarguably disposable after its secondary or tertiary use. Until reusable bags arejust as easy to accumulate, I doubt people will fully utilize the alternatives. Iwouldn't mind using cardboard flats previously used from the stock room, I thinkif you encourage people to make an alternative choice for maybe, material costrefund for not using plastic bags you can be able to break some bad habits andpoor practice. You achieve the same goal without having to forbid anyone ofanything.

Aug 5, 2012 2:35 PM

461 As in much of Europe, plastic bags at check out should cost money. In Irelandand France, it really stings, so people have purchased reusable bags forshopping. I have one nylon fold up sack for my purse that I bought at Monoprix inParis. I use it 4-5 times per week. For larger orders, I brought home some reallylarge, strong bags from Carrefour supermarket in Nice. I can fit way more thanour US reusables allow and that means fewer trips out to the car.

Aug 5, 2012 2:12 PM

462 I very much dislike the overuse of plastic bags. I was unaware that they could berecycled, I think that getting the knowledge out there will increase bag recycling.The one thing I do like about plastic bags, are their varied uses. I pick up petwaste, transport wet clothing and use them instead of plastic wrap. I have neverthrown away a plastic bag without getting multiple uses out of it.

Aug 5, 2012 2:10 PM

463 It would be nice to allow plastic bags to be a part of curbside recycling (separatecontainer if needed. For example there is a separate container for glass).

Aug 5, 2012 2:01 PM

464 I like to reuse plastic bags for garbage bags and do NOT need to buy plasticgarbage bags, ever. However, I would gladly pay 10 cents or 20 cents for aplastic bag whenever we need them. Please, please make plastic bags a for-charge item at the grocery store. I support ending the use of plastic grocery

Aug 5, 2012 1:12 PM

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bags!! Thanks!

465 Allowing for easier bag recycling may be helpful if a ban does not go through. Ihave to go out of my way to a grocery store I don't frequent just to recycle mybag collection.

Aug 5, 2012 12:48 PM

466 get rid of them and allow stores to charge the cost of paper bags. Aug 5, 2012 12:39 PM

467 I believe they should be banned. I don't think we should be charged for paperbags.

Aug 5, 2012 12:37 PM

468 Completely against the ban on plasic bags, regulating this problem is justanother example of local government making a law about something that doesn'tneed to be constrained by an ordinance. Instead, maybe provide tax incentivesto businesses who opt for paper or otherwise cut down on plastic bagconsumption. There's a time where regulation is needed, but regulating whatconsumers do isn't good for the economy or solving the problem. Money spenton consumer awareness would be much more productive.

Aug 5, 2012 12:17 PM

469 If I could recycle them in my semi-monthly recycle pickup that would be great.If they were banned then people like my handicapped brother would have to usepaper that gets wet when waiting for a bus. (He forgets things a lot and wouldnot remember to bring his own reusable bags.) I think the cities could promotereusable bags if they had an art contest for the creation of bags that the citiescould hand out at events.

Aug 5, 2012 12:08 PM

470 We always reuse our plastic bags and if we weren't able to get them whenpurchasing, we'd have to purchase those too! We used them for trash collection.If they start building up in quantity, then we use our cloth bags at the store, but ifplastic bags were banned, then we'd have to buy trash bags. It would cost usmore and not save anything on resources.

Aug 5, 2012 12:01 PM

471 Plastic bags are too dangerous and wasteful to be freely given away at everypoint-of-sale in the county. Go pick up garbage along any roadway or waterwayand you will see the effects of plastic bags on our county. They are veryconvenient, but they don't breakdown like paper bags and they are harder torecycle. We should ban them. We have an opportunity to be a leader in thismovement to eliminate plastic bags - let's seize it!

Aug 5, 2012 11:55 AM

472 I re-use plastic bags to line my trash cans, pick up pet waste, and make crochetmats. Bags that have holes in them I save to recycle. If plastic bans werebanned, I would have to buy plastic trash bags, which adds expense andinconvenience to my household, and defeats the purpose of a ban. If PacificDisposal allowed plastic bags in the recycling bins, I think an enormouspercentage of people would then recycle bags in Thurston County. I believeeducation is the real key here, rather than instituting arbitrary regulations.Helping people understand the impact of plastic bags on the environment, andmaking recycling them more convenient are the best options.

Aug 5, 2012 11:39 AM

473 Lightweight plastic carryout bags are commonly found in litter and escape intoour waterways where they remain as a pollutant forever. Fish and other marine

Aug 5, 2012 11:30 AM

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animals commonly mistake pieces of plastic and bags for food. When plasticsbreak down into smaller and smaller pieces, those microscopic particles mayalso be consumed by small animals in the oceans and enter the food chain.Because of plastic’s persistence in the environment, the City believes the use ofthrow-away plastic products should be minimized.https://www.seattle.gov/util/Services/Recycling/ReduceReuseExchange/PlasticBagBan/FAQsShoppers/index.htm

474 I like being able to re-use the plastic bags I get from the store, and often returnthem to the store's recycle bin. I disagree with a total ban on plastic bags,because not everyone has the forethought or ability to purchase re-usable bags.Perhaps a credit system would be effective, where stores would deduct 5 centsfrom a purchase if a reusable bag, paper/cloth or plastic, was provided by theconsumer.

Aug 5, 2012 11:26 AM

475 BAN IT! Aug 5, 2012 11:24 AM

476 i reuse them, so i find them useful Aug 5, 2012 11:23 AM

477 I think it makes more sense to reuse shopping bags for garbage and usereusable bags when shopping when we don't need more for other purposes.Buying plastic bags for garbage is what should be banned. If people reuse theshopping bags for their garbage they will buy fewer bags for that purpose. Plasticis bad, but people are not going to use reusable garbage bags and curbsidegarbage service asks that our garbage be in bags anyhow.

Aug 5, 2012 11:22 AM

478 People have been given the choice to find their own solutions for grocery bagsfor long enough, and too many of them choose to continue using them. I believeit's time to eliminate plastic bags from circulation entirely. Shoppers can eitherbring their own bags, purchase reusable ones from the store in which they areshopping, or don't use bags at all. Bellingham, WA has a good model in placenow. Let's learn from them and help Olympia be a leader for South PugetSound!

Aug 5, 2012 11:20 AM

479 Let's just do it. Seattle did - why can't we? Aug 5, 2012 11:19 AM

480 Plastic bags are convenient, easy to carry and more durable than paper in thesense that they can easily be stuffed together without ripping. Make bagrecycling more apparent, easier to do and more people will participate.

Aug 5, 2012 11:18 AM

481 We should definitely ban plastic bags at checkout! They are completelyunnecessary. However, it's very difficult for businesses to be the "first" or "only"business doing something like this, which is why it makes sense to have acomplete ban on them. That way, no one is singled out by doing the right thing.To me, banning plastic bags at checkout is obvious. The trickier question is hoeto get rid of produce bags. I don't know the answer to that.

Aug 5, 2012 11:15 AM

482 Have more places for recycling of plastic bags and advertise it. Aug 5, 2012 9:37 AM

483 I am a senior citizen. It would be very difficult for me to handle paper bagsunless they were the type with handles. I would not mind the ban if they would

Aug 4, 2012 2:35 PM

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require the handles, although I do reuse my plastic bags for many purposes. Ilike the fact that plastic bags are easy to store and not as cumbersome as paper.You can increase recycling through public education.

484 More places to recycle the bags. Incentives for recycling the bags. Please donot make it even more expensive to go to the grocery store.

Aug 4, 2012 10:44 AM

485 Banning plastic bags in Thurston County will not make a big impact. There aretoo many rules & regulations in place now that are not enforced...why waste timeand money on a new ordinance? The citizens of Thurston County will pay if aban is put in place. Let Oly/Lac/Tum do their thing, but don't force it on us!

Aug 3, 2012 9:41 AM

486 at first, start just charging a surcharge for plastic bags to phase them out. Thisshould be easier to pass. I'm for banning completely, but need to walk down thepath slowly to get public on board.

Aug 3, 2012 6:10 AM

487 I would probably support a ban on plastic bags but think a more effective methodwould be to charge for plastic/paper bags?!

Aug 2, 2012 11:30 AM

488 I would support laws encouraging use of recycle bags or incentives for recycling,but not banning plastic bag use as it puts undue burdens on busineese to beforced to change practices.

Aug 2, 2012 11:08 AM

489 Petroleum in any form is bad. Aug 2, 2012 11:06 AM

490 We always reuse our plastic bags and it should be up to the stores andbusinesses that provide them not for the government to regulate.

Aug 2, 2012 11:00 AM

491 I do like the fact that I can use the plastic vegetable bags for other uses. Don'tthink there is any reasonable use for grocery plastic bags.

Aug 2, 2012 10:49 AM

492 I would support getting rid of plastic bags. I think shoppers could bring back theirpaper bags for donated reuse as well as using reusable bags.

Aug 2, 2012 10:29 AM

493 I think we should add more plastic bag recycling can like garbage cans. Aug 2, 2012 10:13 AM

494 We use plastic bags for dog waste. Aug 2, 2012 10:05 AM

495 I don't like plastic bags but reuse them as packaging when I send packages tograndkids or turn them into the recycling bin at my work/store.

Aug 2, 2012 10:04 AM

496 Bag recycling needs more public service message. Aug 2, 2012 10:01 AM

497 They're handy but create much hazards. Aug 2, 2012 9:58 AM

498 Make it mandatory for recycling companies to accept plastic bags with curb sidepick up, then educate, educate, educate the consumers.

Aug 2, 2012 9:44 AM

499 The reasons to ban plastic bags range from peak oil to their dangers to wildlife.Bringing a reusable bag is easy and it is time to normalize it!

Aug 2, 2012 8:32 AM

500 I support the ban of plastic bags at retail outlets. I am prepared to shop without Aug 2, 2012 6:34 AM

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the use of the "free" plastic bags.

501 Need curb bag recycling. I use some bags for doggy poopoo. Aug 1, 2012 8:29 PM

502 I reuse every bag that we receive from grocery stores, sometimes two or moretimes. The cloth/plastic reusable bags are just not sanitary.

Aug 1, 2012 8:26 PM

503 Why can't disposable bags be made of biodegradable cellulose? Aug 1, 2012 5:01 PM

504 Require stores that use plastic bags, to also have recycling bins for the bags. Aug 1, 2012 3:01 PM

505 Plastic bags are convenient. Plastic bags are bad for the environment. I wiulddefinitely recycle plastic bags if they could be picked up curbside. A ban wouldbe great. People would either be forced to use reusable bags or pay to usepaper bags.

Aug 1, 2012 2:11 PM

506 I believe more emphasis should be placed on recyling them. Aug 1, 2012 1:03 PM

507 I reuse most of the retail plastic bags as trash can liners. Although when thebags are ripped, I through them away without reuse.

Jul 31, 2012 5:58 PM

508 I was shocked and how many plastic bags were gathering underneath mykitchen sick but even more so, how many groceries I could fit 3 of my reusablebags. My daughter & I guess that it would have been at least 15-20 plastic bags.I love using my reusable bags, even took them with me to Best Buy & Paylesslast night! Saved two plastic bags! YES!

Jul 31, 2012 12:03 PM

509 It's not hard to get into the habit of bringing your own bag to the store. I actuallyjust carry a little bag in my purse with me, so that if I stop by the store on my wayhome, I'm prepared. Let's ban those suckers!

Jul 31, 2012 11:06 AM

510 I would hope that the ban would apply to all retail outlets and food vendors aswell (take-out food).

Jul 31, 2012 10:53 AM

511 I use the bags every day in my home - store veggies in fridge, store harvest frommy garden, etc.

Jul 31, 2012 5:11 AM

512 Keep them! They are convenient and have many uses after initial use. Jul 30, 2012 9:40 PM

513 This made up issue is a waste county time, money, and resources. Hopefully,this fall we can begin voting you out of power.

Jul 30, 2012 3:46 PM

514 Just get rid of them. Jul 30, 2012 2:29 PM

515 Plastic bags have handles making really conveinent to carry several at once,and/or hang on to young children when carrying bags of things with you.

Jul 30, 2012 2:23 PM

516 I think everyone should use reusable bags. Jul 30, 2012 2:19 PM

517 Sell cheap reusable bags at check out. I do use plastic bags often in car fortrash.

Jul 30, 2012 2:16 PM

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518 I try to reuse them for other things. If plastice bags are banned it would be awelcome invitation to use reusable bags!

Jul 30, 2012 1:59 PM

519 We reuse them as garbage bags at our house. The only way we throw themaway is if they have garbage in them. The one time we had too many, wereturned them to the recycle box at the store. If we did not get them at the storewe would have to buy more garbage bags to use.

Jul 30, 2012 1:55 PM

520 recycle. Jul 30, 2012 10:20 AM

521 trash liners. Jul 30, 2012 10:17 AM

522 conveniet. Jul 30, 2012 10:14 AM

523 We can recycle and reuse them as small garbage bags or sleepover packs. Jul 30, 2012 10:12 AM

524 We need more plastic bags recycling stations. . . the only one I know in Yelm isin Safeway.

Jul 30, 2012 10:01 AM

525 I think we should always use paper bags. Jul 30, 2012 10:00 AM

526 Having more convenient places to recycle bags and better information on whichare reusable.

Jul 30, 2012 9:59 AM

527 I don't know, reuse them. Jul 30, 2012 9:53 AM

528 I rarely get/use plastic bags at the grocery store as I use cloth bags (and I try toremember them at "nongrocery" stores too). However, I feel very strongly thatwe should NOT ban plastic bags - we don't need a "plastic bag police."Continue ways of encouraging alternatives. Go ahead and charge for plasticbags if desired, but do not legislate their use (or nonuse).

Jul 30, 2012 9:39 AM

529 They are good for animal waste. Jul 30, 2012 9:31 AM

530 I really don't like Plastic bags. I could use other things for scooping litterboxes Jul 30, 2012 8:56 AM

531 I recall being charged for needing a plastic bag when shopping in Finland manyyears ago. Everyone carried a reusable bag instead. We could do the same inThurston County.

Jul 30, 2012 8:36 AM

532 We should use paper bags or plastic bags that are recyclable. I am not sure whythe charge for paper bags. I ask for paper bags now and there is no charge. Myfolks used paper bags for years and there was no charge. There is so muchpollution with coal, gas, oil and so much plastic waste. Plastic bags are just thetip of the iceburg. But it is a start.

Jul 30, 2012 8:20 AM

533 I should have the right to choose what kind of bag I use. I do reuse my bags :) Jul 30, 2012 7:55 AM

534 I honestly think banning them would not be a bad idea. I would definitelyremember to use my reusable bags if there were no other free option to fall backon.

Jul 29, 2012 8:00 PM

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535 i have ALWAYS re-used my bags for all sorts of uses around the home. i doNOT support making any new laws or ordinances that are going to raise costs inany way. we have too many laws now. i believe that education on how to re-usethe bags would be better then charging money for paper bags.

Jul 29, 2012 6:24 PM

536 i would like to see more visible places where the plastic bags could be recycled. Jul 29, 2012 2:43 PM

537 I would like more recycling bins for the plastic bags Jul 29, 2012 11:00 AM

538 I believe we should have an ordinance on plastic bags for retail stores, but don'tknow enough about the paper bag fee option. I do like having plastic bags forlining garbages, putting wet towels, suits after swimming, etc. I would like moreinfo on how to increase plastic bag recycling. I don't think LeMay offers that forresidents. Thank you!

Jul 29, 2012 10:38 AM

539 They are a great resource for lining indoor trash cans. Much better than paperbags as any accidental liqued put in there will not result in a "blow out" that willoccur with paper bags. As for picking up pet waste, they can't be beat. For me,picking up pet waste with the plastic bag is better for the enviorment than lettingthe pet waste decompose and increase the fecal matter that flows into the pugetsound. When plastic bags were frist introduced 30 or so years ago they weretouted as better for the enviorment than paper bags as it "saved a tree". We stillhave plenty of trees. It makes me wonder if this push to ban plastic bags is justan effort by the timber indurtry and local government to increase their profits andtaxes..

Jul 28, 2012 9:34 PM

540 I like to use plastic bags for foods that could leak, when we are having aparticularly rainy day, and I do use them for disposal of cat litter. They are alsohandy when traveling. Clearly marked plastic bag recycle bins at the front of allstores that use them would help to increase recycle efforts.

Jul 28, 2012 5:50 PM

541 Make it easier to recycle along with other recycling. Jul 28, 2012 10:02 AM

542 charge $ for plastic bags at checkout counter. Jul 28, 2012 9:55 AM

543 Thank you for your efforts. I will continue to try and remember my cloth bags -ban plastic and make me pay the price for paper if I continue to forget my clothbags.

Jul 28, 2012 7:19 AM

544 Get rid of them. Jul 28, 2012 7:08 AM

545 While I agree that efforts to increase plastic bag recycling must be promoted, Iam strongly opposed to a ban. Reusable bags at the grocery store have a highrisk of carrying and transferring harmful bacteria and the grocery clerk musthandle these contaminated bags and then turn around and handle someoneelse's clean food. Also, plastic bag production creates many jobs in the USA,while most reusable bags are made in China. I'm sure the process of making thebags in China and shipping them here is at least as environmentally detrimental.Recycling could be encouraged by offering it curbside. Some people are justgoing to litter regardless of the choices given them, but many more may complyif given the option of curbside bag recycling.

Jul 28, 2012 6:22 AM

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546 I carry mesh produce bags & 3 nylon bags in my purse at all times. I am gettingbetter & better at using my own bags but it would be very helpful if the checkoutperson asked everyone if they want/need a bag. Sometimes I get distracted andbefore I know my "stuff" is bagged up! The worst thing about carrying your ownbags is that people have to remember to wash them regularly...clerks shouldn'thave to handle icky bags!! What helped me get into the habit was to find the rightbags that fit in my purse. That way I always have them with me ( I use the "flip &tumble"bag...they wash up great & I can fit 3 in my purse). The cloth bagshanded out by stores to be used didn't work because I didn't have them with mewhen I needed them!

Jul 27, 2012 3:37 PM

547 I would like to see tplastic bags banned and a fee set on paper bags. I haveseveral reusable bags that I carry in my car, but I invariably forget to take themwith me into the store. For awhile, if I forgot the reusable bags, I would just notuse any bags. Unfortunately, I found the plastic or paper bags were just tooconvenient and started using them again. I know I am not the only person whoforgets the reusable bags. Perhaps if we ban the bags, more people, like myself,will get it together! I do believe plastic bags are recycable curbside, and I havestarted using that service. Thank you for running this survey.

Jul 27, 2012 1:11 PM

548 It would help to have curbside plastic bag recycling. I don't want to have to paymore for paper bags, however, I try to use my own fabric bags as much aspossible. There are times when the use of plastic bags is really helpful andsanitary. I use them to separate my meats and chemical products from eachother and from foods. So, we should still be able to have plastic bags. I alsowant to be able to use plastic garbage bags for our home needs! Wheneverbans are in place, they don't seem to account for legitimate uses.

Jul 27, 2012 10:12 AM

549 I purchase Costco's can liners for my garbage cans.. .will those be banned too?How about the plastic 6-pack binders? Would a plastic bag ban be in effect in"all" stores? If I went to a hardware store and purchased a bunch of nails, or to acorner market and bought a bunch of candy, wouild I need to bring a bag in? Ithink it's a great idea!

Jul 27, 2012 9:51 AM

550 come up with a compostable substitute for things like pet waste, really ickymessy gross garbage ( I only get mine picked up monthly vs. weekly so I need toseal stuff up well for odor prevention) and things like soiled diapers that needsealed up

Jul 27, 2012 9:21 AM

551 Plastic bags are a bad idea that was poorly implemented. Jul 27, 2012 9:15 AM

552 Being able to bundle plastic bags and add them to the recycle bin would be easyto do. A charge on plastic bags is a more progressive step than banning themoutright(for now).

Jul 27, 2012 7:52 AM

553 If plastic bags are banned then I need some type of disposable container to pickup pet waste and line my garbage cans. I don't use a lot because i am good atrecycling/composting food waste.

Jul 27, 2012 7:22 AM

554 I like the bags to put my daughter's poopy diapers in. Our church, First UnitedMethodist Church of Olympia is having Vacation Bible Camp next week & we're

Jul 27, 2012 7:08 AM

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collecting plastic bags to help the kids understand the importance of recycling.We're going to then take the plastic bags & I guess the United Methodist Womenhave learned how to crochet them into mattresses! What a way to reuse & giveto someone in need!

555 I wish there were more places to recycle plastic bags. It would be veryconvenient if I could recyle them at the curb.

Jul 27, 2012 6:48 AM

556 It would be more convenient to have them picked up w/our garbage which maymake it easier for others to recycle them.

Jul 27, 2012 6:22 AM

557 If we have curbside recycling plastic bag then lot of people will use that servicerather then through in garbage (like we all do recyclling cardboard,paper,botteland can etc)

Jul 26, 2012 9:26 PM

558 Plastic bags have been around for approx. 25 years! I prefer to use paper bagsfor grocery shopping. My "stuff" tends to roll around in the back of my car if I useplastic bags. I reuse my paper bags until they fall apart. I do have somereuseable bags that I use as well. If I get plastic bags, I reuse those for garbagebag liners and other uses. If I get too many bags collecting in my pantry, I willrecycle them at the local grocery store. I don't think people should be chargedfor using any type of bag.

Jul 26, 2012 9:20 PM

559 It's out of control! Jul 26, 2012 9:16 PM

560 Bag recycling only at grocery stores now. Hard to remember to bring them. It isalso usually not obvious in the store. I would be willing to have a separatecontainer for curbside. I would be in favor of banning most plastic bags, You doneed something for leaky meat packages.

Jul 26, 2012 8:41 PM

561 I use reusable bags most of the time. Occasionally I intentionally ask for plasticbags to line my waste baskets. It makes no sense to buy plastic bags for wastebaskets. Paper bags and even boxes used to be used in the stores. I favorgoing back to this approach.

Jul 26, 2012 8:03 PM

562 Why can't we recycle it? Jul 26, 2012 7:35 PM

563 I use and reuse my plastic bags from the store for home, garage, and car manytimes. When I am through with them, I ALWAYS put them in recycle at store. I doNOT like cloth bags, I have had produce and meat leak in them-threw themaway, 2nd time I used a cloth bag, the grocer wrapped them in plastic whichdefeats the purpose of banning plastic. I will continue to use my plastic bags, willNOT support a ban, and will hoard and just bring my own to bag if necessary. Ican't help it if others are too lazy to bring theirs back to the store & recycle. Iwould focus on the plastic pop/bottled water, and the plastic thing they use tokeep the cans together.

Jul 26, 2012 7:28 PM

564 I live in the unincorporated county area. I would love to be able to recycle plasticbags with my recyclables. As it stands now, I take my bags to my church whichis in the city of Oly and is able to recycle them, or send them to the food bvank..Formerly I took them to the grocery store. I almost never take a plastic bag in

Jul 26, 2012 7:26 PM

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any store - but still they seem to mount up. Right now I have a big bag full in mygarage. We have got to cut back on single use fossil fuel products. I can think ofno reason for using plastic grocery bags, or others, for that matter!

565 First step: Stores start charging for EVERY bag used- paper OR plastic- andthat will get the public's attention. Giving 5c credit for bringing your own bag hasnot been very effective. Find out how Ireland pulled off no-plastic in grocerystores...I visited there a few years ago, and it's just the way things are--peopleadjust.We need to simply ban plastic bags, let consumers pitch a fit, then moveon.

Jul 26, 2012 7:09 PM

566 Single use plastic bags should be completely eliminated. Stores that insist onusing them should be required to charge a per bag fee for each customer. Thatfee could go into a fund to be used for education, outreach and promotion ofreusable bags.

Jul 26, 2012 7:03 PM

567 I would be happy to use a newspaper at the store to wrap meat in to take homeinstead of a plastic bag. Or wrap my wine bottles in paper instead of moreplastic. I do take my reusable bags to shop and wouldn't protest at paying anextra 5c to purchase a paper bag if I forget. Oh, I also don't have a problemcollecting and returning bags to the stores that recycle them. Recycle or die!

Jul 26, 2012 5:29 PM

568 I've been taking my own shopping bags to stores for many years as I just don'tcare for plastic bags and the problems they cause. I'm in favor of getting rid ofall that plastic.

Jul 26, 2012 5:11 PM

569 Just ban them and people will be forced to do it right. the optional method hasn'tmade a big enough dent. It's not just that they are not aware, they either don'tcare of are too lazy. A ban is truly the only way to make the impact we must.thank you!

Jul 26, 2012 4:30 PM

570 They are readily available for multiple use,but cloth bags works as well in mostcases. Publicity like this email will hopefully help; awareness is a good portion ofthe solution.

Jul 26, 2012 4:30 PM

571 I think that it would be great if you could recycle these bags with your weeklyrecycle pick-up. I also think that Washington needs to eliminate plastic al-together! If California can do it, any state can do it! I appreciate this survey and Iwill tell my friends to do it too! Thanks a bunch!

Jul 26, 2012 4:18 PM

572 Pro: convenience, secondary use, can be recycled Con: litter problem, waste ofresources

Jul 26, 2012 4:10 PM

573 Get at litter Jul 26, 2012 4:02 PM

574 Create a program for recycling plastic bags from home, such as an option to setthem out on glass day.

Jul 26, 2012 3:31 PM

575 An option for setting out plastic bags with recycling (maybe a small bin picked upon glass day) would be great. Currently we save any we get to take to therecycling center every couple of months, and if we forget our reusable bags

Jul 26, 2012 3:23 PM

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(which is quite often with three kids in tow!) we ask for paper (since that is easyto recycle).

576 How about a plastic bag tax Jul 26, 2012 3:22 PM

577 A ban on plastic bags is needed. It works in France, Great Britain and Hawaii. Itcan work here. and you know it. The question is how can you sell the public onbanning bags and pass the necessary law.

Jul 26, 2012 2:43 PM

578 We try to recycle our plastic bags. We do reuse the plastic bags as much aspossible...cat litter, trash liners, etc. We like plastic bags for the ease of handling(having handles) the little weight, and the easy compact storage for reuse. Weare trying to shop using shopping bags. Often we forget them, sometimes weare without them, and sometimes it is not convenient. Wet or nasty messythings fit best in a plastic bag. IF we had curbside recycle for plastic bagsincluded with all our other recycle, we would use it!!! Totally. We believe anduse recycle as much as we can. A ban is somewhat harsh, I think better recyclecould work, too.

Jul 26, 2012 2:39 PM

579 I support a ban on plastic bags. I am especially concerned about their damageto wildlife. I have been using cloth bags for years. There should be someincentive to use them at first, i.e. a discount. All vendors should make cloth bagsavailable in their stores at a low price. Kids from local schools could decoratecloth bags and sell them outside grocery stores or department stores, withbenefits going to environmental groups. We also need to ban plastic bags in theproduce department. Paper bags would be slightly better, or smaller cloth bagscould be made available.

Jul 26, 2012 1:41 PM

580 We reuse them in the bathroom trash bin to dispose of sanitary napkins. Weconsumers did not ask for plastic bags - before, it was just paper bags (great forthe NW Lumber Industry) - end of story. Then, we were asked at the checkoutcounter - "Paper or Plastic?" Now, you're asking us for a solution? Ban plasticbags and let businesses go back to paper bags and let them determine how toincur the cost. Do not dictate how - like your suggestion that they add a bag-charge to the consumer. In the past, they just raised prices else to cover thecost.

Jul 26, 2012 1:29 PM

581 the allow me to use them as pet waste bags or trash bags buut if I had to dowithout them I guess I could.

Jul 26, 2012 1:28 PM

582 The main problem with plastic bags (and other trash) is the self-centered "I don'tcare" attitude. It's not the bag but the person. Banning the bags might be"politically correct", but would have a negative impact on the public with theadded cost that would necessarily follow the ban.

Jul 26, 2012 12:47 PM

583 I haven't used the plastic checkout bags for years (carry my own reusable ones)and think that there really should be a charge for them in stores. They are aconvenience only. I admit that although I reuse plastic produce bags repeatedly,when they tear I use more. I haven't found a good replacement for them.

Jul 26, 2012 12:24 PM

584 I think that increasing people's access to information regarding the benefits of Jul 26, 2012 12:22 PM

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using reusable shopping bags, recycling/reusing plastic bags, etc. is moreeffective than banning plastic bags. If plastic bags are banned, people will stillneed shopping bags, as not everyone uses/has access to/always remembersreusable shopping bags, so bags will still have to be given out. The othercommunities that I have visited that have plastic bag bans use mostly paperbags, which is still contributing to the problems listed for plastic bag use (litter,waste of resources, etc.), even if it is to a lesser degree. I think the saying, "Youattract more flies with honey than you do with vinegar," is an appropriate way toapproach this problem-- help people to understand the issues surroundingplastic bag use and the benefits of using reusable bags or recycling plastic bags,instead of banning plastic bags altogether.

585 Work with the stores to create a better system don't just force your opinion onthe consumer with a ban.

Jul 26, 2012 11:27 AM

586 Need to ban for the control of litter. Jul 26, 2012 11:23 AM

587 Make recycling curbside available to everyone. Jul 26, 2012 11:21 AM

588 While I always TRY to take a bag for my groceries, I often forget-or I purchasemore than they will hold. I don't think an outright ban should be implemented,however I would like to see 'plastic' bags that are made of material that willdecompose naturally instead of plastic bags made out of oil products. (yes thereis such a thing as bags made of corn products that decompose) I have readconflicting reports about the debris swirling in the Pacific... some say it is anurban myth....so I would advise Thurston County to research this more beforeimplementing such a ban here. We are not King County!

Jul 26, 2012 11:20 AM

589 I like that we can recycle them. Most people would not go for a ban as a lot don'tcare to recycle :)

Jul 26, 2012 11:19 AM

590 Proper recycling can resolve all trash issues. Jul 26, 2012 10:51 AM

591 They are reusable at home: wastebasket liners, throw dirty diapers (concealsodors). But alot of stress is put in our environment.

Jul 26, 2012 10:46 AM

592 They don't give out plastic bags at grocery stores in Switzerland and they makecustomers for paper bags. They sell reusable bags for about 50 cents more thanthe paper ones.

Jul 26, 2012 10:44 AM

593 They are very useful but they get loose so easily. If curbside recycling could bemade to work that would help.

Jul 26, 2012 10:41 AM

594 Not ready to have them banned. Jul 26, 2012 10:38 AM

595 Need more places to recycle. Jul 26, 2012 10:33 AM

596 Our garbage company should let us recycle plastic bags. Big business shoulddevelop a new kind of plastic bag that breaks down more in the garbage dumps.However, I am more concerned about the loss of paper bags, which I prefer.Ban plastic bags, but not paper bags.

Jul 26, 2012 10:28 AM

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597 Need more places tor recycle. Jul 26, 2012 10:20 AM

598 It seems some are crying "WOLF" and making plastic bags the greatest evil inour society. We have been told paper bags are bad because they cause toomany trees to be cut. Clothe bags are bad because they harbor too manygerms. Maybe everyone should stop shopping.

Jul 26, 2012 10:05 AM

599 I can't make the bags into "plarn." Jul 26, 2012 9:57 AM

600 I like plastic bags. It seems a lot of folks do not/will not take responsibility fortheirs. I wish they would. A few spoil it for the many.

Jul 26, 2012 9:56 AM

601 I always reuse or recycle my plastic bags. Encourage stores to give discounts tocustomers who bring their own bags.

Jul 26, 2012 9:53 AM

602 Make plastic bag recycling easier. Either through allowingb them in the curbsidecarts or education on where to take them.

Jul 26, 2012 9:25 AM

603 Better to educate people and let them change their behaviors. Jul 26, 2012 9:19 AM

604 Reuse for garbage bags. Jul 26, 2012 9:12 AM

605 I have mixed feelings, because I don't think they're good for the environment &yet we do use them consistently to line our wastebaskets etc. I'm glad there isgoing to be some dialogue about the issue.

Jul 26, 2012 8:25 AM

606 I, personally, hate plastic bags and try to use paper or my own bags wheneverpossible. -- Curbside and other easy and convenient ways to recycle plastic bagsneed to be available. -- Require stores that use plastic bags to post publicposters on environment impact and ways to reuse plastic bags.

Jul 26, 2012 8:17 AM

607 I hate plastic bags and rarely use them - except the plastic bags from Target.Those are strong and I use those repeatedly. I think that if plastic bags wererecyclable in my area, I would recycle them. I don't mind a ban on plastic bags,but I don't think that there should be a fee charged to the customer for paperbags.

Jul 26, 2012 6:00 AM

608 I reuse them for other purposes, like pet waste. If they were recyclable in therecycle can I think more would be recycled. Look at recycling in general, beforecurbside recycling how much got recycled compared to after?

Jul 26, 2012 12:47 AM

609 I do use them at home. Give nore info on tv and etc of the harm they do to thefish and animals. people will not like to be charged for the use of paper bags.Itwill be neassary to use plastic for some foods and etc.

Jul 25, 2012 9:53 PM

610 I do like to reuse them to carry dirty clothes or shoes when traveling with asuitcase. I also use them to pick up after our dog.

Jul 25, 2012 8:59 PM

611 For - I like having some bags available. We use them for trash can liners, lunchbags, laundry bags when we travel. Against - Uses resources, fills the landfills,is a hazard to the environment, take a long long time to deterioriate. Make iteasier - more places to recycle, curbside recycling I would support a ban and a

Jul 25, 2012 7:46 PM

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very modest fee at the checkout line.

612 I reuse my plastic grocery bags at least once and sometimes twice. If we banthem, we then play into the plastic bag makers - the ones we will have to BUY toplace as garbage can liners, use as lunch bags, use has carry bags for kids atschools, use daily when distributing items at donation sites, picking up dog poo,etc. If I ever (rarely) feel I have an overabundance - I take them to a variety ofgrocery stores that have recycle boxes just for them :-)

Jul 25, 2012 7:26 PM

613 I rarely use plastic bags and bring them back to safeway for recycling. I try touse fabric bags, they are far stronger, carry more and are easier to carry. I avoidplastic bags

Jul 25, 2012 6:38 PM

614 I hate plastic bags Jul 25, 2012 5:40 PM

615 I try to take my cloth bags, but when in a hurry, I forget and will ask for paperwhen checking out put. . It would be nice to have paper available for the food weare buying to put the items before checking out.

Jul 25, 2012 5:31 PM

616 Grocery stores should elect to not use plastic bags. They should charge for theuse of plastic ones, and give credits for use of recycle bags. Strong educationand TV ads dramatically reduced cigarette smoking. The same could be true forplastic bag usage.

Jul 25, 2012 2:45 PM

617 more access to recycle locations Jul 25, 2012 1:18 PM

618 If stores provide bags, they should be biodegradable and not harmful to theplanet.

Jul 25, 2012 9:28 AM

619 I would support banning plastic if there was no charge for paper...why should thepublic be fined for banning plastic? Please get more info out on recycling theplasatic bags...I thought I could only return them to stores with bag bins by thedoors.

Jul 25, 2012 8:55 AM

620 I use plastic bags to pick up soiled cat litter and deposit it into my garbage cart. Ionly use a few for this and would be very willing to recycle the rest but I do notknow how to do that. Maybe the city could educate us in how to do that??? Arewe allowed to put them into our Recycle Cart? I am a Senior Citizen andgroceries are a lot easier to carry when they are in a plastic bag because theyhave handles, unlike most paper bags.

Jul 25, 2012 1:23 AM

621 We use to many plastic bags for nothing basically. Jul 24, 2012 2:43 PM

622 Majority wins :) Yes to me :) Jul 24, 2012 2:41 PM

623 Nothing--thin, rip and not good. Jul 24, 2012 2:39 PM

624 My preference would be to ban them totally, Seattle has the right idea we shouldfollow suit!

Jul 24, 2012 1:46 PM

625 I think if plastic bags do get banned then there should be some sort of transitionphase where shoppers are "awarded" for bringing in their own bags (be it

Jul 24, 2012 1:44 PM

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canvas, paper or plastic) such as 5% off their one time grocery bill of $50 ormore.

626 Curbside recycling of bags. Jul 24, 2012 10:05 AM

627 There are uses for the bags--so they are needed. Jul 24, 2012 10:02 AM

628 Safeway give discount on soap products when using your own bags. I see manypeople using there own bags at Safeway because of this.

Jul 24, 2012 10:01 AM

629 Get rid of them. Give free recycable bags/containers. Jul 24, 2012 9:58 AM

630 In favor of plastic bags. They have many uses after shopping. Jul 24, 2012 9:57 AM

631 I like to reuse plasic bags for food trash liners, but would prefer a strongerdecompostable liner. We should eliminate plastic in grocery stores and charge afee for paper (another wasted resource). That will force people to takeresponsibility for their actions and encourage them to remember to bring theirown shopping bags.

Jul 24, 2012 9:47 AM

632 prefer biodegradable plastic bags Jul 24, 2012 9:00 AM

633 I would be more inclined to use reusable bags if I didn't have to purchase themwhen not bringing one with me.

Jul 23, 2012 7:05 PM

634 Denmark grocery stores don't offer free shopping bags. They sell heavy dutyplastic, reusable bags: $.50 for a small bag and $ 1.00 for a large. Most peoplein Denmark remember their shopping bags when they shop. Of course, theydon't buy as many things per shopping trip as we do in the States; they shopmore often. Once the bags are beyond re-use they can be recycled at theregular recycling station.

Jul 23, 2012 5:11 PM

635 Plastic bags kill -- it is that simple. I have seen photos of birds and marineanimals with plastic bags suffocating them, binding them, etc. And we need tofigure out how to get rid of those floating islands of garbage in our oceans. Wedo not seem to understand the harm that we do.

Jul 23, 2012 3:39 PM

636 Get rid of them. Give free recycalbe bags/containers. Jul 23, 2012 2:21 PM

637 In favor of plastic bags. They have many used after shopping. Jul 23, 2012 2:19 PM

638 Use them in snall waste baskets. Cat litter clean up. Jul 23, 2012 2:12 PM

639 Plastic bags are a good size and is reused in my household for other things. Ifwe could go with out them we would. We should all do our part to take care ofwhat God creates.

Jul 23, 2012 2:10 PM

640 People don't like change. A problem! Jul 23, 2012 2:07 PM

641 People don't like change. A problem! Jul 23, 2012 1:56 PM

642 I reuse them at home. Jul 23, 2012 1:30 PM

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643 It's better to use reusable bags. Jul 23, 2012 1:18 PM

644 Time to move on. Beyond plastic. Jul 23, 2012 1:17 PM

645 They have many uses. Jul 23, 2012 1:13 PM

646 I use and reuse plastic bugs all the time. Jul 23, 2012 1:09 PM

647 I see no reason to not ban plastic bags. I would lovd it if all bags were reusable. Jul 23, 2012 1:02 PM

648 Get rid of plastic bags. Jul 23, 2012 12:59 PM

649 My wife likes the plastic bags to put over paper garbage bags. Jul 23, 2012 12:58 PM

650 I don't like plastic bags but they are conveinet and always seem to be around.I'm not sure, other than banning them, how to reduce use or increase recycle.It's hard to un-train people who have become accustomed to our "throw away"society. A good use for recycling plastic bags is to reuse as a material forcrocheting to make your won reuse bag, out of plastic yarn!

Jul 23, 2012 12:57 PM

651 I use plastic bags for cat litter. Would uby some type of container (within costreason) stop using plastic bags.

Jul 23, 2012 12:37 PM

652 Follow Seattle! Jul 23, 2012 12:35 PM

653 I agree with elimination of plastic bags; don't think most folks will ever recyclethem. Pro paper and reusable bags!

Jul 23, 2012 12:35 PM

654 If I didn't have plastic grocry bags to line waste basket, I will have to purchasethe heavier plastic bags. What are you going to do with dept. store and producebags?

Jul 23, 2012 12:33 PM

655 Good for lining waste baskets. Jul 23, 2012 12:31 PM

656 If reusable bags were given out free, people may use them more. Also advertisehow bad plastic is for the environment and wildlife.

Jul 23, 2012 12:01 PM

657 They are an unnecessary pain in the neck! Jul 23, 2012 11:58 AM

658 I still use plastic bags for meat and other messy items. Jul 23, 2012 11:57 AM

659 The reusable bags are sometimes filled so full they are too heavy to carry. Jul 23, 2012 11:57 AM

660 They would be of much more use if they didn't have holes in the bottom--greatliners for waste baskets in the (?) home.

Jul 23, 2012 11:54 AM

661 They can be recycled at the grocery stores. Curbside recycle cart would begreat for these bags.

Jul 23, 2012 11:49 AM

662 I like the cleanliness that they offer. New bags are sterile and have many otheruses after they are brought home.

Jul 23, 2012 10:44 AM

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663 Food banks need plastic bags. We are often running low. Jul 23, 2012 10:12 AM

664 Plastic bags can be conveniniet but actually but every unsubstanial way carrythings, and are pointless when reusable bags are available. They are not worhtenergy. They use to be created, and are devastating to wildlife and are (?) at theWARC. Down with plastic!

Jul 23, 2012 10:11 AM

665 Allow plastic bags to be recycled at all grocery stores. Ban them. I use the bagsin my garbage can rather than buying them.

Jul 23, 2012 10:01 AM

666 i like to reuse plastic bags. Ban or charging for will create another unneccesarycharge for lower income people who are already struggling.

Jul 23, 2012 9:59 AM

667 I really don't like plastic bags. I usually forget to bring the other ones with me. Jul 23, 2012 9:49 AM

668 I reuse my plastic bags when I gorget to use my shopping bags. Jul 23, 2012 9:45 AM

669 Reuse Jul 23, 2012 9:20 AM

670 Would love to see them added to our recycle bins list of required "recycle" items. Jul 23, 2012 9:18 AM

671 They can amke recycable plastic, can't they? increase recycling of plastic bagsby allowing/offering curbside pick up.

Jul 23, 2012 9:14 AM

672 Curbside recycle. Jul 23, 2012 9:12 AM

673 paper bags are thiner and rip when handled.se times you have too double bag toget the strong enough to hold your items. Iwas informed that I can not recycle mybags in my recycle bid because it plugs up the machinery at LeMay!!!!

Jul 22, 2012 9:33 AM

674 I use plastic bags for garbage in the vehicles that i drive. Jul 20, 2012 4:24 PM

675 I don't like using plastic bags but like most of us i forget my re-usable ones;perhaps if we were forced to not use them we wouldn't be so forgetful bringingour re-usable bags.

Jul 20, 2012 9:37 AM

676 If I am required to no longer be able to have a plastic bag then paper or reusablebags need to be provided from the store. I feel it is most definitely the storesresponsibility to provide boxes, paper or any other means for me to take myitems home. If I shop at their store.

Jul 20, 2012 9:15 AM

677 Useful for lining paper garbage bags and bathroom garbage containers. Sincewe recycle most everything, we don't use plastic bags nearly as much as weused to. So maybe 6 bags a month go as garbage the rest I have been taking tothe Library - they use them for folks needing a container to carry multiple bookshome. Which, not that I think about it, may not be such a good idea if they aren'trecycled at some point. I take the plastic bags covering the daily newspaper toSafeway for them to recycle. But, I see in the latest flyer from Thurston Countythat I can take all plastic bags to the recycle center.

Jul 20, 2012 8:31 AM

678 Our environment is, on an immeasurable scale, more important than our "right"or "freedom" to produce/use certain products. Plastic shopping bags are on the

Jul 20, 2012 7:50 AM

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list of such products.

679 Plastic bags are lighter and take up less space when transporting than paperbags. The also hold more weight for their size than paper. Reusable bags cancarry bacteria and viruses if not properly cared for. The United States is aboutfreedom and choices. Each individual is different and needs to makes choicesbased on their situation. Teach responsibility not reducing freedoms.

Jul 19, 2012 10:31 AM

680 I went to Maui for vacation and they don't have a plastic bag in site there. Thefee for the brown bag was almost nothing. It's a good thing!

Jul 19, 2012 10:13 AM

681 if you want to ban plastic bags or charge a fee you must give out free reusablebags to everyone and be prepared for lawsuits when poeple get sick fromcontaminated bags

Jul 18, 2012 4:30 PM

682 Charge a deterrent fee for each bag, use the money to fund roadside cleanup. Jul 18, 2012 3:15 PM

683 Plastic bags are good dog pooh bags. Jul 18, 2012 1:44 PM

684 Groceries should have ban on plastic bags. Jul 18, 2012 1:38 PM

685 Stop reulating! Use education! Keep options available. Jul 18, 2012 1:36 PM

686 No arguments but excited about what other alternatives there are about groceryshopping--I shop for alot when I go to the market.

Jul 18, 2012 1:35 PM

687 Could be used for trash. Jul 18, 2012 1:33 PM

688 Keep plastic bags out of ocean. Jul 18, 2012 1:29 PM

689 It would be better for the inverment if the plastic bags were recycled, or not usedat all.

Jul 18, 2012 1:25 PM

690 Adding them to my curbside would be nice. Jul 18, 2012 1:18 PM

691 I don't get why throw away items are made from something that lasts forever. Jul 18, 2012 1:13 PM

692 Plastic bags create an ever-growing contamination problem that is easilystemmed by the use of reusables. Banning them and charging for paper bags isa brilliant way to get people in the habit of bringing their own damn bags.

Jul 18, 2012 1:06 PM

693 Plastic bags that degrade. Jul 18, 2012 12:57 PM

694 Needs to be all recycling. Jul 18, 2012 12:47 PM

695 Often useful, but charges would help lower use! Jul 18, 2012 12:31 PM

696 I like them for using as garbage bags and as a back up when I forget myreusables.

Jul 18, 2012 12:30 PM

697 Use them for garbage liners. Jul 18, 2012 12:29 PM

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698 I would recycle my plastic bags if I could curbside. I would fully support a ban onplastic bags in Thurston County. If bags were banned, I'd like to have alternativebags available for free to those individuals that cannot afford to purchase re-usable bags.

Jul 18, 2012 12:28 PM

699 It would help if plastic bags were collected at Sargent Road waste location. Jul 18, 2012 12:12 PM

700 I reuse for waste . box liners. Jul 18, 2012 12:08 PM

701 We use plastic bags for dirty diapers and dog poop only. Jul 18, 2012 12:03 PM

702 Increase ideas for reuse of bags. Jul 18, 2012 12:02 PM

703 I would prefer that we ban plastic bags and make using paper or reusable bagsmandatory.

Jul 18, 2012 12:01 PM

704 I do think it's excessive but if we can redirect people to reuse them instead ofchargin them to use paper it would be a win win.

Jul 18, 2012 11:58 AM

705 I use all that I receive while shopping or I would buy plastic bag. Jul 18, 2012 11:51 AM

706 The only reason I use plastic bags is that I'm not in the habit of always havingthem on hand--I'm working on it.

Jul 18, 2012 11:50 AM

707 Plastic bags have multiple reuses--I would hate not being ableto get them. Jul 18, 2012 11:48 AM

708 They are useful, however dangerous. But only in rare occasions. Jul 18, 2012 11:44 AM

709 I think we should limit the use of plastic bags as much as possible. Jul 18, 2012 10:17 AM

710 Ban 'em! Jul 18, 2012 9:59 AM

711 I believe plastic bags can definitely be replaced by paper!! Jul 18, 2012 9:58 AM

712 Banning plastic bags will hlp our environment because people will think morewhen they use them.

Jul 18, 2012 9:56 AM

713 Conenient recycling locations. Jul 18, 2012 9:52 AM

714 I try to use shopping bags instead of plastic but don't always remember. I alsoopt for no bag when possible.

Jul 18, 2012 9:35 AM

715 Remind us of organizations that cleaned plastic can be taken--Food coop,animal services.

Jul 18, 2012 9:32 AM

716 I re-use plastic bags as small garbage bags, dont ban them!! Jul 18, 2012 8:42 AM

717 They have many uses. Jul 18, 2012 8:13 AM

718 I do use them for my small trash cans that are very handy. Jul 18, 2012 8:11 AM

719 Paper bags tear easier than plastic bags. Jul 18, 2012 8:09 AM

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720 I like that plastic is convient when walking my dogs or lining the recycle bin in thehouse. However I hate that I constantly see them on the side of the road. Ibelieve they are wasteful.

Jul 18, 2012 8:08 AM

721 The state of Washingtn needs to pass a law that you have to recycle plastic bagsand put into place a recycling program.

Jul 18, 2012 8:05 AM

722 Don't like much about them. Have plastic bag recycling bins in every town. Jul 18, 2012 8:02 AM

723 What percentage of total garbage waste are plastic bags? Probably less than1%. Therefore banning them has essentially no effect on waste volume. Plasticbags cost less to transport. Paper bags weight more, burning more fuel in thetrucks that haul the bags. Green house gas net effect?

Jul 17, 2012 8:49 PM

724 There should be some "exceptions" if plastic bags are banned -- like for peopletaking the bus, the elderly, a parent walking with small children. I defer to theplastic bag industry when they say the recycling stream is robust -- if it is I wouldlike more enforcement of recycling on the public as well as a (nearly) total ban,see above. If the recycling stream is not robust, then they need to step up andmake it so. But so many people don't recycle. Thanks.

Jul 17, 2012 3:21 PM

725 Separate bin for curbside by LeMay. Jul 17, 2012 2:09 PM

726 Get rid of them. Jul 17, 2012 2:08 PM

727 Curbside recycle would be awesome. Jul 17, 2012 2:05 PM

728 Reuse plastic bags. Put drop off locations in stores. Jul 17, 2012 2:03 PM

729 I like to use them for other things, like pet waste. Jul 17, 2012 2:01 PM

730 I thoroughly support a ban on plastic bags! Being able to put them in thecurbside recycle might help recycling efforts.

Jul 17, 2012 1:29 PM

731 Plastic bags are re-used. If we were not allowed to have them I would need topurchase them to use as I do now for free.

Jul 17, 2012 9:56 AM

732 The convenience of plastic bags at the grocery checkout really is hard to beat.Even though I have reuseable bags in my car, it is still hard to remember to bringthem in! Yet I am very concerned about plastic bag litter and all plastic litter; weneed to take drastic action before our planet looks like it does in Wall-e. Canplastic bags go in curbside recycling? That would be wonderful.

Jul 16, 2012 5:17 PM

733 Get rid of them. Some are breaking down to microscopic levels and are foundeverywhere including the food chain. The economics of the bag isn't worth thedanger they pose in the future.

Jul 16, 2012 3:43 PM

734 I think it should include all stores, including retail big box stores in addition togrocery stores

Jul 16, 2012 3:16 PM

735 I have no idea how or where to recycle plastic bags Please publish recycleopportunities.

Jul 16, 2012 1:44 PM

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736 I always reuse my plastic bags. I would prefer to keep plstic bags as an option--reuseable can store germs if not washed properly which can be a health issue.

Jul 16, 2012 12:58 PM

737 Easy to use. Jul 16, 2012 12:53 PM

738 Dog waste. Jul 16, 2012 12:52 PM

739 Need more recycling opportunities, advertise other use for plastic bags. Jul 16, 2012 12:49 PM

740 Easy, cheap, convenient. Jul 16, 2012 12:35 PM

741 Styrofoam need to be recycled too. Thanks. Jul 16, 2012 12:31 PM

742 Hard to figure out at this time. Jul 16, 2012 12:24 PM

743 I like to reuse them. That's about it. Jul 16, 2012 12:20 PM

744 I think a ban on plastic bags is a great idea and people shouldbe moreencouraged to use reusable bags.

Jul 16, 2012 12:19 PM

745 No more plastic bags. Paper bags you can reuse it as many times. Jul 16, 2012 12:14 PM

746 Charge for plastic bags! Jul 16, 2012 12:11 PM

747 The amount of waste the bags create is huge! I think banning the productionand usage in stores is important. I don't like anything about them.

Jul 16, 2012 12:08 PM

748 I don't really have any. They are convient so I've never researched or botheredabout it.

Jul 16, 2012 11:58 AM

749 I like my freedom yo coose my whether or not I want to use plastic. Jul 16, 2012 11:52 AM

750 Let's outlaw plastic bags and figure out how to recyclr styrofoam--curbside! Jul 16, 2012 11:45 AM

751 Don't like going to Safeway because they give you credit on soap,etc. when youuse your own bags.

Jul 16, 2012 11:24 AM

752 I like them-easier to use than paper bags. Jul 16, 2012 11:21 AM

753 Keep government out . Educate the people to make their own choices. I supportrecycling and using reusable bags, but that choice should be up to me.

Jul 16, 2012 11:17 AM

754 In Europe, they charge you to use bags so it's normal to bring your ownbags/baskets to shop.

Jul 16, 2012 11:14 AM

755 They are convient for reuse and save money for my small trash cans and for mydog waste and used training pads.

Jul 16, 2012 11:09 AM

756 Unfortanately, encouraging paper bags isn't a better option. Jul 16, 2012 8:31 AM

757 My sister uses the old ones. Cuts them up, makes them into yarn and crochetsother bags with them to go shopping with.

Jul 16, 2012 8:30 AM

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758 I reuse bags until they have holes and then recycle them! Jul 16, 2012 8:28 AM

759 Ban plastic. Jul 16, 2012 8:27 AM

760 Curbside recycling is the problem. If they would take them then this would besolved.

Jul 16, 2012 8:25 AM

761 I don't want the government telling me what to do. Jul 16, 2012 8:10 AM

762 I really only use them because that's what is available. Jul 16, 2012 8:08 AM

763 I reuse them. Jul 16, 2012 8:02 AM

764 Get rid of them! Jul 16, 2012 7:44 AM

765 It's easier than bringing bags. Jul 16, 2012 7:36 AM

766 You can use as trash bags. Jul 16, 2012 7:01 AM

767 Don't like them. Jul 16, 2012 6:57 AM

768 Tax like OR on cans. Jul 16, 2012 6:48 AM

769 Get rid of them! Jul 16, 2012 6:45 AM

770 Worried about resources for paper bags. Don't like fees (Olympia's fees arehigher than others).

Jul 16, 2012 6:42 AM

771 We recycle but it gets cluttered waiting to take them back to a store. Jul 16, 2012 6:39 AM

772 Increase bag recycling-recyle w/rest of curbside recycling. It would be better forour environment-we would get used to using paper or bringing our own bags foruse at the stores.

Jul 15, 2012 6:14 PM

773 Plastic bags are NOT the problem - Careless people are - and you can'tregulate them!! It would be nice to be able to put torn plastic bags in the recyclebin but we repurpose all good bags. Banning plastic bags will not keep plasticfrom harming animals - they will still be exposed to dirty Pampers, and otherplastic products. Will there also be a ban on plastic diapers and red Solo cups??? Mfg. of plastic bags employs people! And a final thought - there are somestores that provide plastic bags that are bio-degradable!!!

Jul 15, 2012 4:04 PM

774 If I didn't have shopping bags I would have to purchase bags for my small trashcans.

Jul 15, 2012 3:40 PM

775 stores bag up groceries in too many plastic bags. Sometimes only one item is ina bag. Have more bins for plastic bag recycling and at the entrance of stores.

Jul 15, 2012 2:12 PM

776 simply offer recycling in the normal recycle cart or curbside in a separatecontainer instead of another ridiculous ordinance

Jul 15, 2012 2:10 PM

777 Keep your liberial minds out of a good product, have recycle bin at grocery Jul 15, 2012 1:34 PM

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stores

778 Keep some plastic bags accessible through retailers because they are stillneeded. Consider using a use/pay system which might encourage "second-use"from those who use them. Have retailers stop giving a "bonus 5 cents" forbringing your own bags. Stop selling the web/gauze bags, they're horrible towash.

Jul 15, 2012 1:05 PM

779 I like using them to line my trash cans in the house and for packing boxes.Argument for: easier to carry several bags at once when unloading groceries.Argument Against: Not good for the environment.

Jul 15, 2012 11:42 AM

780 If there were no plastic bags, then we would find a way to do without them. Jul 14, 2012 10:53 AM

781 Let the free market decide. Jul 14, 2012 9:25 AM

782 Increase education to the public about bag recycling picked up at home. And,since we are a diverse population, consider communication in other languages.

Jul 13, 2012 9:09 PM

783 BAN PLASTIC, however, I do not agree with charging a fee for paper bags.Paper bags degrade readily, can be used in gardening and for trash liners anddo not persist in the environment. The fee, I believe, is only in place to placatethe plastics industry. The paper industry is vital to the Pacific Northwesteconomy and paper companies are integral in natural resource management.Our family works hard to refuse plastic bags at check out. We see plastic bagsfloating in the air and along the roadside, rarely do we see paper bags hangingin tree branches. YES, ban plastic bags. The long term value of paper andreusable bags far out weighs the short term, perceived cost savings andconvenience of the check out plastic bags.

Jul 13, 2012 3:38 PM

784 I don't like plastic bags. I prefer paper or a reusable shopping bag. Jul 13, 2012 12:47 PM

785 It can work-Portland does it! Jul 13, 2012 9:41 AM

786 Better then paper, less natural resources use. Jul 13, 2012 9:37 AM

787 Use Seattle plan. Jul 13, 2012 9:35 AM

788 Recycle them. Jul 13, 2012 9:33 AM

789 Ban them! Jul 13, 2012 9:30 AM

790 Cross contaimination of meats is the only concern that I use plastic for.Convenience for frozen foods is waining :)

Jul 13, 2012 9:27 AM

791 They are nice to reuse as garbage bags, but I still wish people didn't use themso much. I would be fine if they were banned.

Jul 13, 2012 9:25 AM

792 We need some. But not nearly as many as we use. Jul 13, 2012 9:23 AM

793 convenience, but I would gladly use fabric reusable bags. Jul 13, 2012 9:22 AM

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794 I would like more info on the energy/practices used to produce reusable bags.Some that have been advertised as "eo" choice seem to be made in countriesrequiring long transport, toxic substances, etc. So are they better?

Jul 13, 2012 9:14 AM

795 I like reusing plastic bags and really don't see them totally going away.Sometimes nothing else does what they do!

Jul 13, 2012 9:04 AM

796 Ban it, make reuseable ones that are cheap and good quality :) Jul 13, 2012 9:03 AM

797 BAN THEM! Jul 13, 2012 9:02 AM

798 Pros- some people use them for dog waste-important use aroundbeaches/estuaries. Cons-animal injuries, uses non renewable resources.

Jul 13, 2012 9:01 AM

799 I use them as garbage bags but I actually hate them. Jul 13, 2012 8:59 AM

800 I miss the old brown paper bags "the good old days!" Jul 13, 2012 8:56 AM

801 Just alot of people gonna be angry. Jul 13, 2012 8:54 AM

802 Less waste. Jul 13, 2012 8:52 AM

803 Useful for garbage reliner, but I could find a substitute.Against, as makesproblems in our environment. I saw mountains of trash with plastic bags inChina. We can do better.

Jul 13, 2012 8:29 AM

804 Keep the bags. Prefer them to those "reuseable" bags that are always in thewrong car... or never take enough of them into the store...or are growing moldand bacteria in the bottom.

Jul 12, 2012 2:57 PM

805 If plastic bags are removed and people are charged for paper then alsoimplement a system for donating back paper bags.

Jul 12, 2012 2:40 PM

806 I would very much like to see plastic bag recycling available in the Olympiacurbside recycling program.

Jul 12, 2012 2:37 PM

807 Help me remember my reuseable bags. Works great in Maui. Jul 12, 2012 2:26 PM

808 This is a common decision we can make to improve our environment in thecounty.

Jul 12, 2012 2:25 PM

809 I use cloth bags for shopping and I reuse plastic bags for produce. Jul 12, 2012 2:24 PM

810 Educate on what we did for 100 years -dry metal container-no liquid waste-empty and wash!

Jul 12, 2012 2:23 PM

811 I use plastic bags with my cleaning biz to hold dirty towels and to line trash. I'dbe willing to switch to paper, though plastic bags seem more sanitary in cleaningsituations. I support the challenge to "think outside of the bag." If there iscurbside recycling for plastic bags, I don't know about it!

Jul 12, 2012 2:22 PM

812 Collect plastic bags with regular recycling pickup. Jul 12, 2012 2:18 PM

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813 They choose nature. Are typically single use before they tear. Blow around andare sign of the times.

Jul 12, 2012 2:18 PM

814 I line to reuse them for things around the house and for my car! Jul 12, 2012 2:13 PM

815 I would like to see curbside pick up at my house. Jul 12, 2012 2:06 PM

816 Make them stronger and more people would reuse them for other purposes. Jul 12, 2012 2:05 PM

817 Plastic bags if recycable woube great! Paper bags I use for newspaper andsuch!

Jul 12, 2012 2:04 PM

818 I like to use them as garbage liners. Some of the bags are getting to be weak. Jul 12, 2012 2:00 PM

819 Since garbage is only picked up twice a month, plastic bags are helpful keepingit contained and bug and animal free. You could allow us to recycle plastic bagsin our recycling.

Jul 12, 2012 1:59 PM

820 They are everywhere! Garbage. Jul 12, 2012 1:56 PM

821 I think having alternatives in groceru stores like reused containers on hand ishelpfu to not choosing the plastic bag.

Jul 12, 2012 1:50 PM

822 Encourage grocery stores to have parking lot signs that remind you to bring inyour bags.

Jul 12, 2012 1:49 PM

823 I reuse plastic bags for so many things, like lning my trash cans. The idea ofhaving to buy bags to line trash, etc. sucks :)

Jul 12, 2012 1:48 PM

824 Curbside pick up! Free paper bags at grocery stores instead of plastic. Jul 12, 2012 1:45 PM

825 Would a ban create more of a market for other disposable bags? I don't know. ..but when we have them we use them for the cat box. If they weren't around Iguess we'd find another solution

Jul 12, 2012 1:44 PM

826 You can increase bag recycling by having it picked up with the weekly garbageand recycling

Jul 11, 2012 1:11 PM

827 I don't want government to dictate this issue. Jul 11, 2012 12:13 PM

828 If Lemay offered recycling of plastic bags I would recycle them. I currently reusemany of my used bags. I oppose any tax on plastic bags.

Jul 11, 2012 9:18 AM

829 Providing a recycling opportunity would be better than banning them. Jul 11, 2012 8:52 AM

830 I like plastic bags because they are useful many times over and are veryhygienic, much more hygienic than reusable cloth bags.

Jul 11, 2012 8:50 AM

831 I guess that I would have less of an issue with plastic bags is there wereconvenient places to recycle them. Currently my curb side waste/recyclerdoesn't pick them up and I have to search around to find places that will acceptthem. So if we're going to continue to use them, lets make it easy to recycle. If

Jul 10, 2012 9:04 AM

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not, ban them.

832 I would like to see more biodegradable plastic bags used. I think it may also behard on lower income people to have to pay for bags if they forgot to bringreusable bags, so that's not too good. But I really would like to see less plasticbags in the trash stream.

Jul 9, 2012 9:27 PM

833 Reusable bags can be breeding grounds for bacteria. Plastic bags have a ton ofother uses in the home after being used as grocery bags. A curbside recycle ofplastic bags would be extremely helpful in getting people to actually recyclethem. Let US decide if we want to use these bags or not. Government has noplace telling us what kind of grocery bag we can or cannot use. Let the grocerystore owners decide how they want to conduct their business. If they want toattract people who don't like plastic they can implement their own plan by notusing them themselves.

Jul 9, 2012 1:03 PM

834 I'd like to see equipment developed that would allow the recycling of plasticbags, as long as we have to deal w/them being manufactured in the first place.

Jul 9, 2012 11:18 AM

835 The concern I would have is how to wash out the reuseable totes, sometimes theodor from foods can be impossible to get out the fabric or insulation of the coldbags

Jul 9, 2012 9:16 AM

836 crbside bag recycling if bags not banned Jul 9, 2012 9:10 AM

837 Because I repurpose them in my home, I hate to see them go away. However,even w/ my repurpose, I know I am contributing to the problem because the bagsSTILL make it to land fill. I have had reusable bags since the beginning ofawareness. I bought a dozen from online site - this was before there were suchthings available at the stores. So - I am a mixed up fruit salad in what I do, andwhat I OUGHT to do!!!!

Jul 9, 2012 8:47 AM

838 It would make it a lot easier for everyone to incorporate plastic bag recycling intocurb-side recycling. I would love to see a ban on plastic bags but at the sametime those plastic bags contain my household garbage, baby diapers and catlitter. I also heard a study that in places where they have banned plastic bagspeople are using the store bought plastic bags which are thicker and take muchlonger to break down. (i.e people are going to use plastic bags for their garbageno matter what whether it be the free ones from the grocery store or store boughtbags)

Jul 9, 2012 8:38 AM

839 how can banning plastic bags help @ all.... i havent bought garbage bags formany years... i use the shopping bags...if they are banned then i would have tobuy OTHER plastic bags

Jul 8, 2012 5:44 PM

840 We use plastic grocery bags for disposal of pet feces, cat box litter and to linesmall bathroom/bedroom waste paper baskets. Those that we don't use areperiodically recycled in a recycle bin at our Hawks Prairie Safeway store.Banning these bags means that we have to purchase some alternative bagwhich may not be recycleable. While we may agree with the intent of thisproposed ban, it would make more sense to find an alternative grocery bag that

Jul 8, 2012 3:24 PM

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would be degradeable, not harm the environment and doesn't cost more than theexisting bags. While the bags are a convenience provided by grocers, thesebags are also calculated into the price of our goods that we purchase regardlessof what you may wish to think. Banning them will be a lot harder as long as theyare manufactured anywhere, are avalilable other places and don't have areasonable alternative. Requiring people to use reuseable bags invites foodcontamination and spread of infectious diseases even if washed between uses.GO BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD AND FIND AN ALTERNATIVE BAGBEFORE YOU TAKE THIS LEAP!!!

841 I work at Subway and often times have to clean up garbage when birds get toour dumpster and scatter trash around. I have noticed on more than oneoccasion that the mojority of the trash (besides paper) is plastic bags. There isno need to waste our resources on plastic bags which will go staight to thelandfill, harm our environment, and harm us! Let's ban the bags!

Jul 8, 2012 2:45 PM

842 If we keep plastic bags, it would be nice to either have them collected with thecurbside recycling or to have more and better places to recycle them. Right nowthe grocery store only takes their bags back, and I never know what to do withthe ones that they don't take.

Jul 8, 2012 12:21 PM

843 I've always used them as free kitchen garbage bags, but if they disappeared,that would be better for the planet. Gretchen Reinhardt

Jul 8, 2012 12:20 PM

844 I hate plastic bags. increase recycling by banning grocery bags and having morevenues to recycle. BEST would be to have a bin for curbside recycling. I have noargument against a ban.

Jul 8, 2012 10:52 AM

845 the only real purpose plastic bags serve is in this area, it is more likely than notit will be raining when you are shopping. plastic works better in the rain. ifplastic bags were recyclable curbside, there would be higher participation.remembering to take used bags to the store is like remembering your reusableshopping bags...once you pull into the parking lot, you remember...

Jul 8, 2012 8:09 AM

846 I strongly oppose the use of plastic bags in grocery stores and honestly getupset every time I shop and see how many plastic bags are used for everycustomer. The checkers put at most 3 items in each bag and oftentime only one!I will ask all my friends to take this survey. I recently visited my hometown ofSan Francisco and was very excited to see they they have banned plastic.

Jul 8, 2012 8:00 AM

847 If I didn't get bags from store, I would have to buy them to line basket and otheruses. Groceries are not always clean, this is another problem with reusablebags. In these difficult times, the last thing we need is a government solutionthat creates more burdens on those of us that aren't "yuppies" or living in thesecurity of those government jobs with there outlandishly expensive benefitspaid for by the rest of us. Amazes me how govenment employees have no cluehow the rest of us have to save to pay for our livings, including our retirements. Isuspect one exotic vacation to Belize, etc burns more oil than a life time ofplastic bags. This is another feel good idea that has minimal real benefits. Whynot ban single use political signs and brochures? Perhaps a special tax on singleuse newspapers? While a bit tongue in cheek, the same logic applies to these

Jul 8, 2012 7:32 AM

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items, it is just that the feel good crowd rarely sees the sin in their own vices.

848 I use them as surrogate garbage bags, pick up what's floating around, andrecycle the rest. I have almost NEVER bought plastic bags for any reason. I amable to reuse until the cows come home. Asking people to buy new ones forgarbage bags is ... um, almost an insult. But not everyone thinks that way Isuppose.

Jul 8, 2012 6:22 AM

849 we don't need them. ban them. Jul 7, 2012 8:37 PM

850 people already have the option to use reusable bags if they want. let thepopulation decide if they want to use plastic bags or not they have the option.making people pay for other options as others have done like paying for paperbags is not right. let the market decide if people stop using plastic the stores willstop providing them. problem solved without government mandates.

Jul 7, 2012 4:06 PM

851 convenient, use to bag my recycling, don't like the reuseable bags as they getdirty & ripped

Jul 7, 2012 9:08 AM

852 rather use paper bags, but plastic bags are still necessary for some items likeproduce and other retail items consumers need to understand the results of notbeing responsible for the proper recycling that affect our environment

Jul 6, 2012 5:36 PM

853 My husband and I try to always take our own bags to the grocery. My mainconcern regarding charging folks to use plastic bags is our senior population. Mydad is 90 years old. It would be very inconvienant for him to try to always takehis own bag to the grocery and he uses the plastic bags to line his kitchen trashcan. PLEASE REMEMBER OUR SENIORS!!!!! Don't penalize them.

Jul 5, 2012 6:10 PM

854 I have heard that plastic bags don't really get recycled, that they are more likelytaken to China where they are burned along with other "recycled" products thatcan not be disposed of legally in the U.S. I really hope that this is mis-informationand I continue to recycle them in the hopes that I really am making a difference. Iknow a few people who through away plastics because they too don't believethat plastic truly is recyclable.

Jul 5, 2012 9:44 AM

855 Any ban on plastic bags is good, but it should be statewide. If the Legislaturewon't act, then it should be at least countywide. But, even if that is too difficult,then individual cities must take the lead.

Jul 5, 2012 9:27 AM

856 I am now refusing to use plastic bags in grocery stores. I hate them, they aren'tfunctional. They tear before I get home, sometimes my food falls out. The food isthrown together in a bag, which squishes produce and other things. I havearthritis in my hands and the thin handles on the plastic bags hurt my hands.One paper bag will hold 3-4 plastic bags full of stuff and the stuff stays how it ispacked because the bag is more durable and not so flexible. Paper bags arebiodegradable, recyclable, reusable, do a better job and don't hurt a thing, treescan be planted and grown to produce more paper products. I am totally againsteven making so many plastic bags, the kind in the grocery stores. I would vote todo away with them. Some people will recycle, but most won't. The Thurstoncounty garbage pickup/recycling says on their recycling cans: DO NOT PUT

Jul 4, 2012 12:55 PM

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PLASTIC BAGS IN HERE. So, you guys don't even recycle them!!!

857 Plastic bags ought to be banned. They are a public nuisance and environmentalhazard, and a reusable bag is an easy alternative.

Jul 4, 2012 11:11 AM

858 I use the plastic bags for picking up dog poop. Otherwise, I recycle them. Itwould be nice if they could be picked up with our other recycling. Pro forbanning -- environmental issues, particularly in our waters.

Jul 4, 2012 10:40 AM

859 I think plastic bags are great. You are fucking morons for even consideringbanning them.

Jul 3, 2012 7:02 PM

860 In my opinion we use plastic bags because they are there. If they cost us moneyor were not available we would figure something else out. I seldom recycle them(except I repurpose them often instead of buying a plastic bag) becauserecycling is too complicated.

Jul 3, 2012 2:25 PM

861 I think there should be a small charge for plastic bags. A ban will never work,reusable bags get forgotton and it is not visitor friendly.

Jul 3, 2012 1:08 PM

862 Like metal can pull tabs plastic bags have had there time and have proven to beto toxic for ongoing use. Time to move on to a sustainable option.

Jul 3, 2012 12:44 PM

863 Arguments for: It could encourage people to use their own reusable bagsArgument against: The people who would get penalized are people who arealready stressed financially/ don't happen to have mental space to focus onbringing their own bag (?) Idea: maybe the plastic bag collection- place inSafeway, etc. could be bigger? That would probably just penalize Safewaythough (taking up visual space)...Good questions...To keep the conversationgoing and get good ideas, this question could be put to students fromelementary- high school or college, through essay contests or drawing contests(like "Reflections" contests PTA's used to sponsor). Maybe different groups(conservation, business, government) could be approached to pool money forsmall prizes. Some of these ideas could be shared through media interviews(goal being: to get everyone thinking about what they CAN do, versus seeing itas an "us versus them" example. Teachers could be encouraged to havestudents research/ debate/ role play different perspectives.

Jul 3, 2012 12:07 PM

864 I am handicapped as well as my wife. Plastic bags hold up better than paper ifyou have only one working hand. Try to hang a paperbag on your walker orwheelchair - it does not work. Besides that, we are on a limited income and if wehave to pay extra for paper bags, it further limits us.

Jul 3, 2012 9:06 AM

865 We need curbside plastic bag recycling bins just like we have for newspaper andother plastics.

Jul 2, 2012 9:58 PM

866 I think if stores are going to charge for the use of plastic bags, then shoppersshould have a choice again between paper or plastic - and there should be NOCHARGE for paper.

Jul 2, 2012 2:05 PM

867 I think this should be left up to the store if they want to change the way their Jul 2, 2012 9:14 AM

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customers get their groceries home! This is not something the governmentcity/county/state should get into. If a store wants to charge a fee then let them,let the store pass it to the customer, let the store take the complaints of thecustomer. Yes it's adventually going to end up in a landfill, but isn't that whatgarbage customers are paying for? Because yes, I do PAY for recycling. Thankyou -

868 I'd much rather use cloth bags. Sometimes I forget them and so I get plastic, butI be sure to either reuse them around the house, or drop them off for recycling. IfI remember, I try and ask for paper. I'd much rather see plastic not available andstores just charge for paper. There has to be a cost effective way for people toget at least 3 or 4 cloth bags before a fee goes into effect though.

Jul 1, 2012 7:02 PM

869 The single most amount of trash that goes into my waste is plastic products, e.g.,plastic packaging, etc. Plastic bags for use at the grocery stores should be ofthe compostable type. Even if it cost more, it would be worth it.

Jul 1, 2012 8:47 AM

870 I used to like plastic bags as they keep moisture in(frozen foods, meats), easierto carry multiple bags(have handles), make great free trash bags. However, theypose a huge threat to the environment and wildlife, end up in sea creatures,choke our landfills and is a petroleum product that is not essential to life. I wouldlike to see a ban on plastic bags with a provision for stores to usestrong,biodegradable +/or sustainable bags. Increase the availability of cheaperreusable bags especially at grocery stores, markets. Not everyone can afford $5-15 reusable bags. Why not cut back on providing plastic bags? Use less, makeless, people will fuss then adapt. Increase bag recycling? I would increase pointof use education even more than we already do. For a period of time (everycustomer who ends up using plastic bags) let them know your store recyclesplastic bags and location of the collection 'barrel' for their use(next visit).Also seta deadline for providing regular plastic bags,offer alternatives. Clearly visiblesigns explaining any changes and small flyer in grocery bags to take home mightgive those folk with questions a chance to understand the need for change. Youasked.

Jun 29, 2012 12:15 AM

871 The only time I like plastic bags is when it's raining heavily! I do not like howplastic bags are unstructured - stuff falls over & spills - plus you can't get asmuch stuff in the standard plastic bags, which requires using more. However, Icarry a lot of reusable bags in my car, some which have waterproof linings. I tryto use my reusable bags whenever possible but unfortunately sometimes I doforget...or I'm with someone else who doesn't have any with them. I think if youcharged for the plastic bags it might cut down the use for some & perhaps makepeople think twice about bringing their own. The only argument against a ban isthat if the store is only going to offer paper bags in our rainy climate it could be aproblem. Perhaps if the stores offer reusable bags at a steep discount, say $.50,it might encourage people to buy them and use them.

Jun 28, 2012 2:22 PM

872 The only thing I like about them is I can use them when I scoop my cat boxes. Ihate getting groceries in them cause they fall over in the back of the car anddump everything out. If the bags have holes, I can't use them on the litter box soI recycle those at the store.

Jun 28, 2012 9:46 AM

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873 Make curb recycling available. I use them for cat litter and bathroom trash liners.Sometimes I forget my cloth bags or don't have enough when I go to the store.A ban would be good, or charge for plastic, but not paper.

Jun 28, 2012 8:10 AM

874 I would like to see plastic bags banned at grocery and other retail stores. Itdisgusts me the amount of plastic that is wasted by folks. I don't mind taking myplastic bags to the store to be recycled but it would be nice to have curbsiderecycling or other collection centers (like at apartments).

Jun 26, 2012 9:53 AM

875 Work with the large, chain stores on a campaign. Checkers say (cheerfully)"Bring your own bags with you today?" No? That's ok" etc. etc. Therepetition would be powerful.

Jun 25, 2012 12:41 PM

876 I like to use plastic bags to pick up pet waste. I would like more education onwhether 'biodegradable bags" actually biodegrade.

Jun 25, 2012 10:28 AM

877 Get rid of them please!!! Jun 24, 2012 2:23 PM

878 We recycle plastic bags at the grocery store. Jun 23, 2012 11:01 AM

879 have more available bag recycling locations. Jun 22, 2012 7:58 PM

880 Ban 'em! Jun 22, 2012 6:45 PM

881 the plastic bags work well for other purposes like leaving the plastic bag aroundthe uncooked meat packages when placed in the fridge after grocery shopping,picking up animal waste, lunch bag since paper bags get wet from thecondensation of the frozen water used to keep food cold. The bags also workwell for send with the kids to camp to put dirty clothes, wet towels and otheritems in as i don't want the kids losing or other kids stealing expensivebackpack/bags. I used them to put the wet soccer and football cleats in afterpractice or a game to bring them home. If i don't reuse the plastic bag for theabove items, I collect a majority of them and drop them off at fredmeyers/walmart. I have a few of the reuseable bags but never seem to havethem with me when i need them. Since the reuseable bags have to be washedand disinfected I have never used them for getting groceries. Maybe if thegrocery stores had a reuseable bag exchange program, I would be more likely touse the reusable bags if I could bring bags back when i remember to do so (likeon my sunday shopping day). But if I could use or "borrow" a reusuable bag onmy unexpected shopping trips and not have to worrying about cleaning anddisinfecting them I would be glad to collect and return them later. I would beokay with charging a $.01 charge for each plastic bag to be used toward cleanup and or education purposes on plastic bags vs reusuable bags.

Jun 22, 2012 7:59 AM

882 promote the danger of plastics on the enviornment, see the short film "bag it",have Komo4 problem solvers do a special on the evening news and promote ayoutube link to the film "bag it". curbside recycle would be good. banned plasticbags in stores.

Jun 21, 2012 9:42 AM

883 I recently moved from Bellingham. We stopped using plastic bags in March. Jun 21, 2012 3:34 AM

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884 After watching the Documentary called Bag It I realized there is way to muchplastic and of course the BPA and other chemicals are not good. There has tobe some way to motivate recycle and/or not using plastic. I believe the public isway under informed about the harm plastic does...

Jun 20, 2012 2:25 PM

885 Plastic bags are horrible to our health and environment, I strongly think weshould put a ban or fees to be charged for using plastic bags!!!

Jun 20, 2012 2:10 PM

886 Too many people don't give it a second thought about using plastic bags. A feeshould be charged for using plastic bags, not paper bags. Encouraging people touse reusable shopping bags should be a priority. Search out companies to giveaway reusable bags - not only helps the environment, but they get advertisingout of it too by putting their name and information on the bags! Another effortshould be contacting the two DeCA commissaries at Fort Lewis and McChord.These two bases combined make up the largest military installation on the westcoast. Many people (active duty and retired), from Thurston and surroundingcounties use these commissaries, some people come from miles around to do amonthly shopping trip. Every day many plastic bags go out of thesecommissaries(some items double bagged), but on a payday weekend it is notuncommon to see carts completely loaded with plastic bags. In turn, even ifplastic bags are banned in Thurston County a great number of plastic bags willstill return to the county from the commissary shopping. The commissaries dosee reusable bags, but normally I see them on a rack and not displayed verywell. Almost like an after thought. To a lesser extent, but still using plastic bagsare the two AFEES exchanges at the bases. Perhaps they could be encouragedto provide reusable bags too. Thanks for the opportunity to provide some input.Keep up the great work! Darold Rhodes

Jun 20, 2012 12:04 PM

887 i reuse the plastic bags for cleaning up after my pets with their cat litter, etc. iuse them for trash that is not recyclable. i use them to carry my lunch to workand containers home again. i use them for everything i can until they fall apart.unfortunately they are made poorly and some don't even make it home from thestore. many stores double bag so they protect food better. some stores placebeer in them which makes no sense as they can be carried without a bag. bagsshould only be utilized when necessary. not with gaollon milk jugs, beer, etc.once these bags are gone then the next ban will need to be the bags we buysince they are plastic too.

Jun 20, 2012 11:47 AM

888 I reuse the plastic bags for pet waste and as garbage bags themselves. I feelthere is more danger of food contamination from re -useable bags than fromplastic bags. The multi use bags require that they be washed and cleaned aftereach use, which eliminates some of the value attained by getting rid of plasticbags.

Jun 19, 2012 8:37 PM

889 While I realize too many people do not use plastic bags responsibly, I would hateto see them banned cause I use them for many things that if I didn't have them,I'd have to purchase a product to take their place.

Jun 19, 2012 5:45 PM

890 BAN THE BAG! Because there are so many alternatives I see no reason tocontinue to rely so heavily on these harmful plastic products.

Jun 19, 2012 12:46 PM

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891 I use reuse plastic shopping bags for my household trash disposal and wouldjust have to buy other plastic garbage bags for that purpose, if plastic shoppingbags were banned.

Jun 19, 2012 11:44 AM

892 Why are only plastic shopping bags being targeted? Plastic bags are alsoprovided in the produce and meat aisles of the food market. Would those plasticbags be banned too? How will produce and meat prevent moisture from gettingon reusable grocery bags and causing mold? Will prepackaged plasticcontainers for foods and liquids be eliminated too? Plastic is so entwined in oureveryday shopping that there is no clear answer what to do with plastic. Whyaren't plastic drink bottles being banned too?

Jun 19, 2012 8:25 AM

893 Stop making up statistics about how damaging plastic bags are to theenvironment - The vast majority of plastic bags end up in landfills with the rest ofthe garbage - Do you want to ban the rest of our garbage also? How muchenergy and resources will have to be expended when millions of reusable bagshave to be made and washed over and over?

Jun 19, 2012 7:23 AM

894 We reuse our plastic bags when we walk the dog. Also we line our wastebaskets with them. In addition we take plastic bags in our luggage when wetravel for dirty or sandy shoes, collecting our aluminum soda cans for recycling.We recycle extra plastic bags at the grocery store.

Jun 18, 2012 3:21 PM

895 like--convenience increase bag recycling---eliminate plastic bags as an option. ihave eco-friendly shopping & produce bags that I use to shop---it took a littlegetting in the habit of remembering them, but now it's a natural thing to take myown bags shopping, so I minimize the consumption of paper & plastic.arguments--they aren't biodegradable, harmful for the environment and animals,dependence on petro, can't be good for produce that sits in it in the fridge.overall...sucks.

Jun 18, 2012 10:05 AM

896 The convenience of plastic bags is absolutely not worth the extent ofenvironmenatl damage they cause.

Jun 18, 2012 9:20 AM

897 We use the plastic bags as waste basket liners, as shipping "peanuts", etc. Jun 17, 2012 9:22 PM

898 Businesses can ban plastic bags. It's the charge for the other bag that pushesmy limit. Basically this says to me "our environment isn't important enough tobusinesses to provide another source, other than plastic bags, so instead ofdoing their part (while I do my part) they make me pay for their part.

Jun 17, 2012 7:09 AM

899 People that live in Olympia do not have to pay for Recycle service or yard wasteremoval but I live in Thurston (same county) and have to pay to recycle and donteven have option for yard waste removal, I suggest update the system so morepeople will even recycle at all....people wont pay to recycle and we shouldn'thave.

Jun 15, 2012 9:03 PM

900 Plastic is unsightly, wasteful, toxic to life People using canvas or other re-usablebags are happy to be appreciated

Jun 15, 2012 3:35 PM

901 I don't believe that banning anything is the proper way to deal with any issue. It's Jun 15, 2012 7:49 AM

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a weak copout instead of actually dealing with things and comes across asarrogant and self righteous, regardless of intention. Plastic bag recycling binsused to be by the front doors of some grocery stores but I haven't seen any inquite a while. I generally use plastic bags because they don't fall apart when wetand for their infinite uses at home.

902 I use my plastic bags for trash liners. I work for EYC and pick up trash along thehighways in Thurston County. I see an overwhelming amount of plastic bagsalong the roads and in the plants. It's really gross to see how some plants growover the plastic bags and how they are hidden under the dirt.

Jun 14, 2012 8:23 PM

903 I see very few people in grocery stores using cloth bags. I don't think theyrealizes how damaging plastic is to the environment, animals, and people. Dueto the chemicals involved in making plastic bags and the chemicals released inland fill and in the ocean is toxic. Using bioplastic made out of plant substance,using less plastic, and recycle the plastic we already have and eventually try toeliminate plastics made out of petroleum and natural gas. I would like to see aban on the conventional petroleum based plastics. Education at schools startingfrom 1st grade to 12th about recycling, discussing the harmful effects of plasticsin our environment. More places to recycle plastics. What about other types ofplastic packaging, where does it go?

Jun 14, 2012 1:23 PM

904 I can't stand the use of plastic bags. I've been opposed to them for years andonly use them when I forget my reuseable bags. Years ago I marketed the veryfirst "market bags" so people could carry their produce home in cloth bags - likeEurope has done for eons. You can increase bag recycling by makingcurbside pick-up take the bags. Arguments for the ban are: to protect all formsof wildlife - on the land and in the sea; to keep litter off the streets and in out ofpublic areas; to stop supporting the oil industry; production of bags createspollution and supports the oil industry. Poor use of resources. Reusingpromotes sustainability and a sustainable life style. Getting rid of plastic bagsgets people out of 'use once and throw away' consciousness.

Jun 14, 2012 8:08 AM

905 I sue them for trash liners in my wastebaskets, to carry items when I take thekids for walks, we reuse them until they are ragged. I think this is a non-issuethat wastes resources better spent on real problems like math labs and fundingfor education.

Jun 14, 2012 8:06 AM

906 People are NOT going to wash their grocery reusable bags like they're supposedto do. Evidence: the outbreak of disease traced back to them with largenumbers of students affected/made ill. When you bring your own clerks are notcovering harmful chemical products with plastic bags to separate them atcheckout. Things leak! Also some cold things sweat onto the reusable bags.Both of the former are ways bacteria can be introduced and multiply.

Jun 13, 2012 6:33 PM

907 I try to use my cloth bags every time, however sometimes it is hard to make it ahabit. I believe that having plastic bags available makes it harder to make thehabit, and I often am given a plastic bag when I don't need it. I re-use the onesthat do come home with me. I don't think plastic bags are accepted in ourrecycling bins. I am very much against the production and use of plastic bags.Our environment and our people are suffering in the pursuit of oil, from the many

Jun 13, 2012 6:14 PM

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devastating oil spills, to the wars in the Middle East. This endless demand forplastics is unsustainable. Plastic bags are very detrimental to sea life, birds,childern, water quality, etc. and the production process is wasteful. I believethat re-use receptacles like those provided in some parks for pet waste, are agreat community solution. Community gardens, the food co-ops, and othergrocery stores would be good locations.

908 I like having them for cat litter clean up, but that is somewhat inappropriate and Icould easily get along without them. Ban away!!!! They are not worth theresources and the garbage they create - we got along fine without them beforewe had them - they don't hold too many groceries anyway.

Jun 13, 2012 1:37 PM

909 I prefer paper. I am not a fan of plastic bags. Jun 13, 2012 11:10 AM

910 Once people use reusable bags, they will see the many benefits, the wide varietyof colors, logos, better holding power, holds more items, washable, easy to findand use, etc. Plastic bags break, things have little or no protection frombreakage or damage, they are super horrible for the environment, they add coststo our groceries, they add up in annoying places and need to be dealtwith....etc....

Jun 13, 2012 8:40 AM

911 In support of ban-use of plastic bags increases our reliance on foreign oil andlitters our environment.

Jun 13, 2012 8:22 AM

912 Charging for them dramatcially decreases their use. It has proven successfulelsewhere.

Jun 13, 2012 8:01 AM

913 Personally, I am of the belief they need to be banned altogether...and I totallysupport any and all initiatives that would encourage that happening!

Jun 13, 2012 7:25 AM

914 I think that customers who use reuseable bags should be rewarded for usingthem. For example, the Storman stores give $.05 for each reuseable bag, whilethe Haggen/Top Food stores only give $.05 if you have purchased one of theirbags with their logo on it (what a waste if you already have other bags). My son,on the other hand, likes plastic bags becasue he uses them as garbage bagliners. All in all, I think that there should be a ban on plastic bags. Or if not, makerecycling them available in our curbside recycling.

Jun 12, 2012 11:08 AM

915 I use & reuse my plastic bags 100% of the time since we can't recycle them(unless we bring them back to Safeway). But I use my own cloth bags 95% ofthe time and for small purchases do not use a bag at all. Good luck banningplastic bags. We need to change our ways. I support the ban.

Jun 12, 2012 10:55 AM

916 I think you should enforce an ordinance for people to use the re-usable bags.Give everyone a chance to start purchasing or have them given away at biggerstores, and get people prepared when the plastic bag ordinance is enforced.This will force individuals to limit or completely stop the use of paper and plasticbags.

Jun 12, 2012 10:44 AM

917 If Thurston county is going to ban plastic bags, I think it would be in the countiesintrest to offer several free recyclable bags initially.

Jun 12, 2012 9:56 AM

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918 Rather than tax the use of plastic bags, it may be more useful to incentivize thereuse of non-plastic bags. Thanks.

Jun 12, 2012 7:38 AM

919 Plastic bags are A problem, not THE problem. Portland has a plastic bag banand a bottle deposit, and trash is everywhere. People ignore the bottle depositand instead "recycle" their bottles and cans. What is the value of the stupidnickel? I realize people feel like they're doing something but plastic bags are thetip of the proverbial iceberg compared to industrial environmental devastation.

Jun 12, 2012 7:07 AM

920 Allowing bags in curbside bins would help, but I support a ban. Jun 12, 2012 5:37 AM

921 I use my own canvas bags or ones made out of recycled materials. On the fewoccasions, that I forget to bring my bags I will request paper, if available. Irecycle the paper or plastic ones, or use them for something else. I have donethis for the past 7 years.

Jun 12, 2012 4:55 AM

922 I spend a lot of time in Washington DC, where there is a 5 cent charge for eachgrocery bag used. It is amazing how that small amount causes shoppers to bringreusable bags or just carry their food home in their pockets! I am 100% behindreusable bags, and yet I used to often forget to bring them; now I am much morelikely to remember. I like signs in grocery store parking lots that remind me tobring my bags out of my car! I think it's much more effective and fair for there tobe a county or city wide ban rather that having individual stores take the leap;then everyone's in it together. Also, info about how much a store spends peryear on "free" bags can be very effective.

Jun 12, 2012 4:29 AM

923 I work at a grocery store I don't mind if we get rid of them. I do mind when I hearthat people on welfare do not have to pay the 5 cents on paper. They havemoney for phones, beer and their nails. If you decide to go ahead anyway themgive them 5 reusable bags. dont discriminate against the working class bymaking us pay for paper bags and not the rest.

Jun 11, 2012 9:51 PM

924 If it's true that E.coli and other germs are collecting/growing in our reusableplastic/non-fabric grocery bags, and, therefore, we need to wash our reusablebags, then I like that single-use plastic bags seem to be more sanitary. I don'tneed one more household chore to add to my list of things to do. Banningsingle-use grocery bags would force (in a good way) people to get into the habitof bringing their own bags. Costco doesn't provide bags to its customers andsomehow those customers get their purchases home. Costco and the Oly FoodCo-Op have cardboard boxes available for customers to use, and after being re-used, the boxes can be broken down and recycled in curbside recyclingcontainers.

Jun 11, 2012 9:13 PM

925 Just ban them. Jun 11, 2012 9:00 PM

926 I would support a ban on plastic bags. I would appreciate some public educationabout alternatives for fruit and vegetables in the grocery store. It's also moreexpensive initially to purchase enough alternative food storage and lunchcontainers - so this would have more impact on lower income people. Plastic isnot good for the environment or our health.

Jun 11, 2012 8:31 PM

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927 PLastic bags are a blight on the environment and the future of our way of life asa community, nation, and planet. We can either rid ourselves of plastic bags orchoke on them in the near future. It's not always easy for the consumer toreduce the use of these things but if the stores didn't give us the choice,as theydo in other countries, I'm sure we would get used to it.

Jun 11, 2012 8:01 PM

928 i try to use my own or boxes i then reuse or recycle. i try to avoid using newpaper bags as much as possible. I recently purchased cloth alternatives toplastic produce bags.

Jun 11, 2012 7:23 PM

929 people could simply become accustomed to using their own (canvas? etc.?)bags and save a lot of harm to innocent fish animals and birds, plus the side ofthe road looks cleaner and landfills less saturated.

Jun 11, 2012 2:03 PM

930 I do not support a government telling stores what they can or can't use. Whatnext? Birth Control? I believe plastics are a problem, but also believe that theconsumer needs to change this. We vote by what we use or choose not to use.I believe if consumers were educated, then they would chose to not use theplastic, and the stores would stop supplying them.

Jun 11, 2012 12:53 PM

931 outlaw plastic bags or charge for them. Jun 11, 2012 11:15 AM

932 Even though I do not support the use of plastic bags because I believe they arehaving an impact on the environment and are a danger to wildlife , includingaqua creatures. I think that if plastic bags are banned, people that have pets willstill buy them to clean up litter and clean up their pet droppings in public places.Perhaps it would be good to promote an idea for this use.

Jun 11, 2012 10:30 AM

933 Plastic bags are convenient, but we did without them for decades. Many peoplebuy and use plastic bags in addition to those they may reuse or recycle. Foodstorage bags, for example, are very thick, take much longer to biodegrade, andare widespread. So eliminating free plastic bags and encouraging people toTHINK before they go to the store and get more free plastic bags is just thebeginning of the solution. I believe that a lot of people are completely unaware ofthe impact their actions (or non-actions) have on the world. AND THEY ARELAZY-- It will take a huge raising of awareness--I hope this is a start!

Jun 11, 2012 10:06 AM

934 Plastic bags are to thin for proper reuse, they should be thicker and every placesthat carries them should be required to recycle them.

Jun 11, 2012 9:51 AM

935 I am in strong support of either banning plastic bags (and charging a fee onpaper bags) or charging a fee for both plastic and paper bags. I am veryconcerned with the amount of non-decomposable refuse that plastic bags createand believe that with the right incentive, customers will purchase and utilizereusable shopping bags. I have recently moved to Thurston County and wouldbe extremely proud to state that my new county has enacted a ban/charge onplastic bags. This would directly contribute to a major focus of the Puget SoundPartnership's 2012 draft Action Agenda, which employees individuals,organizations, and agencies in Section C.1 to "prevent, reduce, and control thesources of contamination entering Puget Sound." Banning plastic bags wouldalso directly contribute to the Action Agenda's Recovery Targets of increasing

Jun 11, 2012 8:53 AM

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marine water quality and reducing toxics in fish.

936 The best way to promote change (unfortunately) is monetary penalty. Charge a.05 cent bag fee and I'm going to walk back out to my car for my reusable bags.

Jun 11, 2012 8:36 AM

937 I don't think there is any need for plastic bag use. Creating a law to protect theenvironment and to encourage personal responsibility (such as using canvasbags) is the right thing to do. Precedent has been set with emissions laws andlittering laws. It's time.

Jun 11, 2012 7:58 AM

938 In the United States alone, an estimated 12 million barrels of oil is used annuallyto make the plastic bags that Americans consume. The United StatesInternational Trade Commission reported that 102 billion plastic bags were usedin the U.S. in 2009. These bags, even when properly disposed of, are easilywindblown and often wind up in waterways or on the landscape, becomingeyesores and degrading soil and water quality as they break down into toxic bits.Their manufacture, transportation and disposal require large quantities of non-renewable resources and release equally large amounts of global-warminggases. Governments around the world have taken action to ban or restrict theuse of plastic bags. In 2008, China banned the use of ultra-thin plastic bags, andit is estimated to have eliminated 40 billion bags in the first year. Ireland placed afee on plastic bags and reportedly reduced consumption by 90%. Towns all overthe United States are rising to the challenge and standing up to the oil, gas andplastic industries. San Francisco has banned plastic bags. Seattle has fought ahard fight to place a fee on single-use disposable plastic AND paper bags, onlyto be shut down by the American Chemistry Council, a group that profits greatlyfrom the production of plastic bags. Recently, Seattle successfully passed anordinance that would ban plastic bags and place a small charge on paper bags.The plastic industry and their lobbying groups spend millions annually to combatanti-plastic bag campaigns across the country. In spite of this challenge, U.S.cities including Austin, Boston, New Haven, Phoenix and Annapolis areconsidering bag bans or fees. In the past year, a number of cities passed plasticbag bans including Aspen and Basalt, CO, Portland, OR, San Jose, CA, andSanta Clara and Marin Counties in CA.

Jun 11, 2012 7:45 AM

939 Plastic bags are exceptionally useful for gross garbage like chicken and fishwaste. The few that ever get to come home with me are saves for obnoxiousmaterials. If I do not have a reusable bag with me in a store then I suffer by NOTusing any bag. I usually have 3 reusable bags in my purse.

Jun 11, 2012 6:33 AM

940 To increase plastic bag recycle, please allow them to be put in the residentialrecycle bin. It requires more motivation than many people have to remember tocollect them and return to stores like Fred Meyer and Target that collect forrecycle.

Jun 10, 2012 3:37 PM

941 Please don't bring the State down on us further. I already pay a big tax bill toThurston County. Mind your own business and get out of our lives.

Jun 10, 2012 2:21 PM

942 Use for Pet waste and disposal of items that go to Hazo house. Rest goesinto the recycle bins in food stores. Maybe have the bags made frommaterial (cornstarch ?) that degrades more quickly. Plastic bags do not

Jun 10, 2012 11:47 AM

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work well in our climate and I am to old to chase food that rips out ofpaper bags.

943 Essentially, plastic (especially grocery) bags are a trashy blight on thelandscape, and a danger to wild life, as well. Recycling is available, as is reuse,but doing the right thing does not seem to be reward enough for most people.Therefore, a ban, with the (negative) incentive of having to pay for a paper bagseems a reasonable way to go. If it worked in Bellingham and Seattle, it couldwork in Thurston County.

Jun 10, 2012 6:27 AM

944 If bags will still be available in the future, One bag should cost at least 50cents.Having people pay for plastic bags will most likely make them think twice.Baskets or even laundry baskets are a great alternative when going groceryshopping. Items can be loaded in the cart and then put in a laundry basket in thecar. This also makes it easier to carry the groceries inside the house. If thegrocery bags don't exist anymore, people with have to start using alternatives.Providing plastic bags at the store simply makes it to easy for the customer andtoo hard on the environment. Bann them and soon enough no one will missthem. Bringing a bag or basket to the supermarket will be like bringing yourwallet. I grew up in Germany and know how it is without plastic bags.

Jun 9, 2012 10:32 PM

945 They should never have been invented. Jun 9, 2012 8:48 PM

946 There is nothing I like about plastic bags. I think they should be banned entirelyalong with many plastic containers that food and beverages come in.Businesses should use biodegradable cartons instead.

Jun 9, 2012 5:03 PM

947 Keep reminding us to take our bars into the store. I notice and appreciategrocery stores who post reminders in their parking lots.

Jun 9, 2012 4:43 PM

948 Re-useable bags are best. They are kinder on the hands than plastic.(Particularly for bus riders.) Grocery plastic bags are good for garbage gags,What else is available? They do not drip, they hold together well, they are easilytransported.

Jun 9, 2012 3:20 PM

949 The only place I know to recycle plastic bags is at Safeway. I really think that aslong as plastic bags are free they will be used without abandon, thus I believethat their real price must be realized by the end users. Thanks for all your hardwork!

Jun 9, 2012 3:11 PM

950 I reuse my bags or take them back to the store for recycling. Jun 8, 2012 1:20 PM

951 What! More control over our life choices --- banning plastic bags, making us usedangerous CFL lightbulbs -- what next!!!!

Jun 8, 2012 12:35 PM

952 I HAVE ABOUT FOUR LARGE PLASTIC BAGS THAT ARE LITERALLYSEVERAL YEARS OLD; USED ONLY FOR "WET", LEAFY VEGETABLESSUCH AS LETTUCE & CHARD, OR "CUMBERSOME" VEGETABLES SUCHAS BROCCOLI. WHEN THESE FINALLY EXPIRE, I WILL USE ONE OR TWOLARGE, LONG-LIVED 'ZIPLOC' BAGS. PLASTIC BAGS NEED TO BEBANNED, PURE & SIMPLE; THEIR NEGATIVE IMPACTS ARE MONSTROUS.

Jun 8, 2012 10:57 AM

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I CONSIDER THE IMPLEMENTATION OF LARGE-SCALE "EDUCATIONALCAMPAIGNS" AS A WASTE OF PRECIOUS TIME & RESOURCES/ENERGY;AFTER NEARLY FORTY YEARS OF USE, A COMMON UNDERSTANDING OFSAID IMPACTS SHOULD BE EXACTLY THAT, COMMON. AS AN EXAMPLE,AT MY OWN APARTMENT COMPLEX I ROUTINELY FIND THE GARBAGEBINS FILLED WITH RECYCLABLES, & THE RECYCLE BINS WITH PLASTICBAGS IN THEM. LET'S FOCUS THAT ENERGY & THOSE RESOURCES ONINSTITUTING A BAN. THANK YOU

953 Plastic bags are very handy, both for first use as groceries are taken to cars, andat home for all kinds of things. They are much easier for senior citizensespecially, to take groceries to cars, especially in the rain. They contain spills,wet things. EDUCATE people, and maybe fine them for not recycling, but don'tban. If banned I would have to either reuse old plastic bags at grocery store (if Iremembered them) or just have to take out my groceries without any bags andhave to ask for help in loading them into the car, costing the store more in labor.I would use some store paper bags but certainly wouldn't pay for them. Papergets soggy and breaks. Reusable bags that grocery stores sell are not clean orsanitary enough, especially if something has previously gotten spilled unnoticedin them. Ban, NO: recycle, YES, EDUCATE EDUCATE EDUCATE

Jun 8, 2012 10:37 AM

954 It is completely ineffecient to produce a plastic grocery bag that will only be usedfor 10-15 minutes when the bag will stay buried and compacted in a solid wastefacility for 10,000 years (or however long it take plastic to decompose). Thatsaid, sometimes I forget to bring my reusable bag to the store and a bag to carrygroceries home. I wish there could be an easy way to recycle plastic bags.Grocery stores used to have a drop-off site, but I don't see them anymore. Theyonly accept little produce bags. In any case, the few plastic bags that I do bringhome, I use it to line trash cans.

Jun 8, 2012 10:07 AM

955 I like the convience of the plastic bags at the store, however I think it is withpractice it would get easier to remember the bags I purchased that are stronger& eiser to load & unload from the car.

Jun 8, 2012 9:48 AM

956 I like plastic bags because they are easy and convenient. I own many reusablebags, but unfortunately forget to bring them with me into a store. One way toreduce plastic bag usage is to reeducate store clerks on how to bag groceries. Idon't know how many times I've in packed my bags with just a couple of itemsand sometimes only one item in a bag! Educating the public about why the bagsare bad news to throw away is probably the best. I appreciate just about everystore I shop has a bin to recycle the bags.

Jun 8, 2012 9:20 AM

957 I would not like to see the plastic bags banned, Plastic bags are stronger thanpaper and don't break spilling contents and sometimes breaking items you arecarrying. Beings we cannot put them into our recycle containers, if storesespecially grocery stores had a bin close to entrances to recycle these bags Ithink people would use them.

Jun 8, 2012 8:22 AM

958 Maui is a great example of how people have switched from all plastic all the timeto recyclable bags. The difference in plastic bag litter on that island is amazing.And this is a place where recycling is a fairly new effort. If they can switch, so

Jun 8, 2012 5:45 AM

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can we.

959 I use the plastic bags to line my small trash can. This helps me save the limitedmoney that I have. I also use the plastic bags to hold wet items when I'mtraveling. It also helps with my painting projects...by keeping the paint off of thetable or floor. You can't do this with reusable/cloth bags.

Jun 7, 2012 10:58 PM

960 I do use them for pet waste, the only plus, but I use cloth bags most of the time. Jun 7, 2012 10:33 PM

961 I try not to throw my plastic bags away I feel guilty!! So I save them in a giantgarbage bag and use them for other things. I would be ok with using paper butwhat's the extra fee I just don't want something else to have to pay for I wouldthen just use the reusable bags or go bag less

Jun 7, 2012 9:42 PM

962 Its not the bags fault irresponsible people dont dispose of them propererly.Whyis it responsible people always pay the price?

Jun 7, 2012 8:09 PM

963 There is nothing to like about plastic bags. We need to encourage people tobring their own bags, wherever they come from, city or town. My localsupermarkets have bins so you can bring in bags to be recycled. People arelazy and must be led down the path to doing the right thing.

Jun 7, 2012 7:23 PM

964 LeMay should definitely pick up bags with curbside recycling. Maybe placesother than grocery stores could have plastic bag recycling stations--like thepharmacy or the post office. More parks and on the Chehalis Western Trail thereshould be those holders that people can stuff used bags into so others can usethem for dog waste.

Jun 7, 2012 6:59 PM

965 I see almost no reason to continue the practice of handing out plastic bags atcheckout. It is pure laziness on the part of consumers that keeps them frombringing their own reusable bags. If they insist on doing so, they should becharged extra. (We might all forget or get caught without a bag on occasion, butthat should be the exception, not the norm.)

Jun 7, 2012 6:15 PM

966 We have been using plastic grocery bags for decades. If the use of grocery bagsare becoming your issue, you will then complain about plastic garbage bags.Your complaints will continue. Plastic has many uses and are not found layingaround the country in liter. If there is a concern, recycle!

Jun 7, 2012 6:06 PM

967 It's funny that environmentalists pushed so hard years ago to get theseimplemented and now we find they are so bad. Let's be smarter in the future andnot go by knee jerk decisions.

Jun 7, 2012 5:01 PM

968 Education!! Jun 7, 2012 4:18 PM

969 I think having a supply of plastic bags in the house is quite handy. I reuse themto line wastebaskets, pick up the pet waste my neighbors leave in my lawn andtransporting dirty clothing and shoes. I use reusable canvas grocery bags onoccasion and when my stockpile of plastic bags becomes excessive I recyclethem at the grocery store. If you want to increase bag recycling, allow them inthe curbside bins. If they clog your machine, build a better machine. I am against

Jun 7, 2012 3:02 PM

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the ban on plastic bags. If the issue is the bags becoming litter, enforce litteringlaws. We don't need more laws, we need to enforce the existing ones.

970 The surveys about plastic debris as a threat to sea life posted on your websitedo not list plastic grocery bags as a source of the problem. From the NOAA'sown website: " To date there are no published studies specifically researchinghow many marine mammals die each year directly due to marine debris. "http://marinedebris.noaa.gov/info/faqs.html#5 Making paper bags is far morewasteful and takes up more space in landfills:http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/graphic/2007/10/03/GR2007100301385.htmlhttp://plasticbagfacts.org/Main-Menu/Fast-Facts/index.html Rather than banplastic bags, the recycling programs for them should be improved!!

Jun 7, 2012 2:48 PM

971 I see people, including myself, reuse the bags all the time.I would say that onlyabout 5% the ones that have holes in them, are not reused. I use them fromgarbage liners to making sac lunches, and see others use them in the sameway. Also,if it is such a big thing to recycle them, then why aren't the localschools doing it besides just the recycling paper? You do make some goodpoints about what it does do to the wild life.

Jun 7, 2012 2:41 PM

972 educating stores to use fewer plastic bags when people forget bags. I often seeclerks put just one or two things in a bag. Charge for plastic bags - continuecredits for bringing own bags.

Jun 7, 2012 1:58 PM

973 I use them around the house and what I don't use gets recycled at store. Jun 7, 2012 1:47 PM

974 I'm appalled when I leave a grocery store (with my reusuable bags full) and seesomeone with dozens of plastic bags in their carts. Cashiers often put just oneor two items in a bag! If plastic grocery bags cannot be outlawed in ThurstonCnty., than I'd like to see only ones that are biodegradable used by stores + afee for each bag charged to the customer.

Jun 7, 2012 1:46 PM

975 we need to just ban plastic bags in all stores. l frequently visit India (third worldcountry) All stores use cloth bags, food and clothing stores alike. You wouldhave a hard time finding plastic bags. This is just not an issue there. We, as aleading world country know the hazzards of plastic bags so why should this evenbe a question. Let the USA lead the way.

Jun 7, 2012 1:37 PM

976 I reuse all of my plastic bags for pet waste. And even then, I sometimes run shortof them. I must have very messy cats! If I couldn't get them at the store as a by-product of my normal shopping, then I would have to buy them. So I am NOT infavor of plastic bags being banned in Thurston County. Please do not advocatethat as an issue!

Jun 7, 2012 1:20 PM

977 I'd support a ban on plastic shopping bags. I don't think the recycle industrydeals well with 'em. Use of paper bags and personal re-usable shopping bagsshould be encouraged.

Jun 7, 2012 1:17 PM

978 I hate the bags!!!! I use it only for small stuff wehn I forget my shopping bags. Jun 7, 2012 12:51 PM

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979 I like to use them for pet waste disposal. Can increase bag recycling by findingmore ways to use them. I am against a ban on plastic bags -- not comfortablewith more government interference. Government should spend it's timebalancing its budget, not worried about how I bring my groceries home.

Jun 7, 2012 12:38 PM

980 Exerpt from thestar.com If all of these places on this planet have already bannedplastic bags...lets follow suit! Bangladesh was the first country to ban plasticbags, in 2002, in part because they blocked storm drains and helped causedevastating floods. Toronto would become the first large city in Canada to banplastic bags when the council-approved prohibition goes into effect Jan. 1, 2013.(Fort McMurray, Alta. has also already banned plastic bags.) In February, SanFrancisco voted to extend its bag ban at large supermarkets and pharmacychains to every retailer. Here are other places around the world that ban plasticbags by large or all retailers, in some cases based on the thickness of thepolyethylene: • Sioux Lookout was the first in Ontario. • Wood Buffalo, Alta.,and two others in Manitoba: Thompson and Snow Lake. • The French island ofCorsica was the first region in Europe, banning plastic bags in large stores in1999. • China, where the ban as in many places is on thin plastic carrier bags.On the ban’s one-year anniversary in 2008, the China Chain Store andFranchise Association estimated 40 million bags had been saved. • Rwanda,Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda, Togo, Chad and Somalia in Africa, as well asTanzania’s Zanzibar Islands, imposed bans although Rwanda had had the mostnotable success. • Mumbai, India. However, a three-year attempt in New Delhifailed. • The Mexican capital of Mexico City and the Burmese capital of Yangon.• Twelve towns in Australia, starting with Sydney's Oyster Bay suburb as well asthe states of South Australia, Tasmania and Northern Territory. • Eleven othertowns in the U.K., including Hay-on-Wye. • A dozen California cities and towns,most recently Los Angeles. Elsewhere in the U.S.: Westport, Conn.; Edmonds,Wash.; Brownsville, Texas; Bethel, Alaska; North Carolina’s Outer Banks;Portland and Seattle. • The American state of Hawaii, as of last month. •County seats and main tourists areas in Tibet. • In Europe, Italy is the onlycountry that bans all non-biodegradable bags. • The United Arab Emirates • InSouth America, Buenos Aires and La Paz, Bolivia.

Jun 7, 2012 12:36 PM

981 plastic bags are my life. Jun 7, 2012 12:31 PM

982 they should be banned, without a doubt. That is the only way you can guaranteethat people will learn to use reusable bags. Plastic grocery bags were a horribleidea in the first place. And, we don't need to cut down more trees to make thepaper for paper bags!

Jun 7, 2012 12:29 PM

983 I had to check NA on one item in question 2, but I wanted to indicate that I don'tknow enough about feed stocks and processes. Before making a law, I wouldlike to see good reporting on manufacturing (feedstocks and processes) anduses for recycled plastic bags. The best first step is to encourage minimal use ofplastic bags. I find it easy to limit use and recycle what I need to use (such asbagging bulk oatmeal). I have permanent bags in the car to use in grocery andother stores. I usually get more than one use out of a bag before placing it inrecycle (which is a plastic bag in my garage, that when full is taken to a grocerystore.

Jun 7, 2012 12:19 PM

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984 Not sure if paper bags are better than plastic (trees vs. oil) but a "green fee" or"convenience fee" should be charged for all disposables, including shoppingbags, with onging education and incentives for use of durables.

Jun 7, 2012 12:05 PM

985 Ban plastic bags, but do it in a 3 stage process: 6 months no change witheducation notices 6 months charge for plastic & paper bags ban all plastic bags,small fee for paper

Jun 7, 2012 11:56 AM

986 Anything that can be done to reduce the use of plastic bags would be very goodfor our environment.

Jun 7, 2012 11:38 AM

987 Convenient, cheap, can be reused for garbage liners to keep garbage containerscleaner and more sanitary. Banning involves unneccesary governmentinterference and regulation. At the least, should be banned only through a voteof the people. Too controversial to not have a vote.

Jun 7, 2012 11:14 AM

988 They can be recycled and they are cheap for the store to purchase. Jun 7, 2012 10:27 AM

989 If plastic bag recycling were available I would be glad to use it. I try to reuse asmany as possible.

Jun 7, 2012 10:26 AM

990 Let the retailer keep the fee for the bag. Don't start a new government program.That would be a waste of money. Just discourage the use by charging.

Jun 7, 2012 10:14 AM

991 Two of my favorite stores here in West Olympia are Target and Top Foods. Atboth these stores I get a 5 cent discount for bringing in my reusable bags. Atother stores, I also bring in my reusable bags to avoid the store giving me aplastic bag. IF I wind up with plastic bags from a store, I ALWAYS bring theminto Target, Top Foods, or Safeway and place them in their recycle bins theyhave there for plastic bags.

Jun 7, 2012 10:10 AM

992 i dislike plastic bags, they are not only a pain when you bag your groceries, theydo not belong in the land fills and not all people are responsible enough torecylce them. Paper bages are recycable. they can hold my recyclble items(paper,etc.) until i carry them out to the bin.

Jun 7, 2012 9:55 AM

993 -To increase recycling... put out more collection bins and make them morevisible at stores, etc. -Train grocery workers not to put one or two items in aplastic bag and consider it "full". -Provide a method of curbside recycling -- couldplastic bags be bundled in such a way (binders, stuff into one bag and tie off,provide a small box that can be recycled as well - like a tissue box in reverse) sothey could go in with all the recyclables and then be sorted out first? -Moreeducation about uses for recycled/reused plastic bags. (I'm glad that lining yourtrash can is considered a reuse!)

Jun 7, 2012 9:49 AM

994 I use plastic bags for garbage and other things that paper bags will not work Jun 7, 2012 9:37 AM

995 The plastic should contain materials that will rot. I recycle by using them as trashcan liners and donate extra to library, charity shops, vegetable stands for reusewith their customers. I also use mine to pick up trash in the streets of myneighborhood. Thurston County Waste can surely find a way to recycle them or.

Jun 7, 2012 9:37 AM

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if customers separate (like glass), find another business to pass them onto. Iwouldn't mind paying $.05 for each bag, be it plastic or paper. That is what manyEuropean countries do, and they have far less trash alongside roads. RuthFuller

996 I don't feel paying more for a paper bag is acceptable. Paper bags hold muchmore than plastic bags, using paper would not be a huge cost to stores Re-usable bags , What does a checker do if they are not clean? Checker/baggercan be spreading germs from one bag to another. The whole cleanliness ideahas not been thought out. I cringe each time I see a dingy bag being used.Huge health concern

Jun 7, 2012 9:30 AM

997 Plastic bags for groceries are a lot less hassle than reuseable or paper bags.And we then also use them to line our waste baskets and for garbage, etc. Wehave no provision for recycling them otherwise. We understand that they jamexisting recycling machines. Rather than ban them, we believe thatlocal/state/federal governments should use "green energy" funds to provide forthe development of machinery that would process/recycle them.

Jun 7, 2012 9:23 AM

998 Education is the most important aspect. I became in favor of banning plasticbags by becoming informed. People will not be in favor of a ban if we do notunderstand the reasoning behind it. What I like about plastic bags is thediversity of uses there are for them. When we have the mindset that old plasticbags are something valuable to be reused, we will throw them away less. Youcould encourage people to do something as simple as get on the internet andlook up "how do I do _____ with plastic bags"; encourage people to get creative.Educating others about how to go out and educate even more people is alsoimportant. When more people have knowledge about the issues surroundingplastic bags, the need for a ban in the first place is lowered, which is goodbecause bans are usually controversial things. Empower the individual andcommunity to take care of themselves as much as possible.

Jun 7, 2012 9:21 AM

999 Make it easier to recycle plastic bags...in recycling curbside carts would be great.If this is already possible, let people know better.

Jun 7, 2012 9:20 AM

1000 they do more harm than good given the data there are plenty of alternativesavailable that make good sense for the environment and our future generations.

Jun 7, 2012 9:11 AM

1001 I would support a fee for plastic bags, but not banning them all together. Theyhave many reuse purposes. Most stores offer a 5 cent credit if you bring yourown bag. So why not just charge 5 cents per bag or per $10 (self check outs)When I have too many bags I bring them to the store to recycle.Concerns/Questions: 1) torn bags are usually thrown away - can they be broughtto the store to be recycled? 2) Reused bags get dirty and are thought to be lesssanitary than fresh bags. 3) Costco and the food co-op don't offer bags at all.Costco uses boxes, for free and the co-ops expect people to bring their own bag,use no bag, or have a space where customers can bring bags to be reused byother customers. 4) It is more appropriate to put some products with a potentialto leak liquid in plastic bags rather than paper or cloth.

Jun 7, 2012 9:07 AM

1002 I believe we are not addressing the cleanliness issue when people are bringing Jun 7, 2012 9:04 AM

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their own bags into the grocery store. Customers are bringing their own dirtybags that are covered with pet hair into the grocery store and laying them on thebelt where I am putting my groceries--yuck! Checkers are having to handle thesefilthy bags and then handle my fresh produce. I am against the public bringing intheir own bags!

1003 I began using my own bags years ago and found that if I have them on the frontseat of my car, I will always take them in to shop. I think it is an easy,economical, no nonsense way to fix this problem. People just need to take thetime.

Jun 7, 2012 8:59 AM

1004 I think that plastic bags should be banned because there are far too few of uswho recycle them. As it is now, I recycle bags but if they were banned, then Iwould use my own cloth bags.

Jun 7, 2012 8:33 AM

1005 I am a member of the Yelm Food Co-op in Yelm, Wa. When the store opened in2007 the Board agreed that they would not use plastic bags and to this day theydon't. The store sells paper bags for 5 and 10 cents and cloth bags for $1.99 ea.They also accept used paper bags from customers. Our customers have nevercomplained about this. most either bring their own bag or carry their items out intheir arms, purses and pockets.

Jun 7, 2012 8:32 AM

1006 Recycle our plastic bags for many uses around the house. Make recyclingeasier for those who don't.

Jun 7, 2012 8:28 AM

1007 I think a ban is an elitist liberal idea that promotes using those cloth bags thathold like 5 items. Only rich people with time to kill and no kids go to the storeevery day and use those cloth bags. If you do any kind of real grocery shoppingthose bags are impractical. I use the plastic grocery store bags for garbagebags in my home, lining the cat box, carrying extra clothes for my kids, taking mylunch to work, putting wet bathing suits in, etc. It is ridiculous to say they haveonly one purpose and are not reused. What you need to do is educate peopleabout how to properly dispose of them - not ban them!

Jun 7, 2012 8:04 AM

1008 Plastic bags are re-used for many purposes not the least of which is to pick updog poop and many other kinds of litter. We always carry a plastic bag while wewalk to pick up litter. If we didn't have plastic bags, we wouldn't do that. We reuse plastic bags for garbage, storing items, carrying damp or wet items, i.e.flowers, camping gear, baby items, etc. There are TOO MANY uses for reusableplastic bags that I can't name them all. Most of uses require that bags get sodirty they have to be washed and that uses extra water & detergent. Wheneverwe try to change things we always forget the law of unintended consequences.Banning plastic bags will just result in waste of other resources in the end!

Jun 7, 2012 8:04 AM

1009 I feel that financial incentives and disincentives are necessary to make thischange on a broader scale. It would be great of people made the change on theirown but realistically it's not likely (or would take more time than we have to get ahandle on this and other environmental issues). We can look to cities like Seattlethat have done a great job of enacting successful policies. No need to reinventthe wheel. Plastic bags are convenient, and nice to reuse for picking up petwaste, lining trash cans and so on. I would happily purchase biodegradable bags

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for this purpose, am fine with internalizing that cost (though realize some peoplewon't be). On bag recycling, it's hard to find places to recycle them, or maybethese locations aren't prominent enough. My only concern on a ban would beadequately addressing needs of entire population, low income, transient, etc.Glad to see the county and cities working on this!

1010 Other cities have made it simple. Bring your own bag or pay a moderate fee for apastic bag. They seem to be happy with the result.

Jun 7, 2012 6:59 AM

1011 plastic bags are good for fresh vegetables that are wet or slightly damp, e.g.celery, or any that get automatically sprayed with cold water at the supermarket.If I had to pay 5 cents per bag, I would bring my own and reuse them. I thinkcharging for plastic or paper bags, even 5 cents would encourage customersbringing their own bags. Argument for a ban on plastic bags: We went on a SWroad trip a few years ago staying on I-10 through S California to Texas. Therewere plastic bags blowing around and caught on signs or brush all along theway. The laws against littering do not seem to help with proper disposal of thesebags. Also, here in the NW plastic bags floating in Puget Sound are dangerousfor marine animals.

Jun 7, 2012 6:56 AM

1012 I much prefer using my cloth bags when grocery shopping, I keep them in a binin my car. my husband will not use cloth so I have to take his plastic bags withme to recycle them. However I do use the plastic bags the newspaper comes infor animal waste. I would fully support a plastic grocery bag ban, it is just so easy(actually easier)to use the cloth bags, once you get in the habit of doing so.

Jun 7, 2012 6:54 AM

1013 The Daily Olympian puts plastic bags on every newspaper they deliver to ourbox! We've asked repeatedly for them not to. We recycle about 5% of them fordog waste or other garbage. With all the plastic bags available at the grocerystores, there is NO REASON for the Olympian to put this waste into the garbagestream. The County should consider levying a tax on the newspaper fordumping this waste on its customers. Paper bags have their own significantenvironmental costs. Why are you nerds focusing on plastics?

Jun 7, 2012 6:45 AM

1014 I hate them. Not only is there a guilt factor, but they are so cheap they often fallapart while carrying, or have holes and items fall out. Can we afford the waste?Will peoples habits change if they're banned? I'm sure they would. It would be asmart move and I support it 100%.

Jun 7, 2012 6:41 AM

1015 Before a total ban, I would charge for plastic but continue to use paper for free(at the checkout lines). More stores need to accept more kinds of plastic bags torecycle. In Olympia, I have found only Ralph's and Bayview accept more thanjust checkout bags--bags such as sandwich bags and dry-cleaning bags, etc.See this article: http://www.mnn.com/lifestyle/recycling/blogs/recycle-sandwich-bags-dry-cleaning-bags-and-more?hpt=Sbin

Jun 7, 2012 6:36 AM

1016 When buying meat at the store I use plastic bags for them only because I do notwant my groceries contaminated so do not charge for this.

Jun 7, 2012 5:50 AM

1017 I always ask for paper bags at the checkout, and use them to line my trashcontainer. With the wet stuff going into the compost bin, it stays clean. The few

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plastic bags we do get are used for pet waste. This would be a good thing forour region. If not an outright ban, perhaps what Vancouver BC does and chargefor the bags. That will at least diminish their use.

1018 Have free paper bags if we are to ban plastic. It is unsanitary to use home bagsfor food. Thank you.

Jun 6, 2012 8:21 PM

1019 we need legislation to protect the best common interests of human society,which includes a healthy and sustainable environment, in accord with theprecautionary principle. In terms of environemental impact, we need to think notonly about our own well-being, but the well-being of everyone else with whom weare all interconnected and interdependent, including not only our children andgrand-children, but theirs as well, many generations into the future.

Jun 6, 2012 2:38 PM

1020 There is not enough outreach on the availability of recycling plastic bags. Thereshould be a greater effort to establish more convenient recycling locations, andadvertising the locations. A would have greater support for a bag ban that onlyeffects gas stations and quickie marts. If there is a plastic bag ban, a mandatorypaper bag fee should NOT be included. This should be left to the retailer todetermine if they want to charge a fee.

Jun 6, 2012 2:25 PM

1021 With the cost of living increasing & my income decreasing I cannot afford to payfor paper bags @ the check-out. Initially, the environmentalists insisted on theplastic bags, please make up my mind!

Jun 6, 2012 1:42 PM

1022 I would like to see the use of plastic bags in retail curtailed. if not banned thenmaybe a usage fee that would encourage the use of reuable bags. large enoughto be noticed and to go towards recycling efforts.

Jun 6, 2012 5:56 AM

1023 They are more sanitary than reusable bags. That is why there was an infectiousdisease causing many people getting ill at an event in Everett. Not everyone canafford to purchase and wash and disinfect recyclable bags. These are very hardtimes for most families. My family is living on a budget of less than $200. amonth. We recycle and reuse all our plastic including bags.

Jun 5, 2012 7:57 PM

1024 Don't take up much space. Make bag recycling more accessible. Worriedabout cost for fixed/low income -- just adds to food costs.

Jun 5, 2012 3:39 PM

1025 Ban plastic Jun 5, 2012 1:29 PM

1026 I would say the best option would be to add a tax that is earmarked for localenvironmental uses. That way, use would go down and the city could gain fromthe wasteful practice. I know I would remember my reusable bags more often ifthat were in place.

Jun 5, 2012 1:03 PM

1027 It would help alot if there were more recycling opportunities around ThurstonCounty like at the Rainier or RochesterTransfer Stations. I actually prefer to usereusable bags at the grocery stores but think that the old school plastic bagshave a place in society for many reasons and I cannot help but wonder if it wouldcreate a loss of jobs at facilities that make and recylcle these bags. We do notneed more job losses at this time.

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1028 Increase bag recycling by having more drop sites to deposit plastic bags. Haveplastic bags part of the curbside recycling. I am really getting tired ofgovernment getting into my personal life and making choices for me. Enoughalready!

Jun 5, 2012 8:25 AM

1029 There awesome its just that they are dangerous. Jun 5, 2012 7:14 AM

1030 We are shipping our plastic bags over seas because the recycling of these aretoo stinky and messy for the USA. In the mean time recycle places overseas areshutting down, so even through you increase recycling there is no where to sendthem to recycle them. Save the world and ban them!

Jun 4, 2012 11:32 PM

1031 I use those plastic bags for so many other uses after I bring them home aftergrocery shopping--lining waste and garbage cans, when I would otherwise haveto buy more, or carry items in them. It would be a shame that people have tobuy more bags at the store for that purpose, and most are more careful thanever about either recycling them or reusing them as much as possible. Pleasedo not ban them!

Jun 4, 2012 10:23 PM

1032 The only time I like plastic bags is when it's raining. I haven't had any problemswith paper bags or my reusable bags when it's raining, so I wouldn't object to aban on plastic bags. I keep forgetting to take my plastic bags back to the store -I need some sort of reminder. I'm also not sure if everybody takes a mixture ofdifferent types of plastic bags. Is there a market for mixed plastic bags? I hearplastic bags are cheaper and use less resources. If I don't have enough reusablebags, I often get double plastic bags, and they don't put as much stuff in them asthey do in paper bags, so I'm not sure if I buy this argument.

Jun 4, 2012 2:59 PM

1033 Reusable bags carry bacteria and cause people to get sick, I reuse or recycle allof my plastic bags. I DO NOT agree with a bag ban!!!! There are much moreinportant things to worry about!!!!!

Jun 4, 2012 9:09 AM

1034 It is my understanding that the production of plastic bags does not require amass quantity of petroleum products. We all need to re-use/recycle plastic andpaper products as much as possible but not place a ban or charge extra forthese products.

Jun 4, 2012 9:09 AM

1035 Plastic bags are an inexpensive way for consumers to bring their purchaseshome from the store. This system is a win-win for retailers and consumers alike.I believe that we should encourge the reuse of plastic bags as a study was doneshowing a plastic bag only needs to be reused once or twice to overcome theenvironmental impact of creating the bag. I believe that most people do usethese bags to line their smaller household garbages thereby reducing the totalamount of bags purchased (they have to line them with something, why not abag already used?). Canvas/composite shopping bags were shown to need over100 uses, without washing, to overcome the environmental impacts of makingthe bags. Washing the bag starts the count over again. If the real purpose of aplastic bag ban is out of concern for our environment, the preferred way to dothat is to encourage both recycling (by allowing curbside pick up) and reuse. Iappreciate your allowing the public's input on this very important subject thataffects us all.

Jun 4, 2012 7:28 AM

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1036 LEAVE US ALONE. IT IS NOT THE COUNTY OR THES STATES BUSINESSHOW WE USE ARE BAGS WE GET FROM PRIVATE GROCERY STORES.YOU JUST WANT MORE REVENUE THIS HAS NOTHING TO DO WITHRECYCLING!

Jun 3, 2012 1:46 PM

1037 I would support a ban on plastic bags immediately. However, not a charge forpaper bags at the outset. Let people adjust to the one change for a short period(6-12 months) and then institute the charge. I'd be happy with the charge at thatpoint.

Jun 2, 2012 7:37 AM

1038 At store charge for each plastic bag. People will start to remember to bringreusable bags. Most plastic bags are so thin and rip so easily that they cannotbe re-used for other purposes. Reusable shopping bags sold at store shouldn'tbe made out of plastic either but some other fiber.

Jun 2, 2012 7:18 AM

1039 We always reuse our plastic bags that we get from retailers. However ournewspaper arrives in a plastic bag and we don't have a reuse for that and I don'tknow where to recycle the bags. The Trosper Road Albertsons used to haveplastic bag recycling, but that seems to have recently disappeared.

Jun 2, 2012 7:05 AM

1040 PLastic bags don't weaken when wet. We could switch to bio-degradable plasticbags. Stores should charge 1c for using each plastic bag and subtract 1c foreach bag that customers supply themselves.

Jun 1, 2012 8:06 PM

1041 I own a bookstore and although most of our customers don't want a bag. Butwhen its raining many do and that's why we have plastic bags in two sizesprinted with our store logo

Jun 1, 2012 4:50 PM

1042 Please increase bag recyling. They are very useful to have available for certainpurposes. Campaign for more awareness, make it easier to recycle for peoplesuch as through their home recyling, not having to take an extra step to bringthem wherever their jurisdiction has such a service available. You can go too farin either direction with this issue, total ban no, better ways to recycle yes. KEEPTHE BAGS!!!!

Jun 1, 2012 3:42 PM

1043 I do reuse the plastic food bags from the bulk foods that I buy because they arethe perfect size for homemade bread. I save my paper bags from shopping andthose are usually double bagged so I can stuff more into them. I think it iswasteful how cashiers are instructed to bag items in plastic bags when a doublebag would hold so much more. 3-5 items in a plastic bag makes alot of waste.Also....when purchasing one or two items why even put them into a bag. Is it sodifficult to carry a gallon of milk by itself, or laundry detergent. I do recycle myplastic bags when I remember, but meanwhile they are taking up space in myhome.

Jun 1, 2012 2:28 PM

1044 A little actual research (as opposed to the feel-good idea that plastic bags MUSTbe bad) would reveal that reusable bags are actually worse for the environment(many are petroleum based, harbor germs and must be used over 100 times tobreak even on the environmental impact of making them) than plastic bags. Ifstore clerks in Thurston County could figure out how to put more than one item ina plastic bag, that would reduce the number of bags I get at the store. Seriously,

Jun 1, 2012 11:38 AM

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buy 6 things at ANY grocery store and see how many bags you end up with--it'scrazy.

1045 Reusables carry food bourne illnesses. Plastics are lighter gauge and use wayless energy and raw materials than paper. I reuse my bags or I recycle them.You need to educate your customers about plastic bags getting recyled. Gettingrid of plastic bags hurts business and won't help the environment. Thank you

Jun 1, 2012 9:29 AM

1046 1. Plastic bags keep fluids contained 2. Can be reused multiple times thenrecycled 3. Plastic bags save NW trees which produce 02 4. Paper bags getsoggy and break. 5. People buy plastic garbage bags anyway for our kitchenand bathrooms 6. Plastic bags need to be re-engineered to be madeenvironmentally dissolvable instead

Jun 1, 2012 8:28 AM

1047 Banning plastic shopping bags is not the answer. Promoting the idiom ofReduce, Reuse, Recycle, is! Instead of the knee-jerk reaction of outright banningsomething (which seems to be the norm lately), we need to consider thealternatives. In this case, why not require the use of compostable plastic?

Jun 1, 2012 7:32 AM

1048 I fully support a ban on plastic shopping bags in Thurston County. May 31, 2012 8:50 PM

1049 A ban is just stupid. Hard to enforce,... For example, .. the city of Portland hasbanned plastic bags from grocery stores etc for a little over a year now. Okay,...great... but what about all the other stores and places that use them. Foodvenders, ... the Goodwill, .. Thrift stores, book stores etc... they're still out there.Sure... grocery stores and places like that are the big producers of theproblem...but if it was made easier to recycle them... (like being able to put themin the recycle bin with all the other stuff....) I would be more likely to be moreconscientious about what I was doing with them.

May 31, 2012 3:03 PM

1050 Plastic bags should be made to be recycled. It can be done. May 31, 2012 7:10 AM

1051 I don't like plastic bags, but if we make people change to paper then how manytrees would it take to replace them. Infinite use cloth bags are the only viablealternative to throw away plastic or paper. That said paper is a LOT easier on theenvironment.

May 31, 2012 6:48 AM

1052 I don't think it's the government's business to decide what type of bags we use. Ireuse my plastic bags, and I would hate to have to buy them separately Pleasedo not interfere with the use of plastic bags..

May 30, 2012 7:50 PM

1053 I support a total ban on plastic bags an totally support bags made of recycledmaterials.

May 30, 2012 6:13 PM

1054 Increase bag recycling by allowing in recycle bins. Have to currently rememberto take them to Safeway or Fred Meyer (only places I know of that have place forthem). I often forget to put them in the car or take them out. Would be easier toput in a bin. I otherwise use 97 percent of them for pet waste and if didn't havethem would have to find another alternative (would not desire to buy bags forthat). Sometimes they are flimsy and break though and recycle is only option.

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1055 Giving the waste disposal companies an incentive to allow plastic bags to berecycled with the other recyclable materials might help. I think before anyonedecides to ban plastic bags they should do extensive research on what kind ofimpact they have on the environment versus the manufacturing of paper bags.In some cases, plastic bags may use less natural resources to produce anddispose of than paper bags.

May 29, 2012 2:54 PM

1056 A simple way to increase bag recycling is to ensure that bag recycling stationsare set up around town, similarly to the CFL collection boxes around town. Ithink the biggest hurdle to overcome with "ban the plastic bag" is libertarian-minded people thinking that the county is "overregulating" their lives and takingtheir choices away from them. Adding a per-bag fee for paper bags in addition tobanning plastic bags will be a tough pill for a lot of people to swallow. Maybestart with the plastic bag ban, and then (a year or two later), phase in the per-bagpaper fee. Also, it might be a good idea to get the local grocery stores to givereusable bags away for free for a period of time if the ban goes into effect,bagging groceries in them automatically.

May 29, 2012 2:44 PM

1057 I am for educating, not legislating. Let the people know the dangers of plasticbags to marine and other animals, and they will respond by curbing their use.Some people, like me, recycle their check-out plastic bags, using them as trashcan liners. So it makes no sense to ban them, because then I'd just have to BUYplastic bags, and we're no nearer a solution to the problem. (I also use mycheck-out PAPER bags as dry-waste can liners.) One concern I have, that I seeno one addressing, is this: 7 out of 10 check-out plastic bags have a tiny (or notso tiny) hole in the bottom. This makes it impossible to reuse them as trashliners, because the liquid seeps through. If you're going to make a law, thenmake a law that the companies manufacturing the plastic bags can't distributethem if they have holes in the bottom. If they did a better job of manufacturingthem, I believe most people would be recycling them - especially if you can getthe word out about the damage plastic bags are doing. Whenever I do have tothrow away a plastic bag, I cut it up into small pieces, particularly making surethat no "loops" are on the plastic that an animal could catch its head in. I thinkthis should also be part of the education: tell people that by cutting up the bagsthey must throw away, they greatly reduce the chances of an animal gettingcaught in, or suffocating in, the plastic. And, of course, another great solution:get the recycling companies to accept plastic bags! I know of none that do!

May 29, 2012 10:17 AM

1058 Plastic bags are convenient for pet waste mgmt and lining trash cans. If banned,would use really decline, or would people just purchase what they need? Maybea better idea is to encourage manufacturers to create more short livedbiodegradeable alternates.

May 29, 2012 7:24 AM

1059 Hate them. don't know how to change people's behavior except to not allow thebags.

May 29, 2012 6:14 AM

1060 workshops on how to make your own shopping bags out of recycled materialswould be good. I think focusing on positive movement rather than banning andfocusing on negative aspects will get more people on board. Maybe stores couldprovide cloth shopping bags that when returned the customer get some cents offper bag, or coupon, or entry into a drawing. To pay for the bags, stores could get

May 29, 2012 5:58 AM

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sponsors, and have logos printed on them, etc. I think charging for paper bagswould have a negative affect on how people relate to the county government.

1061 They did it in Maui, no problem as far as I can see. May 28, 2012 9:22 PM

1062 we regularly reuse plastic bags after shopping. I feel reusable bags are a bigpain in the butt. we already have enough to remember to bring to the store forour kids without worrying about bags. as far as a ban is concerned I don't feel itis the governments place to tell us what we can and can't be provided from thestore of our choice. If people are so concerned about the bag waste thenrecycling should be made available curbside county wide. and the idea ofcharging an extra fee for bags is just stupid. most of the people in this area arehaving a hard enough time paying for groceries let alone the bags to hold them.instead of worrying about this stupid issue why not worry more about reducingregulations on business so that they can afford to employ more people and fixthis messed up economy.

May 28, 2012 8:43 PM

1063 Bans for some plastic are ok but do not agree with charging for paper bags. Weneed some type if waterproof bag for this climate.

May 28, 2012 10:34 AM

1064 plastic bags should be banned unless for medical uses or for health issues May 27, 2012 7:28 PM

1065 We don't need them, and they don't even work very well (food rolls around theback of the car, spaghetti jars have been know to split the seams, etc). I see noreason not to ban plastic shopping bags. They are wasteful, harmful to sealife,ugly, and difficult to recycle. Even if we could increase the recycling rate, thesebags still waste resources and would still escape into the environment. Let's getrid of them!

May 27, 2012 6:22 PM

1066 Paper bag handles break too easily. The plastic bags are easier to carry. May 27, 2012 5:25 PM

1067 Plastic bags are convenient, pliable, plentiful and cheap. That's about it for theirvirtues, and those aren't enough (or important enough) to continue their usewhen we now know the negative affects they have on the environment. Wewon't ever wean ourselves from using plastic bags until there's a ban on them.The motivation of having to pay 10 cents, or more, for the use of a paper bag is agreat motivator for those who don't care about the consequences of using theplastic bags. Our family is trying, oh so hard, to remember to take our reusablebags into stores with us. We're hitting about 33% of the time, but improvingsteadily. Remembering to use the reusable bags is a habit that we feel we'reforming. We know we'll firm up the habit shortly, just as our habit of recyclingour plastic bags at retailers around the area has evolved. Thank goodnessCostco doesn't use bags, but even there, we never use any of their boxes. Inshort, Thurston County needs to move toward banning plastic bags. Thepositive affects of this ban would serve a much larger "good" than the individual'sneed for using plastic bags because they're convenient. AND, until plastic bagsare banned, we (the population) won't focus seriously on the use of reusablebags.

May 27, 2012 10:45 AM

1068 Good for various uses like lining bathroom trash cans and re-using for things Iam donating, etc. I would support a ban with a fee for paper bags with an

May 27, 2012 10:33 AM

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excemption for people using state assistance. Not everyone can afford re-usable bags. Or if there was a refundable deposit for re-usable bags that thestore provides. That would work too.

1069 Ban them May 26, 2012 4:02 PM

1070 Against ban: Plastic grocery bags don't leak in pairs-- pet waste. Aren't most''cloth'' permanent bags made of plastic? - Nylon &/or polyester? Pro Ban:people really don't recycle plastic bags. I have seen them rolling for mules likethe Southwest's ''Tumblin' Tumbleweeds''. After floods, I've seen trees flappinglyfestooned with bags... for years! This is not good for the population, for fish, wetand wetland animals, or for tourism. And I have seen a cat caught in one,terrified, urinating, racing in circles, and crying piteously. Considering our areahas raised generations as loggers,we might get some money back to the State.So, to ban them, let's try mass education on TV, radio, Iphone & I pads, postersin hamburger joints. Also on androids, clothes and food stores first for 3 months.Tell people three times in one ad. Then a month's warning with tickets and ticketsigns like the seatbelt signs, an then if no change, ban the bags! And fine thebag tossers even on their own property!

May 26, 2012 3:10 PM

1071 They are a nuisance that can easily be replaced by othernondisposable/biodegradable solutions. They are an ecologically expensiveconvenience. People and businesses must be compelled to use other means tocarry their goods from stores.

May 26, 2012 9:13 AM

1072 I use the grocery plastic bags for my kitchen garbage can. If they are banned, Iwill have to buy plastic garbage bags.

May 25, 2012 7:47 PM

1073 since i'm not sure if they can go into our recycling bin, that would be a way toincrease that recycling; taking them back to store is sometimes hard to forget todo.

May 25, 2012 4:05 PM

1074 It has been said that bag recycling at stores does not work because the storesjust throw them away. I don't really know for certain. I would be motivated touse reusable bags more if there was a surcharge for bags; Ten cents a bag isreasonable in my mind. Thank you for the survey.

May 25, 2012 12:47 PM

1075 Thurston County should redirect our efforts towards improving (not increasing)core services such as law enforcement and road maintenance. We should NOTbe imposing restrictions on private business in this manner.

May 25, 2012 11:50 AM

1076 Make them part of curb recycling. Charge $ for them at checkout, increasing thenumber of people who will use cloth bags.

May 25, 2012 8:36 AM

1077 I would like to see few to zero plastic bags in stores for bagging purchases. I dorecycle bags.

May 25, 2012 7:15 AM

1078 -Convenient -No bacteria or other harmful entities due to spillage etc. -I useplastic bags for other purposes, one it lining the trash cans and lining otherapplications -I cut plastic bag and use them as a sheet that I hang on it pictures,buttons, etc.. -I reuse plastic bags to carry other items in them

May 24, 2012 10:28 PM

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1079 I would like them banned. May 24, 2012 7:36 PM

1080 Leave them alone. May 24, 2012 4:01 PM

1081 They should be banned!! May 24, 2012 11:32 AM

1082 Get recycling vendor to accept plastic bags. Ban plastic grocery bags. May 24, 2012 10:29 AM

1083 I am against a ban on plastic bags. If plastic bags were accepted at curb siderecycle the problems associated with them would be reduced or eliminated.

May 24, 2012 10:25 AM

1084 Some people use their plastic bags for garbage - particularly those on a fixedincome. I wouldn't like to see them have to pay for bags. I make fabric grocerybags for myself, friends & family and because I make them easy for cashiers touse, they're almost always happy to see them. I also make produce bags out ofmosquito netting. I think more people would be willing to use fabric bags if theycould get a decent one for a reasonable price. The heavy cotton ones that weregiven out by stores several years ago shrank and didn't hold their shape. Thatsaid, I do use the shopping bags which my son brings home for cleaning up afterthe dogs and a few other things but if I get a few cents off my grocery bill forusing my cloth bags I can afford to buy plastic bags for those purposes. Onething that would certainly cut down on the number of plastic bags used is forcashiers to put more that 3 or 4 items in them.

May 23, 2012 9:33 PM

1085 I personally do the following: 1) keep and reuse or recycle all plastic bags 2) if atall possible, I avoid getting checkout bags at the store, or I take my own bag Idon't know where to recycle bags, otherwise I would. I'm not sure aboutsupporting a ban, although I do think it would drastically reduce bag use...

May 23, 2012 12:53 PM

1086 like to reuse so I don't have to buy plastic bags. To increase bag recycling offer$ for bags or from the stores offer discounts...

May 23, 2012 9:30 AM

1087 I think charging a fee would sharply reduce the amount of plastic bags shoppersuse. My family has been using reusable bags for years and it's super easy. Thehard part is remembering to bring them with you from the car. I can't believehow many bags I see people using at the store. If only half of those bagsweren't used, our environment would be much healthier!

May 22, 2012 3:47 PM

1088 Let's ban the bag! People will complain at first, but they'll get used to iteventually. It really seems to be the only way to stop their use.

May 22, 2012 1:55 PM

1089 Plastic bags are easy to use and are available at the store check out. Thereneeds to be an alternative bag that the store provides, if plastic cannot be used. Irecylce over 95% of the plastic bags that I receive. When I shop, I would need 10or more reusable bags. This is not practible and what happens if I purchasemore than will fit in the bags that I bring? I would not want to be forced in buyingadditional reusable bags.

May 22, 2012 12:50 PM

1090 I think the plastic bag ban and similar bans (like styrofoam) are a step in the rightdirection. By enacting a ban Thurston County would be joining a regionalmovement embraced by neighboring metropolitan areas that would effect real

May 22, 2012 12:44 PM

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changes in the way we use disposable materials. Items like single-use bags aresomething we simply do not need to function and thrive. The sooner we move tobetter habits, the better. A ban is one way of accomplishing this.

1091 I like the handles, but they need double bagging, which is a concern. I reuse mybags for a variety of things. If you are going to replace it with something else,don't charge, people are tapped out

May 22, 2012 8:11 AM

1092 In most stores -- even the ones with signs up reminding you to remember yourreusable bags -- checkers automatically hand you plastic bags. Often, evenwhen reusable ones are sitting in front of them! And I have had checkers start tobag in plastic, stop, and PUT MY BAG IN THE RECYCLE BIN! without everhaving even made it out of the store -- So, accepting plastic bags is the path ofleast resistance. While I personally would be fine with a ban on plastic bags,many people resent the 'government interference' -- and, who likes to be toldwhat to do? Wouldn't it be more effective to create a system where acceptingthe plastic bag is the choice that requires the most effort? That you have to *ask*for the plastic bag? If it becomes the choice of *most* effort, aren't people lesslikely to take it? I am a member of the Olympia Food Coop -- and they have aplace to bring in bags -- and other containers, for that matter -- to be reused.What if other stores did this, as well? At the very least, there would be a placewhere people could grab an already used plastic bag, and at most, could grab apaper or other sort of bag. They also have signs up where there are plastic bags-- reminding people there are other choices, and one has the option of reusing acontainer and weighing it, instead of using any sort of bag or single usecontainer, at all. Another idea would be to pass on the cost at point of sale -- ifpeople are paying three cents a bag at the register, it becomes an incentive tobring reusable bags. Many stores have incentive cards and programs -- therecould be a fee for using the bag -- and say a penny reward for using their own. Iknow many people who use their plastic shopping bags to line their garbage,pack their lunches in, etc -- we need to find inexpensive, sustainablealternatives, if we want people to stop accepting and using 'single-use' plasticbags. I have a friend who is very environmentally conscious -- who, while oftenusing reusable bags, justifies the use of plastics because so many people linetheir trash with them. We need to offer other ways to fill these needs that don'trequire plastics. Perhaps stores could offer 'loaner bags' (for which they'd pay asmall deposit) or credit every time a club-member uses their own bags towards a'free' re-usable bag? Or create a forgot your bags? holding area, where peoplecould stash their cart while they run out (or send their teenager out) to grab thebags from the back of the car... I think the bottom line is, we need to make iteasier to use reusable bags than to use the plastics. We need to offer peopleinformation about the consequences of their choices;(pictures of beautifulanimals with plastic bags choking them are very effective in changing behavior).We need to empower people to make positive choices on their own, and thenreward those choices. And we need to find and make available viable -- andbetter -- alternatives for reusable plastics 'other uses' -- what CAN you line yourkitchen garbage can with that isn't bad for the environment? I know that mostpeople want to do the right thing. The more we can do to make that convenientand even *Fun*, the more people actually will.

May 22, 2012 7:55 AM

1093 Let us recycle them in our regular curbside recycling bins. May 21, 2012 6:30 PM

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1094 we just moved from Az. plastic bags are all over the roadsides there. They arenot sturdy and to me are more harmful than good. It is easy to keep cloth totes inthe car or use chico bags which are very compact and are made from recycledplastic bottles.

May 21, 2012 4:51 PM

1095 Just ban them. But do not charge for paper bags. May 21, 2012 2:22 PM

1096 I am fine with a ban on plastic, but not for charging customers for bags. May 21, 2012 2:21 PM

1097 Let's face it, people take the path of least resistance. Curbside pick-up forplastic bags would make it more convient for the average customer to recycletheir bags. I do support a ban on plastic bag use! It's too easy to forget yourreusable bags when there's the easy alternative of plastic bags. Businesses canalways have paper bags or recycled boxes (think Costco) available for folkswithout reuseable bags.

May 21, 2012 12:23 PM

1098 If I could recycle them in my curbside bin, that would be great. It's hard to find arecyling point for them, and have them with me when I do. I would also be finewith stores not offering plastic bags at check out. But I do NOT support chargingfor a paper bag replacement. Plastic bags have a time and place, but the havebecome extemely over used.

May 21, 2012 12:09 PM

1099 Plastic bags create more trash. They are to thin for animal waste. Don't havevery many places to recycle. People need to use fabric bags over and over.

May 21, 2012 11:07 AM

1100 We all forget our bags sometimes, so plastic bags are convenient, but the cost tothe environment is too high. So lets ban them and we will have to remember ourbags or pay something to have the store provide papper bags.

May 21, 2012 8:08 AM

1101 If we are only talking about plastic check out bags, having them in the grocerystore means I don't have to purchase them to use for my household garbage.Our household reuses every bag we get from the grocery store in one way oranother--paper are used to pack things we ship, plastic for the trash. When wehave plenty of these at home we we use cloth bags to get groceries and otherstore bought items. I think we should go with education before taking awayresourses that will just have to be replaced by things people purchase for thepurpose--which is what would happen.

May 21, 2012 7:50 AM

1102 The only reason I like plastic grocery bags is that I use them to line some of mytrash containers. I would like the ability to be able to recycle them with myregular recycling if they continue to be used. I have several reusable cloth typegrocery bags in my car, but so many times I forget to bring them into the store.

May 20, 2012 6:27 PM

1103 I don't think the use of plastic bags warrants the attention being given, but if we"need" to do something - switching to paper bags would seem to be a very goodoption. Trees are the ultimate renewalable resource and if you use postconsumer recycled fiber that is even more environmentally friendly. Personallythe idea of using re-usable grocery bags seems un-sanitary - I don't know of anyof my friends that use cloth bags who washe them on a regular basis.

May 20, 2012 5:58 PM

1104 I would like to see them banned. I recycle most of my plastic bags but some are May 20, 2012 2:57 PM

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reused. Even with plastic bag recycle available at the grocery stores they arealways seen along the freeways etc.

1105 I strongly believe they should be banned. They are an environmental hazzard inmany ways. Even if they ever disintegrate they are in the air forever. Cloth bagsare easy, inexpensive and do not harm humans or wildlife. They can even bewashed and reused! Amazing concept. Somehow people have been able to getgarbage into a can or into the compost without plastic bags.

May 20, 2012 9:40 AM

1106 I always reuse and/or recycle bags. They can be a convenience if reusedresponsibly for lining garbage, etc. I fail to understand why people litter the bagsand do not recyle them correctly - they spoil it for the rest of us. The only cure isto ban them altogether.

May 19, 2012 9:10 PM

1107 I do use plastic bags for pet refuse and they are very handy. However, I don'tuse as many as I would get if I didn't also use my own cloth bags.

May 19, 2012 4:58 PM

1108 I like that I can use them for the dog poo--on the other hand wrapping poo inplastic seems odd too. If I didn't have the store bags, I would probably buysomething biodegradable for the poo.

May 19, 2012 4:23 PM

1109 I only get plastic when I forget to bring in my own shopping bags. If I take homeI recycle and use some for pet waste. I would not know what bags would beused for produce. I have my own I use, but never enough for all the produce Ibuy. Wet items seem like they would be difficult to not have in plastic.

May 19, 2012 4:06 PM

1110 Plastic bags have been recycled at curbside in Seattle/King County for a decadebut still aren't in Thurston County. WE take them back to the grocery storeswhen we can't reuse them otherwise. I take my reusable fabric bags to the storeas often as possible. We must reduce use of the plastic bags.

May 19, 2012 12:17 PM

1111 Sometimes you need a waterproof or wipeable bag. I have a reusable bag madefrom recycled plastic bags which is great for wet items or foods you want to beable wipe up after like raw chicken. I would like to see plastic bags limited ratherthan banned. Thanks!!

May 19, 2012 11:08 AM

1112 I think that charging a fee or banning plastic bags is not the correct answer. Itwill burden poorer families with fees that they cannot afford. I try to use myreuseable bags, but I don't like putting meat or things like that in them that caneasily contaminate other food. Most reuseable bags want you to wipe them witha damp cloth instead of throwing them in the washer which creates a hassle. Ilike to use my plastic bags for cleaning out the litter box and as garbage bags formy cans in my bathrooms. You can also make non scratch scrubbers out ofthem for your dishes. They have may uses besides just bagging your groceries.My thought is if you don't like them, don't use them but don't try to makeeveryone else do what you want them to do. Also I think if people were able toput them in their recycle bin that would help also.

May 19, 2012 10:18 AM

1113 I like plastic bags for holding raw meat and for holding sticky produce. I wouldnot mind paying extra for using the store's plastic bags, but I do like having themas an option both for the above reasons and for the rare time when I decide to

May 18, 2012 9:20 PM

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shop and do not have any reusable bags with me. Because I use plastic trashbags anyway, I just reuse the grocery bag rather than using a new trash bag. Ithink more people might be motivated to make the extra effort to reduce plasticbag use and dispose of them properly if there was more education about theeffects of plastic bags. I saw a video a few years ago about what happens torecycled bags in the US - they are shipped to western China and sort of burned,creating toxic pollution there. I would much rather reduce & reuse!

1114 Make recycling plastic bags an option if it already isn't, I'm not aware if it is. May 18, 2012 2:10 PM

1115 I just do not agree with a fee for a bag. As long as there is a no cost option I canagree with a ban on plastic.

May 18, 2012 11:20 AM

1116 Being able to put them in with the recycling would be great. With a ban, peoplewould learn to get along without them. How hard could it be? After all, wehaven't always had plastic bags.

May 18, 2012 11:14 AM

1117 Ban all non-biodegradable bags. Promote manufacturing of biodegradablepackaging.

May 18, 2012 10:53 AM

1118 The only thing I like about plastic bags is that they are there for the times I forgetmy reusable bags. I wish that I could throw the bags in with my mixed recyling. Irecycle everything I can put in that bin, but if I have to save things and take themsomewhere, I am not so committed to recycling.

May 18, 2012 10:07 AM

1119 My main argument about the ban is that I believe companies should be able tomake that choice on their own.

May 18, 2012 9:55 AM

1120 Banning plastic bags is a giant step toward sustainability, local and global.Without them we find alternatives that require a bit of effort on our part,wash/rinse/reuse. A few minutes a week weighed against harmful waste inproduction and use/distribution.

May 18, 2012 8:58 AM

1121 Ban them. May 18, 2012 8:34 AM

1122 I would very much like to see them banned. they are a waste of resources andharm our environment.

May 18, 2012 8:25 AM

1123 I use plastic bags for dog poop and for garage sales, but that's about it. I onlyget them if I forget my reusable bags at home. I don't know if there is a way toincrease plastic bag recycling. It is a huge pain, and I am an avid recycler ofEVERYTHING, and I hate bringing them to the store with me, so the averageperson is never going to, at least the way that the current system works. I amdefinitely PRO banning plastic bags, but I do have a few concerns. I haveenough money to buy re-usable bags when I need them, and can pay the extrafee for paper if I forget them, but what about families that are on the edge andcan't afford these things? Will there be free re-usable bags provided to thosethat want them, say 4-6 per family? Basically there needs to be a way for lowincome families to get bags so it's not going to be another burden on theirfinances. I also think there should still be some sort of plastic bags available, forcleaners and things that leak, and also for things like paper/cards/magazines/etc.

May 18, 2012 8:19 AM

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because we do live in WA and it rains A LOT here.

1124 I like plastic bags for their reusability -- garbage can liner, pet waste. When theyare unusable I put them in a box at home to the to recycling at the grocery store.I would prefer it if we could put them in curbside recycling. I'm not sure abouttotal ban -- I read that when Ireland did this, more plastic bags had to beproduced because people had to buy garbage can liners, etc. So that caused anet increase in use of resources. I don't know how current this study was. Ihave finally learned to take reusable shopping bags with me 90% of the time andI reuse the produce bags. Kind of a hassle, but better than wasting resources --there is no free lunch.

May 18, 2012 7:57 AM

1125 I worry about a backlash about banning plastic bags, although I think it would bea good idea. Perhaps charging at the store an amount for new bags that wouldencourage bringing own bags would be less difficult.

May 18, 2012 6:52 AM

1126 Make it easier for people to recycle plastic bags. Have bins in many moreplaces or allow recycling through home pick up. We use our bags for liningtrash cans. If we didn't re-use the store bags, we would just purchase moreplastic bags for that purpose. What we don't use we recycle but it is not alwaysapparent where the recycling bins are...this must keep many people fromactually recycling them.

May 18, 2012 6:32 AM

1127 Ban them now!!! May 17, 2012 11:05 PM

1128 I like plastic bags for produce. I usually ask for a paper bag if I forget myshopping bags. I think grocery stores have done a lot to encourage shoppers touse their own bags but it is something that has to become a habit and that takesawhile. I suspect there would be people in our county, especially south countywho would have a fit is plastic bags were banned. I hope I am wrong. I am gladto see that TC is so concerned about plastics. You might be interested to knowthat I went to this survey because Occupy Olympia posted it on Facebook!

May 17, 2012 9:45 PM

1129 i really dont care for them . home depo makes a bag that hooks on the sides ofthe shopping caret I think they should make a unaversal style for all carts andcharge a couple bucks for something like that.

May 17, 2012 9:15 PM

1130 I do NOT like plastic bags. In Ireland they are not available in shops and peopleadjusted. The plastc bag trash heaps in India and Nepal are staggering. Theyharm wild life in many ways and waste resources. Recycling and reusing are notenough--I support total ban.

May 17, 2012 6:48 PM

1131 Banning plastic bags will cause people to buy other plastic, so no gain. Showpeople how bags can be further used more actively, i.e. pet waste, etc. Moreincentive to use own bags, i.e. Fred Meyer with $..05. I always remember there,and forget other stores. I use my plastic bags all the time for a variety of thingsto be disposed of, rather than loose garbage in the cans.

May 17, 2012 5:44 PM

1132 There are some handy uses for them, but there are way too many. They shouldNOT be included in curbside. Stores could do more to discourage excessive useand encourage recycling.

May 17, 2012 5:17 PM

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1133 I try to remember my reusable bags and I reuse or recycle plastic bags when Ihave them. Paper bags are not as easy to carry as plastic for people who haveto walk to the store or don't have vehicles. I'd be interested in more communityeducation on this issue.

May 17, 2012 5:06 PM

1134 They're handy for other stuff; reuseable bags collect germs after a few uses andmost cannot be washed without special handling. Paper bags are needed byThurston Co. Food Bank and they also recycle plastic bags. Make it easier forus to recycle the bags.

May 17, 2012 1:53 PM

1135 What a POOR Question: The average American uses 350-500 plastic shoppingbags each year. How many of these actually get recycled? Why charge forshopping bags (paper). That is insane.

May 17, 2012 11:28 AM

1136 I strongly support a ban on plastic bags!! There is no reason that shopperscannot bring their own reusable shopping bags ~~ they are available for free justabout everywhere. Plastic bags are dangerous and a large waste of resources.

May 17, 2012 9:34 AM

1137 I use reusable shopping bags, but need plastic bags for over my raw meatpurchases, multiple fruit and veggies, so use those bags to scoop my litterboxes. I feel we have too much "big brother" out there and feel most people tryto recycle and conserve. A law against plastic bags is too much. Instead, rewardshoppers with a bag credit for any reusable bags, not just the store brand bag.Also, charging a dollar or $1.99, for a bag, makes them more affordable, ratherthan $3.99, on up.

May 17, 2012 9:15 AM

1138 I currently recycle my bags at the Thurston County Waste & recovery center. Ithink adding the convenience of curbside pickup would be a huge move ingetting others to participate in bag recycling. We also have to think of how toreplace the uses of plastic bags that aren't recycled (picking up animal waste, asgarbage liners in homes, etc). I've found the compostable and biodegradablebags at the Olympia Food Coop but the availability of these alternatives don'tseem to exist in the large chain stores. In fact most folks aren't aware of them asalternatives. How can we help folks with education and availability of thesealternatives? As for the proposed ban in this survey, I'm 'for' banning the bagsbut I'd leave it up to the stores to decide whether they'd charge for paper bags. Idon't think that should be directed by the county.

May 17, 2012 8:35 AM

1139 I want more credible information on all possible trade offs before banning plasticbags. We have become a scare tactic society. As soon as environment is usedin a sentence, we panic without considering who is running the statistics. I havebecome a little skeptical at times. Your survey is an example. Of course I haveconcern for animals and the environment. So, the results of your survey willshow that there are high percentages for those two and thus we should banplastic bags, regardless of anything else. there is more to the issue, but mostgoverning bodies don't have the nerve to explore them in this State run byEvergreen State College graduates.

May 17, 2012 7:37 AM

1140 1. Make a bag of bags a permitted item in the mixed recycle bins offered byWaste Connections, Inc. 2. More media attention to alternative uses for recycledbags.

May 17, 2012 5:18 AM

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1141 We all need to start to recycle them, maybe have a bin or a way to get thempicked up like the 9other materials.

May 16, 2012 11:05 PM

1142 I don't like plastic bags but I don't prefer using cut down trees for paper bagseither. The tough thing about banning plastic bags is the handles on paper onesare not usually equal to the strength of plastic bags. Thank you for the idea - I'dlove to know more!

May 16, 2012 9:32 PM

1143 Plastic bags are unnecessary for shopping bags. I have used reusable clothbags for over 20 years. However plastic bags are convenient for vegetables thatare dripping with moisture. I reuse the plastic vegetable bags as long aspossible. I have not found a good alternative. I have made some bags oflightweight nylong that work well for dry vegetables and for fruit. Providing moreconvenient locations for recycling plastic bags would help increase recycling.

May 16, 2012 7:41 PM

1144 I like the plastic bag when I put a paper bag in it, it is easier for me to carry itemsaround. The handles on the paper bags always rip while the ones on the plasticdo not. I like plastic bags in my trash cans because liquid does not leak in tothe waste basket like if you were using paper bags. Perhaps if you rewardedpeople for recycling instead of charging them, they would have the incentiveneeded to recycle. You ban plastic bags you raise the prices of merchantseverywhere. Plastic bags are by far cheaper then paper bags. Don't merchantshave enough overhead costs? When they have more costs the merchandisethey sell goes up and people stop buying.

May 16, 2012 7:24 PM

1145 I bring very few "new" plastic bags into our home because primarily we usereusable cloth bags for groceries and I just don't need a bag for many of theitems i may buy. But I do use the bags for trash in our waste cans, and forpicking up aluminum cans along the road (and sometimes trash too) and fordeadheading dandelions to put in the trash and for noxious weed "herb robert" toput in the trash...but somehow there always seems to be a plastic bag when youneed it. I do recycle plastic bags periodically and these bags often come fromother homes than mine - such as my parents who don't recycle them. And fromwork where I will find them in the garbage needlessly. Basically, I think plasticbags CAN have a purpose but I think we have a HUGE over abundance of themproduced.

May 16, 2012 7:13 PM

1146 Like: convenience, useful for other purposes (such as enclosing shoes packedin a suitcase, or holding wet swim suits & towels after a day at the beach or answim at the pool, or sweaty clothes after a hard workout). Increase recycling:more drop off sites, charge a fee for them (as they do in Italy), allow in curbsiderecycling. For ban: damage outweighs benefits Against ban: people like theconvenience Compromise position: charge a fee

May 16, 2012 7:12 PM

1147 I don't like plastic bags and try not use them. I always recycle any plastic bagsthat I get.

May 16, 2012 6:15 PM

1148 None of my plastic bags goes directly into the trash. I reuse them for manythings: dog poop, waste basket liners, to carry my lunch to work, as trash bags inmy car, to store things at home, etc. My lunch bag gets reused repeatedly until itfalls apart. If I use my reusable bags for grocery or other shopping too often, I

May 16, 2012 5:10 PM

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don't have enough plastic bags to reuse.

1149 I don't think the consumer asked for plastic bags, I am fine with banning them,but I do not believe we should be charged for paper bags. I think more peoplewould recycle them if they could be put in the same recycle bin.

May 16, 2012 4:16 PM

1150 I do not like plastic bags, I never have. I think they should go back to paper orreusable

May 16, 2012 3:50 PM

1151 I use the plastic bags in 2 ways....one, of course, is to recycle them -- but also, Iused them as garbage bags. If I couldn't get them in the grocery store, then Iwould probably buy them for garbage purposes -- that would defeat the purposeof banning them!

May 16, 2012 3:38 PM

1152 We need to go back to basics. "Progress" is killing this country. Ban plasticbags completely.

May 16, 2012 3:30 PM

1153 There are just to many of them being placed in the landfill. There has to be abetter way.

May 16, 2012 3:07 PM

1154 I like plastic bags for cold groceries, like meat, frozen veggies or ice cream, aspaper sacks rip and wilt with these items. I always reuse my bags to line mygarbage can. I always put my garbage in these bags prior to putting out by thestreet. When I have been behind garbage trucks, I often see litter flying out oftheir trucks, which is caused by 2 things: The garbage in the trucks is not inbags and the garbage trucks are not covering the freshly picked up garbagebefore driving to the next pick up. They leave their truck backs open and theunbagged garbage flies right out, and turns into litter along our roadways. I havewritten our garbage hauler about this, and received no response. Why don't youall tackle this problem, before you worry about the plastic bags????

May 16, 2012 2:31 PM

1155 How can we increase bag recycling? May 16, 2012 1:43 PM

1156 I was told that they cannot be recycled in our curbside recycle bins. May 16, 2012 12:12 PM

1157 I re-use my plastic bags for garbage collection and then put them in the trash forcollection..They can also be cut into strips and crocheted into various items -quite nifty. There is no way to recycle plastic bags in our local recycle binpickups - they do not take them at all. Plastic bags are convenient to use at thegrocery store for packaging small items and I would think they use fewer of ourresources than do paper bags. Many of the plastic bags are already made fromre-cycled products. Now to find a way to keep them out of the rivers, lakes andoceans.

May 16, 2012 11:28 AM

1158 I resuse plastic grocery bags for garbage bags and to pick of pet waste. Ifplastic grocery bags are banned, then I will have to purchase plastic bags.

May 16, 2012 10:33 AM

1159 recycling bags at the curb would be nice......I like the stores that give a .05 creditfor bring your own bags.

May 16, 2012 10:12 AM

1160 on a very very rare occasion, I need to seal something really gross and woulduse one but I have learned to live without them at home pretty much except for

May 16, 2012 9:51 AM

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garbage can liners-- I only use one or two very simple, thin ones per MONTH.At work however, as a school nurse, I need something to put clothing in that hasbeen vomited, pooped or piddled on in order to send them home and not stink upthe whole school... any ideas?

1161 No plastic bags....period. If you don't bring your own to the store, then youshould have to pay for a recycleable bag there at the store! Curbside bagrecycling would be great but really...these are something we should totallyeliminate from all stores. Bring your own!

May 16, 2012 9:43 AM

1162 I would completely support a ban on plastic bags. I would also like to seemanufacturers held accountable for the waste created by their packagingchoices. I try to avoid packaging waste as much as possible but sometimes thereis no choice. It should not be "free" for manufacturers to choose to create waste.

May 16, 2012 9:01 AM

1163 Don't need to ban them; figure out how to recycle them more efficiently, likeputting them in our recycling container along with other plastics, etc. The onlyplace to take bags is to a grocery store that has a container for them. We wereforced to go to plastic bags, because 20 years ago the environmentalists said wewere wasting too many trees to make paper bags. What's next?

May 16, 2012 8:01 AM

1164 Too much regulation now. just do a positive PR bit re: use of plastic bags....letpeople make individual decisions. Don't impose regulation at retail level.

May 16, 2012 7:35 AM

1165 Plastic bags are a convenient way to manage purchased items, and a terribleecological disaster for wildlife and landfills. Replacement solutions, i.e. clothbags, are inconvenient and not always remembered. I must have ten of them inmy Prius and I often forget to carry them in to the grocery store, resulting inusing plastic bags or an extra trip to the car to get them, which I often do. Clothbags were used as marketing tools, so some of my bags say TOP or SAFEWAYon them; I don't like ubiquitous advertisements, especially when I had to pay forthe product with the advertizing on it. But I believe we MUST get rid of theplastic ones. Lee Chambers, West Olympia [email protected]

May 16, 2012 4:08 AM

1166 I think there are much more important issues to be solved than banning plasticbags.

May 15, 2012 9:22 PM

1167 I think we should get rid of plastic bags. May 15, 2012 9:04 PM

1168 I try not to use plastic bags for my groceries and choose paper if I forget myreusables. I would support a ban on plastic bags. We also need better optionsfor produce bags. I know it is difficult to recycle the bags so banning may be thebetter option. If they are not available, more people would go to reusables andpaper would still be available. Paper uses trees but trees are renewable.

May 15, 2012 9:02 PM

1169 I am all for a ban. Make it expensive to not bring your own reuseable bags -people won't do the right thing for nature until it hits them in the pocketbook. Idon't like plastic bags, but I am occasionally guilty of forgetting my own bags, aban would help me remember! A ban would be the surest way to safe resourcesand protect the wild life.

May 15, 2012 8:51 PM

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1170 I try to always remember to bring my own shopping bags, but occasionallyforget. I reuse the plastic bags for produce at grocery stores for garbage canliners in the smaller bathroom garbage cans because garbage bags don't comethat small.

May 15, 2012 8:38 PM

1171 Because they are readily available, I do not always bring my reuseable bags. Ifa ban were to go into effect, I would like the option of using them for somemessy groceries.

May 15, 2012 8:33 PM

1172 No comments at this time. What do we substitute for vegetables and fruits? May 15, 2012 8:18 PM

1173 Sometimes I forget my reusable bag or I don't have enough and its nice to havethe plastic bag available. I also reuse many of the plastic bags in my home. Ihave too many plastic bags because I am not aware where I can recycle them.Push for more places to accept bags to recycle and promote these locations.

May 15, 2012 8:14 PM

1174 Have curb-side recycling; do a campaign that encourages use of reusable bags.My one concern is charging low income families a fee for plastic or paper bagswhen they may not have reusable bags.

May 15, 2012 8:04 PM

1175 plastic bags are helpful with items like separating fish or meat at the grocerystore. I always try to recycle them and try to remember own bags at stores. Ialways forget to reuse them for wet produce items like lettuce, etc. As long asthey're available, we will continue to "forget" to do something better.

May 15, 2012 7:42 PM

1176 I reuse my bags to line garbage can which is designed for that sort of bag. I usereusable ones except when I need them for garbage can. I would not like it if Icould not get plastic bag for the clothes and other things I buy since it rains somuch here. I am willing to listen to suggestions for how to address this but donot like bans, at least as the first step.

May 15, 2012 7:41 PM

1177 I reuse the bags for other trash. As I recall there used to be a place to recycleyour bags at the stores. If we use paper, it has to come from trees and plasticcomes from petrolum so what are we going to gian one way or the other, it is alose, lose no mater what you do. Let the people decide what they want to useand keep the government out of it.

May 15, 2012 7:41 PM

1178 Plastic bags are handy to have for many household uses. I like the fact thatthey're fairly small and therefore not so heavy to carry. Most of all, I love thehandles. When my bag supply is high, I return the ones I have to the grocerystore for recycling.

May 15, 2012 7:32 PM

1179 Occasionally they are handy when I forget my bags or I underestimate howmany bags are needed. But, I would be just as happy with paper or I try to getaway with no bag at all.

May 15, 2012 7:25 PM

1180 The last question was really two questions and I would support a plastic bag banbut would not support a fee for paper bags. Poor survey question.

May 15, 2012 7:07 PM

1181 I think it is fine to use plastic bags. I need them for my pet's waste, and if thereis a problem then the recyclers need to make it so that they can be recycled curb

May 15, 2012 6:47 PM

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side... but it should not cost extra!! Otherwise, the extra can be taken to thegrocery store where you can recycle them there!!! Don't be like STUPIDSeattle!!!

1182 Although I don't like the careless use of plastic bags, I do sometimes take plasticbags at stores like Target, where the bags are strong enough to be reused to linemy garbage cans. Why pay for rolls of plastic bags if you can get them for "free"and reuse them? Since I compost and recycle, I don't need very many. I nevertake bags from stores where the bags are so weak they immediately tear andbecome unusable. A can see the benefits to banning plastic bags, though, sinceI see so many littering our streets.

May 15, 2012 6:34 PM

1183 plastic bags are versatile, I use them as trash can liners instead of buying thickerplastic bags increase plastic bag recycling by offering recycling of plastic bagswith paper products or other plastic products

May 15, 2012 5:51 PM

1184 I do like reusing plastic bags for pet waste, but I can't make any good argumentfor not banning plastic bags. I would be curious to know the perceived impact onresources used to make paper bags. How much do you expect that to increase?Have there been studies to show the per bag cost that consumers can accept,while maximizing the use of canvas/reusable bags? Where does the money gothat's collected for paper bags? To the store? A conservation fund?Transparency about these kinds of questions will hopefully help consumersaccept a plastic bag ban.

May 15, 2012 5:35 PM

1185 I don't really like plastic bags and I think when the store is bagging yourgroceries they use too many (putting only a small number of items in each bag). Irecycle the plastic bags I do get by taking them back to the store, I don't know ifany other way to recycle them (other than using them for garbage bags).

May 15, 2012 4:23 PM

1186 Plastic bags pollute everywhere and they take too long to decompose. May 15, 2012 4:03 PM

1187 I do not believe that the time, effort and cost of recycling is actually worth it. Notto mention the amount of time wasted talking about it.

May 15, 2012 3:55 PM

1188 I don't like plastic bags. They are bad for the environment and there is no needfor them. I have cut my overall use of plastic bag use, including the produceclear plastic, to almost zero. I still use one or two a week for meat and fish toprevent leaks. One way to increase recycling is to allow them in the curbsiderecycle bins. I now have to take them to the grocery store to recycle them. Thismay keep some people from recycling. I would like to see paper bags go awayas well. There is no reason why stores couldn't give out reusable bags for asmall fee. It would be a good way for them to advertise the store brand andwould be helping the environment.

May 15, 2012 3:48 PM

1189 My wife has been taking her own grocery bags for over 30 years! She shops atFred Meyer where they give her 5 cents per bag for bringing her own. Thereshould be a charge of 5 cents for each plastic bag and paper bag at grocerystores. However, would prefer a ban altogether. Americans are not only spoiledand lazy, they are becoming like a Third World Nation.

May 15, 2012 3:32 PM

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1190 Ithink plastic bags have become a nuisance. I TRY to use permanent bags andhave bought net bags for produce. The problem is changing old habits. I favor acharge for using either plastic or paper bags from the store. The discount forbringing my own doesn't perk my memory, but I think an additional chargewould. The charge should be used to offset costs.

May 15, 2012 3:25 PM

1191 Curbside bag recycling would be nice May 15, 2012 2:43 PM

1192 I don't like a thing about plastic bags; I would recycle if I could do it curbside. Isimply don't take them if offered, I either go bagless if I've forgotten my own, orwill chose paper if I have to.

May 15, 2012 1:15 PM

1193 Other than the fact that I would continually have to run back out to my car to getthe reusable bag that I had forgotten to take into the store, I ALWAYS use theself check-out when possible and don't know how the reusable bags work withthose.

May 15, 2012 1:06 PM

1194 I keep re-usable shopping bags in my personal vehicle, and I'm generallysuccessful at using them +90% of the time. Occasionally, I go the store and I'musing alternate transportation, so I have to use the ones the store provides(plastic). Also, if I end up buying more groceries than the 2-3 reusable bags caneasily hold...then the same deal; the store bags are the backup. So I guess I'mglad they are there when I need them. Is there any data on what makes peoplewho use re-usable bags successful at it? Also, is there data on where the plasticbags end up after their initial or secondary use? Finally, almost of equal concernto plastic bags are PET clam-shell packaging. We need to find a solution forthese packaging types... or we need to be able to take them back to the vendor.Thanks for asking! WmB

May 15, 2012 1:05 PM

1195 I don't care for plastic bags and much prefer paper, both for useability and use ofresources. However I'm not in favor of regulation of a fee to consumers forsingle-use bags. I'd prefer to see discounts for consumer use of re-useablecontainers, and/or incentives to businesses to not use the fly-away type of plasticgrocery bags.

May 15, 2012 12:57 PM

1196 I use reusable bags and have done so for years-but yes I sometimes forget andthen I may get a plastic bag. Mostly I forget to bring them when I go to a big petstore. I recycle them all. I think we can all get used to not using store-suppliedbags--costco is an example. All this said, I don't believe there should be anymandated charge for not providing your own bag.

May 15, 2012 12:39 PM

1197 I take the bags from the newspaper to the grocery store for recycling. I mostlyreuse grocery store bags for waste basket bags. I regularly use the reusablebags at the grocery store, but my husband is not as diligent. We end up withplenty to use for garbage bags! If bags were easier to recycle, more folks wouldlikely do it. Working with folks in poverty, I don't like to add a charge for bags atthe grocery store or limit the availability of bags.for those who would havedifficulty affording reusable bags.

May 15, 2012 12:05 PM

1198 The plastic bags are light weight and strong. Make recycling as easy as possible,curbside recycling a thought. ban p. bags because they are a serious hazarad to

May 15, 2012 11:36 AM

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marine/wild life. The manufacture process cannot be good for the enviroment.

1199 I reuse plastic bags all the time for lining garbage cans, packing material, loadingitems into cars or transporting items to people, etc. I don't like reusable bagsbecasue of e coli material that can be carried from one food item to another andother contamination that occurs. The reuseable grocery bags should be wahedafter every use for food safety.

May 15, 2012 11:13 AM

1200 I reuse plastic bags to line my garbage cans, but I 100% support a ban on them.I don't believe Lacey has a curbside option to recycle plastic bags, but I hopethat we would get one soon.

May 15, 2012 11:03 AM

1201 If plastic bags are such a problem, just ban them! Costco uses their boxes forcustomers products.

May 15, 2012 10:53 AM

1202 Many European cities have never provided plastic bags and they all seem to gettheir groceries home. There is simply no reason to provide bags for people. Withthe hundreds of reusable bags available on the market today, plus the tote bagswe seem to get at conferences, etc. providing bags for yourself is extremelyconvenient. One only needs to visit an area where plastic bags are prevalent andtrash collection is not to see why they should be banned world wide.

May 15, 2012 10:51 AM

1203 I think there should be a charge for the plastic bags. Sometimes you just doforget to bring in your reusables, so it's nice to have that occasional option.When we visited Hawaii recently they didn't have plastic bags available in the biggrocery store we went to, but they would sell you the reusable woven bags for avery modest 50 cents. That seemed sensible to me. If you don't want to keepbuying new ones, it will help you remember to bring them to the store. But I fearthat stores would start getting greedy and change more than necessary for thosebags. Perhaps there should be a big effort made by the county to provide freebags to residents as part of a public awareness program, and then after thathave the plastic bags not be free anymore after that. I almost always use mycanvas bags now, but plastic certainly does have it's place, such as meatproducts that may be dripping and could contaminate other foods; or juicy fruitsthat could make a mess on the way home from the store. Another use is todouble wrap poison for use in the home or yard. Since I reuse my plastic bagsfor many things, from transporting sandy or wet shoes/items back from thebeach to lining my trash cans, if I weren't getting them from the store, I'dprobably have to buy more trash bags in any case. Plastic bags are alsoessential for certain things such as dog poop removal and other highlydisposable uses. If you are using cloth diapers, I don't know how else one couldeasily transport them when you are away from home.

May 15, 2012 10:46 AM

1204 Plastic bags are recycled to make decking or other products. Paper bags can berecycled into new paper bags. Also can be placed in the yard waste bin to betransformed into fertilizer. Hawaii's Kauai has implemented a requirementpreventing plastic bag use and the stores, etc. appear to be adapting well.(Except Walmart which has turned it into a profit making exercise.) Hilo Hattie'suses plastic like bags which are biodegradable and can be placed in the garbage(after being reused a couple of times). I think a greater issue is plastic waterbottles. We are teaching a whole generation of kids to drink only from single use

May 15, 2012 10:44 AM

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plastic water bottles and to shun drinking fountains and kitchen sinks for water.

1205 I like plastic bags for lining my wastebaskets - but then each week the bag goesinto the landfill, which contributes to the problem. I re-use produce bags severaltimes before recycling. I would support a ban on plastic bags at checkout, butnot necessarily a charge for paper.

May 15, 2012 10:38 AM

1206 Plastic bags are a wasteful luxury. It is one that Americans need to get over. Ilived in Europe where everyone just is used to bringing their own bags to themarkets. We absolutely need to be doing that.

May 15, 2012 10:30 AM

1207 It would be great if there were more places to recycle plastic bags. May 15, 2012 10:29 AM

1208 Mixed bag here (no pun) I prefer paper #1 because I make a lot of popcorn...Plastic melts. #2 paper is so much more useful... Mulch, weed abatement. #3plastic is reclycable if people are diligent... My brother is probably the #1 recycler(business) in thurston county

May 15, 2012 10:23 AM

1209 1. Plastic bags could be picked up with glass once a month. 2. I object tobusiness use of "extra fee" for paper bag. It is a cost of business and they shouldmanage it instead of blaming it on government.

May 15, 2012 10:18 AM

1210 1. I would like the bags to be compostable but sturdy for multiple use. 2. I likeplastic bags because of their many after uses.....I like them in the store becauseI forget re-usable bags. 3. Do have a container for bag recycling in many moreconvenient places---however remember that those bags can transmit horribledisease, such as norovirus.

May 15, 2012 10:17 AM

1211 We always reuse the plastic bags from grocery shopping for garbage sacks, petwaste and things that need to be carried and kept dry.. If we didn't have groceryplastic sacks, we would be buying plastic sacks which would not reducemanufacturing. For plastic sacks like Zip Lock etc. they already get many usesbefore finally being used for disposal purposes. The main reason small plasticsacks which aren't reusable for much get tossed instead of recycling is there isn'tmuch information available on where to recycle them. We are pretty good atrecycling as much as we can but not perfect! Mostly, much of the litter we see iswaste from fast food places and larger plastic sacks - not the grocery sack size.

May 15, 2012 10:10 AM

1212 Enable curbside plastic bag recycling. Some plastic bags are very convenient.A ban on plastic bags is probably not doable unless/until it becomes a Federalmandate.

May 15, 2012 10:06 AM

1213 I completely agree that plastic bags of all sizes are a nuisance and a danger tobirds, fish, children, and other life. Although I would like to see a great reductionin their use, I would also like the residents of the county and the cities to learnwhat is proper recycling. Perhaps neighborhood associations, such as the one Ilive in, should hold trainings at their gatherings. People also respond toincentives but I can't think of a way to reward people for using their recyclingbins or purchasing the organics service that doesn't have an economic impact. Ithink what I am saying is that we should get more "buy-in" for all kinds ofreducing/reusing/recycling before we get tough on just plastic bags. Earth Day is

May 15, 2012 9:55 AM

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every day! I realize that I didn't exactly answer the questions, but that is becauseI think that if residents learned to think about recycling everything, the bag issuemight just diminish.

1214 I like plastic bags because they're easy to carry. Increasing bag recycling couldbe done by educating folks and putting the recycling boxes in convenient, veryvisible locations. I think providing an incentive (as some stores already do) forbringing in your reusable bags is a good solution.

May 15, 2012 9:52 AM

1215 Advertise via water and garbage bills. May 15, 2012 9:51 AM

1216 Plastic bags are like tumble weeds, they get blown all over the land and water,there aren't any good reason to use them.

May 15, 2012 9:49 AM

1217 I do like plastic bags for pet waste, carrying boots to the beach, and othermiscellaneous uses, but I try to reuse the ones that I currently have. Is itpossible to have a separate recycling container for plastic bags? Or some kind ofrecycling on garbage Mondays that recycles plastic bags and other plastics oritems? Perhaps charging people for using plastic bags as well as paper bagswould be a good option. 25 cents per plastic bag would get people's attention.Thanks for trying to find good solutions for a difficult problem.

May 15, 2012 9:47 AM

1218 The strength of a plastic bag is directly related to its convenience and its cost tothe retailers. One way to cut the use is to charge a fee high enough for peopleto notice, one that will make a difference in changing behavior. Like any otherservice the people who choose to single use plastic over reusable also make thechoice to pay for it. The incentive to go reusable currently doesn't outweigh theconvenience factor of a "free" plastic bag. The creation of new habits continuesto evolve, but people must first recognize the need for change. Often the first"r", REDUCE, isn't emphasized, favor being placed on re-use and recycling. Thelarger concept of needing less is ignored because it hinders economics. Are weback to where we started? Creation of social change by economic incentiveseems a feasible option, and can be successful if it makes that difference thatcan be felt. Use the funding for clean up, rather than the production of more.The idea certainly isn't new, and makes great sense. Economically it has tomatter, which is unfortunate, since economy has won over environment in nearlyevery arena. In this case why can't it work for us rather than against us? Less ismore, really, but how can we achieve it if we don't believe it?

May 15, 2012 9:46 AM

1219 I support stores charging a fee to use paper bags if the fee goes to some sort ofrecycle benefit, not just for the store's profit. Stores need to be set up to acceptthe cloth bags we bring in and bag more easily. Clerks need to be more friendlywhen you bring them in. It will take some education to get people used to this. Ishop at the co-op and always use my cloth bags. but not at anywhere elsebecause stores are not set up for it with any sort of friendliness. Also I need afew plastic bags to line trash cans.

May 15, 2012 9:39 AM

1220 Ban them completely. May 15, 2012 9:37 AM

1221 I hate plastic bags, but am against imposing a fee for paper bags. Just eliminatethe crappy plastic ones and make Thurston County a paper only county!

May 15, 2012 9:34 AM

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(Granted, I am not in the retail industry and have NO idea of what costs areinvolved). :)

1222 I would greatly appreciate plastic bag recycling in my recycling cart, I heartilyendorse the idea. Thank you!

May 15, 2012 9:33 AM

1223 Paper sacks are too hard to carry and often tear. Maybe we need a new designthat would make them more likeable.

May 15, 2012 9:06 AM

1224 I am totally in favor of banning plastic bag use in grocery stores. I was just downvisiting family in San Francisco and they no longer offer plastic bags. They donot charge for paper bags. I honestly am shocked when I see customers leavinga grocery store with 10-20 plastic bags and 1-2 items in each bag!

May 15, 2012 9:02 AM

1225 I don't think adding more regulations is the solution. Offering positive incentivesto use alternate resources sits better with me. I think curbside plastic bagrecycling would be very useful, as the bags often get forgotten at home when wehead to the grocery store. Also, I believe many people use the bags to line theirsmaller garbage cans. If they don't use those, they may very well purchase bagsspecifically for that purpose. In that case, those bags are only being used once,versus the plastic grocery bags being used twice -- once to bring groceries homeand once to line a garbage can.

May 15, 2012 8:56 AM

1226 I would like to see them banned, however will miss them personally for trash canuse, poop scooping..

May 15, 2012 8:51 AM

1227 My family and I don't use plastic bags. If we forget our own bags at the grocerystore, we ask them to put the items in a paper bag. If it's just one or two items,I'll just carry them out. My only concern about a plastic bag ban is how thataffects individuals who don't have the money to buy reusable bags...will there bea time period where the city would give away reusable bags. I really hate whencities make a great ban like this one but then those who cannot afford are theones affected....remember $30 car tabs....that seemed to hurt those whostruggle financially...at the time, my car tabs went up to $30 and I was just out ofschool and trying to find a job. I just don't want to make more of a hardship forpeople who are already feeling a financial burden.

May 15, 2012 8:48 AM

1228 1. Availability when I forget my shopping bag. 2. If none of our chemists or othergeniuses can come up with a way of making biodegradable bags, then ban themanufacture of them. In the meantime, try relocating recycle containers in amore obvious location, like at the store entrance.

May 15, 2012 8:46 AM

1229 The only thing I like about them is that I can reuse some of them in garbagecans. I alway use canvas bags for shopping.

May 15, 2012 8:43 AM

1230 I use cloth bags (when I remember them) I didn't know there was a place torecycle our old plastic bags. I would like to see recycling of plastic bags morereadily available.

May 15, 2012 8:42 AM

1231 dont care for the plastic bags would rather pay for paper it i need to usally usemy own bags

May 15, 2012 8:37 AM

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1232 I use my own bags and have been for a few years. I sometimes forget them inmy car, but have been pretty diligent in the past year. I care about ourenvironment and hope others do too!

May 15, 2012 8:36 AM

1233 I don't want my choices limited by bureacratic commands or governmental laws.There's too much of this going on!!! I say, let's go back to paper bags and putsome loggers back to work! At the very least, I want a choice of paper or plasticat the check out stand! NO BANNING OF PLASTIC BAGS!!!

May 15, 2012 8:34 AM

1234 If you like disease go for the reuseable grocery bags. May 15, 2012 8:28 AM

1235 I would like to see a ban on plastic bags. They serve no purpose and don'tdegrade fast enough.

May 15, 2012 8:24 AM

1236 We make our own produce bags out of old sheets or pillowcases, and we usethese and grocery bags at the store. We've even given these as gifts. We reuseglass jars at the co-op or for things like Olykraut. We are regular folks too, nothippies.

May 15, 2012 8:24 AM

1237 I like the plastic bags because they are right there where at the check outcounter, and I can never remember to bring in my reusable ones. I reuse theplastic bags for wet garbage, pet waste, and other things. I don't compost,(because a compost bin requires grass clippings to really get hot enough towork, and I don't have a lawn.) Plus, my area's garbage pickup (Joe's Refuse),doesn't offer the composting curbside pickup service. The reusable bags haverecently been shown to carry bacteria and viruses (i.e. Norovirus) and youcannot launder the synthetic bags the stores sell. You can launder the canvasones, but they're much too expensive for someone like me, who's beenunemployed since 2008. The reason more people don't recycle the plastic bagsare many. If someone like me cannot remember to take the reusable bags in tothe store (and they are in my car), what makes you think I am going to rememberto take in that wad of plastic bags in my pantry? I wish the county had a LOTmore bins for plastic bag recycling, then I would do it. If I could put my plasticbags in my recycling curbside bin, I would do it. The stores have to be on board,I read that some of them merely empty their plastic bag recycling bins into thedumpster. And some retail clerks have to be constantly 'reminded' to give thecustomer that nickel discount for using a reusable bag. The stores don't want tolose that darned nickel! Many places don't want the recycling bins becausepeople dump their garbage in them, because garbage fees are so very high.Don't ban plastic bags, you cannot legislate morality.I hate it when I see plasticbags in the ocean and in the forest, but banning them won't work. Instead, makeit easy to do the right thing. If you allow plastic bags in the green recyclingcurbside bins, people will do it. If the stores charged a nickel for each PLASTICbag one used (they do that in Germany), and gave a bigger discount (let's say.25,) for using the reusable ones, people would use more reusable bags. If thestore provided free paper bags along with plastic bags, the customer would havethree choices: use their own bag (and get a 25 cent discount per bag), use a freepaper bag, or pay 5 cents for each plastic bag. That nickel for the plastic bagsshould go to the county in order to handle them. The stores will resist andcomplain, of course, and probably even lobby the legislature (or, more likely, lardthe palms of the legislators) to keep such a thing from becoming law. But

May 15, 2012 8:20 AM

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punishing the customer isn't working. You have to hold the STORESaccountable, TOO. If you make ALL the stores that use plastic bags abide bythe law, they will be forced to comply. Or, you can tax them for the privilege ofhandling the plastic bags for them. Don't punish the consumer, punish thestores that don't want to play along.

1238 I moved here 5 years ago from Ky/Ohio. So many parts of this county are aDUMP. Derelict old abandoned buildings, yards full of trash piled in their yards, Ilive in Lacey , on Shady lane. I am getting to be embarrassed to say I live here .Why don't you clean up the garbage that already is here instead of newlegislation. Oh I know, you feel the need to be politically correct better to leavejunk all over the county and concentrate your resources on plastic bags, I feelso strongly about this ill even leave my name. wake up lawmakers do something!saraliz. Christoph

May 15, 2012 8:17 AM

1239 I like plastic shopping bags because they are super convenient to reuse as trashbags. I've never had to buy a trash bag in my life. But most people don't get itor are lazy. I don't know how one could make the plastic bag recycling bins atretailers any more obvious. I think retailers just need to start charging a fee forbags in an effort to reduce the number used.

May 15, 2012 8:15 AM

1240 Basically, I don't like plastic bags. And I don't see the advantage of increasingrecycling. We need to stop wasting petroleum to produce plastic bags. Period.And we need to stop wasting trees for those paper bags. I think the only wayfolks are going to start being responsible for transporting their groceries is to doexactly what you are proposing.

May 15, 2012 8:14 AM

1241 I recycle mine at stores that have the plastic bag recycling bins (Albertson's,QFC, etc.). I don't particularly like them and a ban would be wonderful for ourenvironment.

May 15, 2012 8:12 AM

1242 I feel like plastic has it's usefulness in some cases. Vegetables, Meats, etc... ButI like to bring my own bags in to use whenever I possibly can (most of the timenow, I remember). I also like to bag my own groceries, ( i'm a former checker)because for years I have watched the checkout/bag people not fully use theplastic bags and you can come home with a few groceries and as many as 8-10bags!! Ridiculous~

May 15, 2012 8:11 AM

1243 At grocery try not to give out the bag or charge them. Encourage them to bringrecyclable bags. Actually I don't need to deduct 5 cent each bag i bring. Try tocharge 5 cent or more to encourage them to bring their own bags. My hubbyalways use plastic bags and he refused to use recycle bags ;-/ I think its dpenedon individual some people aren't care and some are do.

May 15, 2012 8:09 AM

1244 There need to be a recycle ben for plastic bags not another way of life takenaway or another tax. More education about plastic bags and how to recyclethem.

May 15, 2012 8:05 AM

1245 I prefer to use my own reusable bags that I bring to the store a get a 5 cent perbag credit. When I forget to bring my own bags in I would prefer the stores usepaper over plastic except when bagging my meat products. I do re-use a small

May 15, 2012 8:01 AM

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amount of plastic bags for leaky garbage and pet waste. The rest of them I takeback to the store for recycling. I would not support an outright ban on plasticbags.

1246 In rural Thurston county, maybe allow plastic bags to be put into one bag, tied,and then put in with glass in the separate glass bins, for recycling. Instead ofgiving a recycling rebate on monthly garbage bills, use the money to give alarger credit, at all businesses in the county, as an incentive to people who usetheir own reusable bags.

May 15, 2012 8:00 AM

1247 I can NEVER remember to bring my reuseable nags with me and I often shop ona whim in any case. I do save my bags and reuse them to clean out the litterbox. My one complaint is that they're usually so thin, they're not meant to beused more than once and that often means I have to tape up the holes before Ican reuse them. I literally do not know how I would live without them. If I couldadd the torn ones to my usual curb-side recycle bin, that would be helpful and Ithink that would solve your lansfill issues as well...

May 15, 2012 7:57 AM

1248 I can reuse them for other things. Bags we buy to reuse become soiled and youmay get sick from them if not washed constantly.

May 15, 2012 7:56 AM

1249 I hate plastic bags but I wouldn't want a fee added to my grocery bill for paperbags. They are very convenient and make carrying groceries easy. They are atthe store ready for you to use. Ruseable bags are getting bad press for havinglots of germs on them. Then when you leave your bags at home your onlyoption is the plastic or paper. It's been said that the paper uses more energy toproduce. Until someone comes up with an energy effecient and waste reducingbag - there are very little options available. Use the plastic and polute the earth,use the reusable and polute your body, use the paper and use too much energy.Bamboo bags are probably too expensive to make and might use too muchenergy. The problem when using cloth bags or reusable is you don't knowwhere they've been or what's been in them. Costco doesn't use bags, they usetheir boxes. Using boxes could be an option at the store expect that most aren'treally set up for that. There just doesn't seem to be a simple solution. We shouldhave never started using plastic bags. People are too used to them. Changingpeoples shopping habits is difficult but necessary. We could put our sights backto the old days before plastic and paper bags were invented. What did peopledo then? Of course huge grocery stores weren't around then. Trying to re-educate doesn't work for a large majority of the polulas, you have to takemeasures and say "no more plastic bags", people will get used to it.

May 15, 2012 7:56 AM

1250 the question "I always use reusable bags when I shop" was answered with astrongly agree, but sometimes I forget my recylced bag! I go back to my carbefore paying for my purchase, to get my bag.

May 15, 2012 7:55 AM

1251 PLASTIC IS CLEAN. THE REUSABLE CLOTH BAGS ARE FILTHY ANDSHOULD BE BANNED IN STORES. CLERKS HAVE TO WEAR SANITARYGLOVES WHEN HANDLEING USED CLOTH BAGS. A WHOLE ATHLETICTEAM IN OREGON RECENTLY GOT SICK FROM EATING FOOD CARRIEDIN A CLOTH BAG. BEFORE PLASTIC IS BANNED WE SHOULD HAVE ANALTERNATIVE OTHER THAN BRINGING CONTAMINANTS INTO OUR FOOD

May 15, 2012 7:50 AM

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SOURCE.

1252 Plastic bags are durable, light weight, effectively protect garbage cans & aregreat for transporting and containing wet/dirty items. More bag recyclingrecepticles. They are often overfull & only at one entrance of the grocery stores.A larger variety, more available & low cost alternative in biodegradeable bagswould make a ban more effective.

May 15, 2012 7:34 AM

1253 I have no problem with a ban on plastic bags- I like using my own bag - May 15, 2012 7:31 AM

1254 Alternatives to plastic bags should be devised and their cost incorporated intothe cost of doing business.

May 15, 2012 7:30 AM

1255 I usually use reusable bags but occasionally get plastic bags because repurposethem in lots of ways. I would possibly support a small charge for those whochoose to use plastic bags, especially if they were made a little thicker such thatthey could be reused for groceries. My concern is for those who are lessfortunate -- paper bags are more difficult to transport by walking or bus, and arelikely to rip due to weight or water (rain!) damage.

May 15, 2012 7:27 AM

1256 Simply charge a fee for new plastic bags at the POS and the problem will[almost] take care of it self.

May 15, 2012 7:24 AM

1257 I think bringing reusable bags to the store instead of using plastic is one smalland easy change we can make that will go a long way in helping ourenvironment. Using paper bags as an option for people who want that seemslike a great option for those that choose it.

May 15, 2012 7:24 AM

1258 I just think they are wasteful but there are times I forget my reusable and end upwith plastic. If I could recycle them at home that would be very helpful.

May 15, 2012 7:11 AM

1259 I don't like plastic bags at all. I think banning them, and charging a fee forpaperbags, would help us all convert to the reusuable shopping bags. It wouldn'ttake us very long to make the change.

May 15, 2012 7:03 AM

1260 It is next to impossible to find retailers with the recycle bins for bags. Theyshould be more plentiful, like in EVERY store. I was dissappointed that I didn'tfind a list of local bag recycling stations on your website. I try to always take myown bags shopping. Often stores say they will credit you if you use your own,but most often that credit is forgotten and not given as advertised. This creditshould be offered more readily.

May 15, 2012 7:02 AM

1261 Plastic bags are occasionally useful for items that are inappropriate forcloth/reuseable bags.

May 15, 2012 6:59 AM

1262 There should be a charge for plastic bags, maybe even paper. That would reallyencourage people to bring their own. Went to France last summer, the plasticbags had a scan code on them and were swiped like anything you purchase.Most people used their own bags. I like having them around to reuse, butultimately they are plastic and NEVER disappear.

May 15, 2012 6:59 AM

1263 dont work they brack and stuff is everywhere. I hate them. I double bag them May 15, 2012 6:57 AM

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and that makes twice the garbage. I need to make my own bags

1264 I don't like plastic bags at all except that I can use them to line my garbage cansometimes. Having curbside recycling would help. I'm on the fence right nowabout bans and wish there were a better way to encourage retailers to find othermethods to package purchases.

May 15, 2012 6:56 AM

1265 IF we can not get rid of them require that they be compostable May 15, 2012 6:51 AM

1266 Make them degradeable. May 15, 2012 6:48 AM

1267 Require all plastic bags to decompose after three months. May 15, 2012 6:47 AM

1268 Only biodegradable plastic bags should be offered and used. A ban on regularplastic bags would be the only way to keep people from using them or havingthem available for use. Recycling plastic bags is a good thing, but it is just onemore "chore" for people to do. Eliminating the non-biodegradable bags would, inmy opinion, be the only way to get them out of the garbage bins and dumps.

May 15, 2012 6:47 AM

1269 As soon as there is a charge for ANY bag at the market, we'll remember to bringour own bags !

May 15, 2012 6:46 AM

1270 I believe there is a place for both plastic and paper bags. It is not the bagsthemselves that cause the problem. Rather, it is those who use the bags whoare accountable for what happens with those bags. Education and awarenessabout responsible use of the bags would be helpful as opposed to banning themaltogether.

May 15, 2012 6:40 AM

1271 Just ban all shopping bags, plastic and paper. Consumers will adapt and themarket will respond. Problem solved.

May 15, 2012 6:39 AM

1272 Public awareness of the problem of plastic bags is a major issue. I think a lot ofpeople just don't think about it. I think fees for plastic bags would impact low-income people negatively, so I think big stores should just start using alternatives(boxes, supplying reusable bags for free for a year or 6 months until it becomes"the new normal"). Habits are hard to break, but if big stores just startedchanging their practices, the public would eventually catch on.

May 15, 2012 6:32 AM

1273 I do need to keep some for pet waste and for peeling vegetables, but I recyclemost of them--take them to bin at Fred Meyer. My usual grocery store pushesplastic bags and you have to ask to get paper ones (a few of them are neededfor travelling, etc. I think education is the key. Banning the bagts will just makepeople angry.

May 15, 2012 6:30 AM

1274 I like plastic bags because I reused them in my household for anything thatneeds bagging. Recycling can be the same way we do plastic containers; it's aestablished ordnance, why fixed something if it isn't broken, just apply it toplastic bags. We havn't heard any argument(s) on plastic bags except what I'veheard on the news on TV about litter and causing some problems on animalsand water creatures.

May 15, 2012 6:25 AM

1275 I would support a ban on plastic bags--we didn't have them when I was a kid we May 15, 2012 6:23 AM

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don't need them now. However, I would not support a fee for paper bags.Paper bags are biodegradable, recyclable, and made from wood products thatstore and sequester carbon. Stores can give a 5 cent rebate for people thatbring their own bags...otherwise you get a paper bag.

1276 The most compelling argument against use of plastic bags is that most are usedonly once and then end up in the landfill or in our landscape. Once there theyremain forever, with serious effects on wildlife and our environment.

May 15, 2012 6:21 AM

1277 Plastic bags are not to blame. It's the people who discard the plastic bagsirresponsibly. I think most of them do it without thinking about it. Instead ofbanning these bags, why don't you try an educational campaign blitz -- similar towhat the State Dept. of Ecology did with the LITTER back in the 70's -- get apublic service message out there -- make those people more aware of theimpact of their actions. Equate irresponsible discarding of plastic bags to badcitizenship and bad stewards of earth. Make them feel bad. I have yet to seesuch a push.

May 15, 2012 6:18 AM

1278 I understand grocery shopping bag none use. What about other use?Hardware, drug, mom and pop et stores. I turn down bags at most of theseplaces. Also it may not be convenient to carry a personal shopping bag in manycases. Traveling or walking most people are not going to carry a bag. Paper isthe alternative of course. Plastic garbage bags should go as well. What awaste as well. They are so engrained in our way of life I guess.

May 15, 2012 6:05 AM

1279 I use my plastic bags for all household needs, from storage to delivering thingsfrom one place to another. I recycle the ones I DON'T use at Fred Meyerregularly. I do NOT like or use reusable cloth bags. The first time I used one, mymeat had leaked in the bag and I had to toss it. I can't imagine the bag itselfbreaks down any better in a landfill and may be worse. I went back back toplastic and will continue to use plastic, will NOT support a plastic ban. Myextended family uses them as well.

May 15, 2012 6:04 AM

1280 I prefer to use cloth shopping bags but sometimes forget to bring them. When Ishop at Ralph's Thriftway, I sometimes intentionally opt for their plastic bagsmade out of recycled plastic because I use those solely as garbage bags. I am infavor of banning plastic bags in Thurston County. I think we need morecommunity outreach, especially in lower income areas, on this subject and weneed to make cloth bags more accessible and inexpensive so ensure people willuse them. A big hurdle, I think, is that people (including me!) forget to bring theirbags.

May 15, 2012 6:02 AM

1281 If treated properly these bags photodegrade, the county could set upa programor instruct resident on how to "force" the bags to break down naturally.

May 15, 2012 6:01 AM

1282 +convenience, availability, can be reused, an option for recycling other plasticproducts -which we have too much of... -people who don't reuse them, or leavethem around so they become floating litter... These litterers are always aproblem... I have troubles remembering to put my reusable shopping bags backin the car... Or they are in the other car... How about a shopping bag exchangeprogram? Leave your extras at your favorite store for others who forgot theirs to

May 15, 2012 5:58 AM

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use. (I have lots, just forget them and so revert to plastic a lot) I would oftenrather have my groceries packed in boxes, so use that option at grocery outlet orCostco. Another reuse-able option...

1283 I do not like plastic and if given a choice I choose paper which is easilyreuseable. I would not like a charge to use paper.

May 15, 2012 5:52 AM

1284 If using recycled bags is so important, then stores should provide a reusable bagfor every $100 or so dollars used. I do not support people buying reusable bagsto save a store $. Reusable bags harbor bacteria and I am 100% opposed tousing them for meat products. You can't recycle paper bags that have blood frommeat. I reuse my bags or recycle them. Many areas where families would playand picnic don't have trash cans or cans aren't emptied enough so, therefore,more plastic bags end up in the environment.

May 15, 2012 5:52 AM

1285 I don't like plastic bags. They are just a bad habit we have come to rely on andhabits can be changed. I try to use my own bags when shopping but sometimesforget them. It is just a matter of thinking ahead and being better prepared.Charging a fee would incentivize this behavior.

May 15, 2012 5:49 AM

1286 Ease of use. I do prefer paper bags and recycle them. I know of one prson whoknits plastic bags together to make a plsatic tote bag. Other bags that are usedwill take up resources and cost moeyn tol prduce or purchase.

May 15, 2012 5:42 AM

1287 I would recycle 99% of my plastic bags if they could be put into curbside pickup.I'd rather use paper bags, but not for a fee.

May 15, 2012 5:39 AM

1288 Please don't make my life less safe. Plastic bags are clean, reusable ones carrydiseases. I have a compromised immune system, and vastly prefer plastic bags.We have plenty of space in landfills.

May 15, 2012 5:31 AM

1289 Ban on plastic bags is not practicle, instead charge for use. example: I use bothmy cloth bag. I use the plastic to wrap meat when grocery shopping.

May 15, 2012 5:31 AM

1290 I always use all my plastic shopping bags for trash and avoid buying trash canliners this way. I try to always have my reusable shopping bags with me (I havemany of them), but I intentionally bag in plastic when I go to Safeway (aboutonce every 1 or 2 weeks) so I have those bags for trash. I mainly shop at YelmFood Co-op where there are only paper bags available for purchase; otherwiseshoppers use reusable bags, which they've trained themselves to bring. I'd liketo know the ecological impact of the manufacture of the plastic bags. And itseems like biodegradable, but temporarily liquid-proof, bags would be ideal, ifthese exist.

May 15, 2012 5:25 AM

1291 Having to buy bags to use In my house is an extra expense May 15, 2012 5:15 AM

1292 A charge for plastic (and paper) bags might be more acceptable to the publicthan a total ban.

May 15, 2012 5:05 AM

1293 The only way to recycle plastic bags is to include them in the mixed recyclingpickup. If you want recycling, you have to make it convenient.

May 15, 2012 2:59 AM

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1294 Please ban the plastic bags!!! May 15, 2012 2:43 AM

1295 Please ban them. I have seen the documentary. I would support a ban onplastic bags. Wish there were highly biodegradeable bags of some sort. Thesecould be the only bags available to shoppers, and for a fee. So when bringingour own bags doesn't work, or we forget them, we would purchase theearth/friendly biodegradeable bag if needed.

May 15, 2012 12:30 AM

1296 I alternate between paper bags, which I then use for composting, and plasticbags, which I then use to dispose of cat litter in our normal trash. I only take asmany plastic bags from the grocery store as necessary for the cat box and useeither paper or canvas bags for the rest.

May 14, 2012 11:54 PM

1297 Lets get rid of them! Having the capital of Washington become a plastic bag freetown will help our green reputation. I'm proud to live in WA and have beenworking at home for a cloth diaper company for the last 2 years. We are a veryeco conscious family as are most of my friends. I think this idea would go oversmoothly in our county. I did not realize bags were recyclable. I would suggest aplastic bag ban week and advertising on the bridge on capital... With a reminderto recycle plastic bags,!

May 14, 2012 11:49 PM

1298 More places need to have plastic bag recycling or stores need to allow people tobring back & re use the store plactic bags

May 14, 2012 10:55 PM

1299 I don't like plastic "check-out" bags because they have no future use. I can usepaper bags for other purposes. However, paper bags deteriorate in the rain, sothen I have no choice but plastic. People must be FORCED to do the right thing.

May 14, 2012 10:42 PM

1300 I've noticed that clerks at some stores in the area ask if I want a bag or not whenI'm buying something that really doesn't need a bag. I usually tell them I don'tneed one. I think that's great. I'm sure there are other ways like that to lessen theuse of plastic bags. Educating people is a much better way to go thangovernment regulation. It preserves freedom. I'm really tired of the governmenttrying to regulate every aspect of our lives.

May 14, 2012 10:37 PM

1301 Paper bags even with a surcharge are an acceptable option. People can adapt ifthey don't want to pay the price. Two options: Use reusable bags or keep a boxor cooler, etc. in the vehicle and take the groceries out in the cart. I don't have asolution for leakage, particularly meat, if one uses reusable bags.

May 14, 2012 10:31 PM

1302 Plastic bags are a problem, and it would seem that we could work harder torecycle them--but my concern is all the freezer bags, and all of the plastic ringson 6 packs, and the prepared foods. Why can't manufacturers come up withsomething that won't fill the land fills and create a real problem for our habitat?1

May 14, 2012 10:31 PM

1303 Plastic bags are convenient when you forget your reusable bag. I always recyclemy plastic bags, but many times the recycle box is full. I would support a ban ifpaper bags were provided at no cost-as in the past. Paper is safer to make andeasier to recycle. The companies making plastic bottles and bags is what needsto be changed! Consumers use them because of convenience.

May 14, 2012 10:22 PM

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1304 i've read paper bags can be just as bad for the environment as plastic. if wehave a better alternative to plastic/paper, then i'm all for it. if paper bags can beproperly recycled in our compost containers, we should demand a switch topaper, whether or not consumers pay for it at the store. at the very least, weshould be able to more easily recycle plastic bags. we have huge bags full ofsmaller bags to recycle but rarely remember to bring them back to the store forrecycling, assuming there's a store nearby that will take them. thanks for bringingthis issue up and being proactive about it.

May 14, 2012 10:17 PM

1305 Easy to take them back to the Grocery Store. I prefer paper, but some productsare better in plastic.

May 14, 2012 10:07 PM

1306 We MUST save our planet! We can do much better than we are doing, andbanning use of plastic bags is only a tiny effort. We can do this!

May 14, 2012 10:05 PM

1307 I like plastic bags for portable ways to dispose of garbage and to line smallergarbage cans without having to buy bags specifically for it. I agree that thereshould be a deterrent to using plastic bags. I am for that since it wouldencourage me to remember to bring my own which I have. Another option is tohave recyclable plastic bags since some people still have other uses for them.

May 14, 2012 10:02 PM

1308 I use them for lots of things around the house; those that don't get reused getrecycled. My grocery store pays me $.05 for every bag I bring, so it would notbe to my advantage to lose that and have to pay when I need a paper bag. Finda better way for people to discard their bags.

May 14, 2012 9:54 PM

1309 I don't like plastic bags. I would like to be able to recycle bags like in Bellevuewhere one puts all the bags in one bag , ties it up, and then this stuffed bag goesin the recycling bin for home pick up. I support the ban.

May 14, 2012 9:30 PM

1310 easier to store than paper or cloth. Gumment already tells me what to do toomuch of the time...let me use my plastic bags if'n I wanna

May 14, 2012 9:14 PM

1311 Encourage recycling, paper, reusable but do not "ban" plastic bags unless it isfor an additional revenue stream. And if that is the case, come out andannounce it as such.

May 14, 2012 9:00 PM

1312 #1. You could start by improving your recycling system to accomodate theplastic products currently disallowed. What I hear is plastic bags are high onthe list of environmental issues, yet municipal recycling systems cannot processthese & an unacceptably high number of other plastic products. Thesesystematic limitations are BS of the first order, actually insulting as a citizen.Modernize the recycling programs and/or introduce legislation requiringmanufacturers to produce plastic products that are 100% recyclable.

May 14, 2012 9:00 PM

1313 Use for dog waste May 14, 2012 8:58 PM

1314 If more businesses would provide reusable bags and stop offering plastic, I thinkit would be a good all around choice for everyone

May 14, 2012 8:46 PM

1315 We use them for disposal of kitty litter and lining garbage cans. We prefer May 14, 2012 8:46 PM

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reusable bags for groceries. Charging for a bag would remind us to use our ownbags. Aren't paper bgs a waste of resources also? "They" used to say to useplastic rather than papers. We are for Reduce Reuse Recycle and let's minimizewaste.

1316 Like the recycling by the grocery stores and others that use the bags. Anoutright ban would be bad because of the others uses (namely pet litter pick up)that can made of the bags. Also need them for car litter use.

May 14, 2012 8:39 PM

1317 It's hard to assess how effective a ban would be - it certainly wouldn't affect memuch, since I generally use a reusable bag for shopping. Seems like the bestinformation would probably come from observing the experiences of other U.S.cities and towns that have enacted bag bans.

May 14, 2012 8:39 PM

1318 Curbside recycling would be great. May 14, 2012 8:14 PM

1319 I confess I like having a certain number of plastic bags to reuse for haulingmuddy shoes or lining the garbage can, etc. But I also have washable tote bagsthat I could use to haul yucky stuff, and--though it would pain me to actually buyplastic bags--I could probably figure out some other way to contain the solidwaste in our house. At this point, most of our waste is actually film plastics andplastic lids from packaging that can't be recycled. We can now compost all our"dirty papers," so our waste stream is really very small. We have kids and ahome-based business with employees, and still use the bi-weekly mini-canservice provided by the City of Olympia. It's shocking that people are stillproducing so much solid waste when there are so many options for sourcereduction, composting, and recycling/reusing! Good luck with your campaign!

May 14, 2012 8:07 PM

1320 They are good for using other ways, like disposing of dog and cat poo but I usepaper bags more. I can recycle them better, using the bags over and over again.Many plastic bags you get are already torn at the bottom, therefore they are notgood as soon as you get them.

May 14, 2012 8:06 PM

1321 I agree we should get rid of plastic bags but I do not think we should have to payfor paper bags. Groceries are already expensive enough, I don't want to payeven more when I forget my reusable bags.

May 14, 2012 8:01 PM

1322 Too easy for stores to use. May 14, 2012 7:59 PM

1323 It would be great if we banned plastic bag! I have been using my own bags forgroceries even before it became a popular thing to do. I am very concernedabout how much plastic is being produced in our society.. and long-term healtheffects as well as impacts to fish and wildlife; for example, the Great GarbagePatch in the Pacific Ocean. Educate kids about the impacts of plastic andreusing bags.. give incentives for those that bring in their own bags..

May 14, 2012 7:59 PM

1324 I'm ok with reusing my plastic bags, and using fewer of them. I'm also ok withmore plastic bag locations - not every grocery has them, and convenience storescould be encouraged to offer recycling. I'm much less ok with mandatoryanything. This site does a pretty good job of indicating cons of plastic, but it hasremarkably changed our lives over the last 50 years. Maybe we could put more

May 14, 2012 7:50 PM

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effort (those are dollars) into research about reusing plastic, and creating a lessenvironmentally toxic product.

1325 Reverse the process, in other words charge for plastic bags at the checkoutinstead of a credit for reuseable. The charge could be $.25 per bag. Melodie

May 14, 2012 7:47 PM

1326 Allow the bags to be placed in recycling bins! It would be 100% easier to recycle.I would support a bag ban but I'm not sure charging extra for paper would fly-food is so expensive as it is. Make bags available to purchase cheap at everygrocer.

May 14, 2012 7:47 PM

1327 I like how many uses they have, and how they contain leakage, especially ofmeat products, on the way home. Aside from wastebaskets - I guess they aren'trecycled then! - they are very handy for sending collections of things with otherpeople, and are great for collecting garbage when traveling or out on a picnic. Ifind recycling the bags easy, since the grocery stores take them. Come think ofit, I collect very few of the actual shopping bags for recycling - it's mostly extralarge or small bags, the plastic produce bags, and plastic wrappings from variousproducts. I have no idea how one might motivate people to recycle more.Usually carrots work better than sticks - if alternatives can be found for thesemany uses, an ad campaign for these rather than a ban might be more effective.How was it successfully done elsewhere?

May 14, 2012 7:46 PM

1328 We recycle newspaper bags for pet waste. The few shopping bags we get areused for waste can liners. We appreciate being able to recycle plastic bags atparticipating grocery stores. I'm surprised that even "greenies" at Trader Joe'sdon't have reusable bags. A big educational push is the best bet for gettingpeople to use less of them.

May 14, 2012 7:42 PM

1329 CHARGE $1 FOR EACH BAG USED IN STORES; MAKE COTTON CLOTHPRODUCE BAGS MORE AVAILABLE. WE HAVE FOUR AND THEY'VE BEENIN USE FOR 10 YEARS.

May 14, 2012 7:41 PM

1330 Plastic bags are everywhere at every store making it very easy to grab or usethem. One way to encourage recycling the plastic bags is to allow these plasticbags to include in the curve side recycling pickup. Currently, it is requireadditional collection and a trip to grocery store to recycle. It is not asconvenience therefore discourage recycle for many.

May 14, 2012 7:37 PM

1331 If they were picked up we would recycle almost all that weren't soiled in otheruses. I have concern that reusable bags take substantialy more resources tomake and have a limited life. I also am concerned about contamination/illnesswith reusable bags.

May 14, 2012 7:34 PM

1332 we should ban plastic bags in thurston co May 14, 2012 7:33 PM

1333 Plastic bags are used in other areas of my house, but still support a ban. May 14, 2012 7:22 PM

1334 Make it easier to recycle them. Most people store them and then forget to takethem to the stores that do recycle them, when they get too many, they go in thegarbage. I'm for a ban on plastic bags but can see an issue with charging for

May 14, 2012 7:22 PM

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paper bags. A rebate for using your own reusable bags would pass a vote a loteasier.

1335 There are far more important things for government to be addressing. Sure,plastic is problematic. But I bet that those who are concerned, do their fair shareto help. Those who aren't concerned, probably never will be. So, how abouttackling issues like crime, drugs, needless regulation, getting the youth off thestreets, ..... Sure plastic is a concern, but not as big as over issues.

May 14, 2012 7:15 PM

1336 There are too few collection points. I prefer paper bags because they are madefrom a renewable resource. Add them to the recycle bin.

May 14, 2012 7:15 PM

1337 The only thing that I use plastice bags for is non-compose waste (liners for mytrash can). I use cloth bags for all my groceries. Very seldom (when I forget myrecyclable bags) do I use plastic. If you want people off plastic, you will eitherhave to ban plastic (for paper) or charge people for the use of plastic.......... 10-25 cents a bag. When it hits the pocket book, people will change. By the way,there needs to be an educational approach to the use of recyclable bagsregarding sanitation. Salmonella bacteria from food sources such as chickencan leak onto the bag. People need to know this and make sure that therecyclable bags they get are washable!

May 14, 2012 7:15 PM

1338 I reuse the plastic bags for a kitchen trash can liner. If these bags wereeliminated, then I would be forced to buy bags to line the trash can - moreexpense for me and now only one use for the purchased bags vs. two uses forthe grocery store plastic bags.

May 14, 2012 7:14 PM

1339 Plastic bags have multiple uses. I don't agree with a ban but would support aprogram to make recycling easier, i.e. allow bags to be included with the othermixed recylables. Banning seems extreme since we don't have that much littergenerated by discarded bags.

May 14, 2012 6:54 PM

1340 There should be a charge for plastic bags in the stores (.25). It should be statelaw, and universal (that way stores wouldn't use their availability as a marketingdevice as people go through transition.) The biggest argument against thischange is change itself. People will vehemently protest this on the basis of allsorts of reasons, but in time will adjust. Look at Europe, older and youngergeneration, complained so so so so loudly about the change, and now peopleeven forget how it was. It goes without saying that stores would need totransition into the change. Offer reusables, (THAT ARE STYLISH AND COOL)at a discounted price. Also once the change is permanent, there should beboxes (produce etc..) available for those who forgot. BTW we already pay forplastic bags, it is just the price is included in the goods we buy.

May 14, 2012 6:49 PM

1341 Can we also support a switch to biodegrade-able plastic for other uses that wehave not found a way around yet?

May 14, 2012 6:43 PM

1342 I like the handles - useful in carrying groceries and other store-bought items.And that also helps me stretch them across my trash cans or fill them withgarbage not slated for the organic waste barrels.

May 14, 2012 6:37 PM

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1343 At this time I believe that I am in favor of banning plastic bags. It may be aninconvenience but would soon become the norm.

May 14, 2012 6:37 PM

1344 I only think plastic bags are ok if I have to carry things like milk or ice cream etc. Iask for paper bags or ask for NO bag when i do not have my own bags with me.I do know I could do better to remember to bring my cold product bag with me. Ihave never liked plastic bags and detested it when they started shoving those onus years ago by saying we were saving a tree. I can at least recycle paper bagsat the curb. The plastic bags are even thinner and less useful than before. Iactually cannnot stand them. The only thing I like about them is that I can usethem to line my bathroom wastebaskets. WIthout them I would buy ones thatbreakdown. I would like to see them banned.

May 14, 2012 6:36 PM

1345 An argument for the ban is that all the threats of the destruction of Westerncivilization or, to be more inclusive, all of civilization if certain materials or itemswere banned have thus far proven false. Lead in gasoline; smoking inrestaurants or airplanes; cocaine in CocaCola; mercury in dental fillings; lead inhousehold paint; chloroflurocarbons for air conditioning, phthalates in babytoys....the list is endless and civilization has survived.

May 14, 2012 6:30 PM

1346 I would like to stop using plastic bags but I am so often forgetting to either take inmy own reusable bags or take in plastic bags received on other shopping trips. Ifthere was a charge for plastic bags or if they were banned, that would help me alot to do what I already want to do. Sometimes I just take items in my shoppingcart without bags and load the items from the cart into my car.

May 14, 2012 6:29 PM

1347 I hate plastic bags. I use a reusable bag whenever I can. May 14, 2012 6:27 PM

1348 Would support a ban if enough education and resources (availability of reusablebags) were available to all income levels. Recycling sites at all stores or as partof curbside recycling would be necessary if not a ban.

May 14, 2012 6:03 PM

1349 I realize that it takes a small amount of effort for all of us to be responsible aboutrecycling plastic bags. maybe if it was part of the carbide pickup we would getbetter results

May 14, 2012 5:51 PM

1350 Reusable bags are cumbersome, inconvenient, and are hotbeds for food-bourneillness. An outright ban without a reasonable alternative would only serve toannoy shoppers and increase the grocery bill for those of us who don't want tolug around these bags that require more work and trips to the car to bring themin. Not to mention the problem of having more grocery items than would fit inreusable bags if one failed to bring a giant stack of these costly bags. If such aban were instituted, I would still continue to use (and reuse) plastic bags andgrudging pay the extra charge or shop where the ban has not been instituted.Clarification on whether the bags can be placed in the curbside recycle bin wouldbe helpful as well. I have been placing them in the recycle bin and only throwthem in the refuse bin if the bags are filled with household trash. Thank you.

May 14, 2012 5:48 PM

1351 I used to be able to request paper instead of plastic. This is rarely possible nowwith only plastic available if I've forgotten to bring in my own bag. Instead ofcharging us for use of paper (I'm already charged for my cloth bags), charge the

May 14, 2012 5:37 PM

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stores a fee for using plastic that covers recycling.

1352 Not mucj, get rid of them. Have retailers embrace the following: Have recyclebins for plastic bags at their stores which are easy to find; encourage folks to useindividual bags rather than making you feel like a criminal when you carry arecycable bag into the store; charge for the plastic bags if you must charge;commericialization of friendly bags for pet wastes; have retailers positivelyinclined to shoppers who use "bring your own bags" by saying thank you.

May 14, 2012 5:35 PM

1353 I would like to see plastic bag usage decrease drastically. I would choose mycanvas bags over paper and paper over plastic. Recycling is hard becausestores like Fred Meyer only want their bags back where Best Buy takeseverything. Plastic bags that are of plastic that can recycled more than one timeis preferable.

May 14, 2012 5:24 PM

1354 I try to use reusable bags when ever possible but there are times I buy thingsspur of the moment and just don't have one with me so the plastic ones arehandy. I would not mind if I had to put all my plastic bags inside one bag beforeputting them in the recyle bin. That way they are not running loose in there.

May 14, 2012 5:17 PM

1355 Top Food is the only place I know that accepts used plastic bags. Make morerecycle drop offs available. I am all for a ban on the grocery store and retail storeplastic bags.

May 14, 2012 5:15 PM

1356 More places, or more visible places to recycle. In the grocery stores I frequent,they are way off to the side.

May 14, 2012 5:05 PM

1357 I think you should promote the film "Bag It!" to a wider audience. I fully support aban on plastics bags. I would also like to see newspaper plastic sleeve bagsbanned. Even when it's not raining,and even though we have a coverednewspaper tube, we still get a bag around our newspapaer. I wrote to theOlympian but was told it was the route person's choice.

May 14, 2012 4:53 PM

1358 Add a way for curbside recycling instead of having to remember to take them tothe store. I don't like the ban because it's a simplistic solution. Paper bags carrytheir own costs of production and shipping. I just don't like govt. micromanagingevery aspect of life.

May 14, 2012 4:36 PM

1359 I like to keep a few plastic bags on hand for reuse but I most often use clothbags for grocery shopping. I need to do a better job using cloth for othershopping but often carry out an item or two from the store without plastic (if it isOK with the store). More stores should be using compostable/biodegradablebags. I'm not too keen on having to pay say $.20 for a plastic bag because I amneeding a few. I don't know how to get people vested in recycling. Many peoplejust don't care. Probably we need to start with the little kids and set a goodexample in school.

May 14, 2012 4:24 PM

1360 I don't understand why there is such a focus on plastic bags when there areeasier and bigger problems with the environment. It seems like a petty issue.

May 14, 2012 4:13 PM

1361 Put pictures of what the recycled bags are used for, by the display cases that May 14, 2012 4:11 PM

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accept them (major groceries, it seems). (e.g. products they are turned into). Sopeople can see the value in recycling. Or show pictures of birds, etc. who areharmed by stray bags in the wild.

1362 Hate 'em. Ban 'em. May 14, 2012 4:10 PM

1363 I work for an organization that promotes responsible pet waste disposal.Unfortunately, scooping poop and placing it in a plastic bag is the onlyrecommended solution. Maybe someday we'll have curbside poop pickup andgenerate energy using methane digesters. Until then, I reuse a lot of my plasticbags to pick up poop. I think society will adapt to a ban on plastic bags. It willpush us to remember to bring one or maybe more stores will shift to a "Costco"method of boxing purchases in packing boxes that are recyclable.

May 14, 2012 3:59 PM

1364 As a pet owner, I see more and more public pet waste containers using theseplastic bags. If the region was to ban these bags, what would happen to the petwaste bag stations - and would those bags be banned as well? How aboutmulch packaging, etc - way too much plastic being used in EVERYTHING. If afee was proposed for paper sacks - could that fee be used towards the purchaseof a re-useable sack?

May 14, 2012 3:56 PM

1365 I have bought a couple of garbage cans that are made specifically to recycle mygrocery store plastic bags to use for trash and kitty litter. My concern over usingthe reuseable grocery bags is the germs that they can carry.

May 14, 2012 3:49 PM

1366 I dont know what the comparable resource use is when discussing plastic versuspaper. Of course, the danger to wildlife, and lack of compostable bags impactsthe use of plastic. I do use them for any number of things like lining garbagebags, even though I use cloth bags for my shopping. And I use compostablebags for some things like my garbage in the kitchen. I like to have plastic bagsto put shoes in when hiking and wet clothes from backpacking trips etc.... I wouldsupport getting rid of the plastic though...but then..... what about the elderly. Aplastic bag is a lot easier to carry than a full paper bag. There are no easyanswers. many other countries have banned plastic..so why not here!

May 14, 2012 3:42 PM

1367 They have safety value in helping to prevent bacterial contamination of groceriesand other purchases. They are reusable for many purposes. They should notbe banned."Enviro Nazis" among some politicians and vocal "Greeners" vastlyoverstate any potential environmental impact. Proposed bans invariably call forfees (taxes) on paper bags @ retail level.

May 14, 2012 3:30 PM

1368 Plastic bags are all over along the roadways! Remember to include fast foodbags!!! People just throw the food bags, plastic cups and other materials onto theroadside when they are done eating! If McDonalds can use paper bags AND(mostly) paper cups so can the rest!. (note: Burgerville uses clear cups madefrom corn) Thanks

May 14, 2012 3:30 PM

1369 They can be handy for hauling raw meat. It's a bummer when "meat juice"contaminates a cotton bag.

May 14, 2012 3:28 PM

1370 I think that banning plastic bags is an unnecessary and rather "draconian" step May 14, 2012 3:24 PM

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to take. However, there needs to be more education about the effect that thebags have on the environment and people need to be encouraged to reuse andrecycle the bags they get and encouraged to use reusable grocery bagswhenever possible.

1371 If the plastic bags are biodegradeable I would support there use May 14, 2012 3:23 PM

1372 Most grocery stores give a rebate for bringing your own bags; why don't theycharge extra for providing plastic bags for your purchases?

May 14, 2012 3:22 PM

1373 i reuse all my plastic bags. I use them in he car and home. I pick up animalwaste.

May 14, 2012 3:20 PM

1374 Plastic bags are completely recyclable and actually take less energy to producethan paper bags. Make plastic bags curb side pick up.

May 14, 2012 3:18 PM

1375 The only thing I like about plastic bags is that I use them as garbage bags. May 14, 2012 3:15 PM

1376 They are better than the paper bags that have a higher fail rate. I use them toline trash cans and reuse them for many purposes at home. Paper degrades andis useless for the long term purposes I use bags at home. I do not agree withthe control freaks and tree huggers who try to impose an agenda on the rest ofsociety. I see no problem. Authorize plastic bag recycling for those who want toto get rid of their bags. Leave the rest of us alone.

May 14, 2012 3:15 PM

1377 Plastic bags are useful and paper bags also use lots of resources. Makerecycling available for bags and itewill siginificantly decrease the waste as it hasdone for all other recyclable wastes. Can't stores charge now for paper orplastic bags? Bans stink. Consider requiring plastic bags to be made ofrecyclable material or material that will readily decompose.

May 14, 2012 3:10 PM

1378 V. good for pet waste. May 14, 2012 3:08 PM

1379 I bring in my bags when I shop. I usually calculate right but yesterday missed by2 bags. I'm still trying to remember my produce bags so that I won't have to usethat plastic. I think that some people are lazy and some just plain don't care howthey leave a bigger imprint on the environment. My mom is a big waster andwas mad that now they have to have mandatory recycling containers. She willnever change her ways. I think though for travellers I wouldn't want them to payextra for a bag. When you fly it's not like you can bring a lot with you and bagsaren't on that list. I refuse plastic and was bringing my own bags to the storesbefore some would even alow me too. Some retail stores said that they had toput it in a plastic bag. Now they have caught on. Thank you.

May 14, 2012 3:03 PM

1380 I don't like anything about plastic bags. We try to never accept plastic bags.They are a complete waste of resources and unnecessary landfill waste. Theonly advantage to plastic bags is that they are convenient for people who are toolazy and thoughtless about the earth to bother to carry their own.

May 14, 2012 2:59 PM

1381 I can remember when plastic bags were hailed as the environmental salvation ofthe forest. Are we having another fad here? At one time plastics were the way

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to recycle the refinery wastes after the gasoline was extracted. What percentageof crude petroleum is now directly used in the manufacture of plastics? You arefocusing on one narrow segment of the packaging industry. Retailers only fill thebags halfway. After doing graduate work in environmental engineering I amconvinced that the rational way of disposal of "plastics" and paper. is to burnsolid waste to generate electricity.I am the former supervisor for solid wastedisposal of the City of Dallas.

1382 I would like to see local Yelm fluorescent light bulb recycling at those stores thatSELL THEM.

May 14, 2012 2:53 PM

1383 Paper bags with handle would be necessary. Charging for plastic bags would beok. I know sometimes I go to the store for just a few items and end up with a tonof bags. store seems to give you more than you need. I'd LOVE to be able touse my curbside recycling. I would recycle 100% of my bags.

May 14, 2012 2:53 PM

1384 1. Why can't all plastic bags be made from "green" materials that will make thembreak down in the landfill, or in the forest, or in the ocean - the same way thatpaper bags break down? 2. Encourage people to bring their own bags by givingmore than 5 cents if they don't use the store supplied bag.

May 14, 2012 2:48 PM

1385 Perhaps banning thin bags which tear easily and aren't good for re-use is oneoption in moving forward with reducing our plastics use. Plastic can be very easyto recycle through re-pelleting if certain plastic materials and ink standards areadhered to, so before making a decision one way or the other, the county shouldlook into how much energy is required for plastic bag recycling versus paper bagrecycling, because I'm not sure that paper recycling is more "efficient."

May 14, 2012 2:48 PM

1386 It's easier, especially for seniors, to handle groceries in plastic bags. Haveplastic recycleable at the curb in a separate container.

May 14, 2012 2:33 PM

1387 It is unclear whether the plastic bag recycling in stores actually go to recyclingefforts or are simply thrown away. I would support a tax on the creators of throwaway garbage; the stores themselves. All responsibility for recycling or properdisposal gets dumped on the consumer once that bag or other packaging leavesthe store. If stores where taxed (fast food restaurants also) for the garbage theycreate, there would instantly be less garbage guaranteed.

May 14, 2012 2:29 PM

1388 Although I do not use plastic bags, there are some members of our communitythat have no choice. And to charge for paper bag is ludicrous! We are already"charged" to death, with no increase in income. Why not mandate thatbusinesses use only biodegradable bags? I purchase the bio=bags for foodgarbage and pet excrement even though they cost more than the plastic bagsfrom the grocery store. Bag recycling at curbside would certainly encourage folksto recycle. When I return the bags to the store, their collection bins are normallystuffed to overflowing.

May 14, 2012 2:22 PM

1389 Just require bio-degradable plastic bags at the stores. May 14, 2012 2:17 PM

1390 My problem is that I have a really hard time remembering to bring my reusablebags to or in the grocery store. We accumulate a massive amount of bags, and

May 14, 2012 2:13 PM

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end up recycling them but I'm still not convinced this is the best solution. If ICOULDN'T use plastic bags, I'd have to remember to bring reusable ones to thestore - or at least request paper.

1391 I use ALL of my plastic bags for picking up dog waste; which I feel is alsoimportant for the environment. If I have to buy bags I will be less likely toperform this job.

May 14, 2012 2:13 PM

1392 The ban exists in other municipalities, why not ours. The time for a ban is now. May 14, 2012 2:09 PM

1393 Make it easier to recycle them, or have re-usable bags available for free for timewhen you forget your own.

May 14, 2012 2:03 PM

1394 I get at least two uses out of every one of mine, and every so often I take theextras I have in a bundle back to the store to the recycle barrel. I know they'reused for things like the Trex Deck I have in my back yard. The problem withreusable bags is most people do not clean them and they are full of bad bacteria.Eventually we're going to see a bad out break of some disease started from this.

May 14, 2012 1:57 PM

1395 People should bring their own grocery bags with them to the market. We do. May 14, 2012 1:46 PM

1396 Or, allow them to be put into the recycle bin. May 14, 2012 1:35 PM

1397 Not all plastic bags are harmful, since some get used for other purposes. Beforethe invention of plastic we used paper bags, or reusable bags of some sort.Paper is not all that good becuse it is using a diminishing resource, but at least itis bio-degradable. Surely, our genius chemists can invent a plastic bag that isbio-degradable, or that dissolves in some fashion, eliminating them as a majorportion of our nation's landfill.

May 14, 2012 1:35 PM

1398 Charging a fee at the store is just another taxation without representation. May 14, 2012 1:22 PM

1399 If plastic bags are banned, retailers need to offer another form of bags, like thegood old fashion paper bags. If plastic bags were recycleable in my curbsiderecycling, I would recycle them that way. Until then, I use resuable cloth bags asmuch as possible. And when i do leave a store with a plastic bag, I always re-use it for another purpose such as lining a wastebasket..

May 14, 2012 1:10 PM

1400 Plastic bags are widely available (in case I forget to bring a reusable bag). Butthey cannot be easily recycled - at least, I don't think they can be put into mycomingled recyclables bin, for LeMay (Butler Cove Refuse). I still ask for paper,from time to time, but almost all my grocery shopping is with reusable bags. Theway to increase bag recycling? Have stores charge for bags.

May 14, 2012 12:49 PM

1401 Plastic bags should be banned, they are wasteful they cause problems in theenvironment, they are expensive for businesses to purchase, the cause death tomarine life.

May 14, 2012 12:46 PM

1402 I love the idea of taking my (many) cloth bags with me to shop. It is fun to havedifferent styles and designs. Plastic is a terrible thing in our oceans, bays, roads.They are all over the ground in 3rd world places and water breeds misquitos.Ban the darn things here in Thurston Co. Kathy K

May 14, 2012 12:33 PM

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1403 What I like is that I can re-use them for things like cleaning the cat's litter box,lining bathroom trash cans, consolidating things I'm taking to friends and family,etc. Recycling could be increased by simply allowing the plastic bags to beplaced in the recycling container. A ban on plastic bags increases cost toconsumers, it makes shopping less convenient, and who knows what problemsthe re-usable bags that stores sell will cause the envioronment.

May 14, 2012 12:31 PM

1404 Retailer clerks are too quick to put items in plastic bags even when I have myown bags with me. When plastic bags are needed for bagging, many retailersput too few items per bag thus requiring even more bags. I wish we couldrecycle the bags at our curbside pickup.

May 14, 2012 12:23 PM

1405 For the most part, I would like to see a ban on plastic grocery bags. That said, Iuse my own reusable grocery bags (when I remember! which is about 90 percentof the time). I do intentionally bring home some plastic grocery bags to reuse toline waste baskets and to collect pet waste from my cat and dog. For severalyears I was purchasing rather expensive biodegradable large kitchen trasg bags.However, I am self-employed and recently experienced some loss of client workthat translated into reducing my home budget. Right now, it would be anexcessive expense for me to purchase both biodegradable kitchen and trash/petcan liners. So, I end up purchasing regular plastic kitchen bags these days andrely on the grocery bags for the other household uses. It's a conundrum for mepersonally, and I don't have an answer for that right now. However, if banningplastic grocery bags came up for a vote today, I would probably go ahead andmake the sacrifice to do away with them and find another method, such aspurchased paper bags, to dispose of my pet litter and line my smaller trash bags.I would continue to purchase non-biodegradable kitchen size plastic bags.Thanks for the opportunity to express my opinion. Holly E. Harmon

May 14, 2012 12:17 PM

1406 I would be all for bannig use of plastic bags by stores. I use my reusable bagsall the time. Would this ban also be on plastic bages used for produce andmeats? I would hope to keep these bags for leaking items in my reusable bags.

May 14, 2012 12:16 PM

1407 Be able to drop a bundle of bags in recycle bin. I use the bags in my garbagecans in my home.

May 14, 2012 12:11 PM

1408 I take my own bags into most stores; otherwise, I usually refuse a plastic bagwhen I can carry out my purchases, if I haven't brought in my own bag. I turn theplastic ones in at Walmart for recycling. I reuse produce bags, then submit themfor recycling along with things like bread bags, etc. Plastic grocery bags aresuch an expense and waste of energy and they clutter and endanger ourenvironment.

May 14, 2012 12:07 PM

1409 I don't like plastic bags and don't use them! May 14, 2012 11:58 AM

1410 being able to recycle plastic bags in trash is a good idea. MAYBE folks woulduse that alternative

May 14, 2012 11:49 AM

1411 MAYBE LOOK INTO A BIODEGRADABLE BAG AS A REPLACEMENT TOCURRENT PLASTIC BAGS. MANDATE THAT ALL STORES USERECYCLABLE PAPER OR REUSABLE BAGS AS DEFAULT, RIGHT NOW

May 14, 2012 11:48 AM

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THE DEFAULT IS PLASTIC. USING PLASTIC BAGS FOR PET WASTE JUSTPUTS THE BAGS INTO THE LANDFILL.

1412 Plastic bags should be banned. Most people are unaware of the problems theycreate and do not choose on their own to avoid them. The ban would educatepeople and stop the problem. I NEVER take plastic bags myself but I amaware.Others need a little help to stop using them.

May 14, 2012 11:29 AM

1413 I always bring my own shopping bag to do all of my shopping, even at the mall. Iwould like to see the bags banned, people just don't seem to get the need forrecycling them.

May 14, 2012 11:14 AM

1414 Even if plastic bags are re-used once, they still end up in the environment. Whathappens to the plastic bags that are recycled? I like the bags that arebiodegradeable. (Ralph's Thriftway uses them) We could require that those arethe only bags allowed by retailers in our community if they use plastic bags.

May 14, 2012 11:14 AM

1415 My family uses every plastic bag that it gets from shopping to either 1) line ourwaste baskets in the house, 2) empty cat litter, or 3) another purpose, likecarrying things on day trips. If plastic shopping bags were banned - I would haveto buy bags for that - how would that help the environment?

May 14, 2012 11:08 AM

1416 My major concern in this issue is that there may be more productive ways to useour tax money and energies. Plastic bags are a problem, for sure, but . . .

May 14, 2012 11:05 AM

1417 I willuse plastic bags for some things like meat that might contaminate otherthings, and for fruit and veggies and gooey bakery atuff, but we always use themover to line our kitchen compost

May 14, 2012 10:47 AM

1418 I do not support BANs. I support choice. If choices save money or cost moneythat is a choice I am willing to make.

May 14, 2012 10:46 AM

1419 They may be recyclable but they are not organic. At least paper bags will breakdown as will newspapers. I would prefer limited use of plastic bags available ingrocery stores (for messy or drippy produce and meat) and the use of paperbags. How about charging for plastic and NOT paper? That might make adifference. I recycle all of my plastic bags but I know very few people that do.People should be fined for not recycling. It is the only responsible thing to do.

May 14, 2012 10:45 AM

1420 I like reusing some of the plastic bags I get, but I would use a different solution ifI didn't have them. I also throw some away, which I know I shouldn't. Recyclingbags is difficult, because I have to collect them and remember to take them to astore with a bag recycle center. Requiring to charge for bags and letting theretailer keep the bag fee would be equitable and effective, I believe. Everyonewould think more about bringing their reusable bags if there was a fee. I'd pay forthe occasional paper bag and live without plastic.

May 14, 2012 10:38 AM

1421 I strongly advocate getting rid of as much plastic as we can. We live on the saltwater, and plastic is on the beach every day. One of the very worst offenders ofplastic in the salt water is the shell fish farmers. I've picked up thousands andthousands of their plastic debris. (This is not an exaggeration. We have shown

May 14, 2012 10:36 AM

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two county commissioners this garbage and nothing is done to stop it.)

1422 I would like the curbside recycling to pick up the plastic bags, even if it's in aseparate container. Plastic bags are handy and easy to use, but we can dowithout them. The negatives of plastic bags FAR outweigh the benefits.

May 14, 2012 10:32 AM

1423 l like it when the retailers ask if I even need a bag. Many times my purchasesjust fit in my purse or I carry it to my car. I also like using Costco's boxes.Those are easy to recycle. Maybe we can use some of those boxes at ourgrocery stores, etc. PLASTIC BAGS ARE NOT EASY TO RECYCLE. COULDYOU MAKE THEM OUT OF SOME "FOOD" PRODUCT LIKE THE "PEANUTS"USED AS PACKING MATERIAL THAT MELT IN YOUR MOUTH? (I KNOW IFTHEY MELT WITH LIQUIDS IT WOULD MAKE IT DIFFICULT TO USE.) ORCHARGE US .50 FOR 1 PLASTIC BAG AS THAT WOULD FORCE ME TOBRING MY OWN!! THAT WOULD SERVE AS A REMINDER TO ME!! ANDTHEN I'D REALLY GET ON BOARD. $$$ MAKE ME CHANGE MY BEHAVIOR.If I don't change then I should pay through the nose for contributing to damagingthe enviroment. Incentive tends to change behavior...unfortunately.

May 14, 2012 10:30 AM

1424 Need these bags for pet waste. I reuse every one I bring home. If they werebanned we would use alot more energy to make bags out of paper or some othermaterial. It is extremely effecient to make plastic bags using very little energycompared to paper. I wish City of Oly would take plastic in their curbside recyclebins, so far only bottles.

May 14, 2012 10:26 AM

1425 By the time I take my plastic bags to the grocery store recycle collection area,there are so many I can barely fit them in the collection bin and I feel like I havedone something wrong to leave a giant bag of bags outside the bin. Makingrecycling easier (curbside) or banning the plastic is the way to go. I havereusable bags but only remember them maybe 20% of the time.

May 14, 2012 10:24 AM

1426 I think the survey should have been done differently. Strongly disagree doesnot equal never. Is it easy to recycle your bags? People have no clue that thewind across a dump would have anything to do with the plastic trash bag theyput in the garbage. How does that get to the fish and fowl? How about a $.05discount for paper or recycle bags? Better yet I like Costco. NO BAGS at all.

May 14, 2012 10:24 AM

1427 Poorly written questionaire. May 14, 2012 10:21 AM

1428 I don't like them - and would support a ban. May 14, 2012 9:59 AM

1429 I support a ban on plastic grocery bags. However, I do not support the storescharging for paper bags. In my opinion, that's the cost of doing business.Maybe the stores' executives could accept only a $1 million raise per yearinstead of more...

May 14, 2012 9:59 AM

1430 I like plastic bags. They are easy to carry and to store. The County needs toallow for them in the large recycling containers.

May 14, 2012 9:55 AM

1431 I don't mind the use of plastic bags; however, they definitely need to be recycled.Our family recycles 100% of the plastic bags we get. We take them over to the

May 14, 2012 9:51 AM

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recycle place at the dump since our curb side service doesn't address those.Seems like those could be picked up on the same schedule as glass.

1432 Change human behavior now: start charging for use of plastic bags: 25 centseach.

May 14, 2012 9:48 AM

1433 I was on vacation in Kauai a month ago. The Walmart Store offer their ownrecyclable bags for a small fee. They had no plastic bags at all. Great way to getthe plastic out and recycle bags in.

May 14, 2012 9:48 AM

1434 grocern store-based plastic bags are a souce of other uses such as pet waste,home garbage can liners etc. In many cased these uses maybe additionalconsumer purchased pastice bags rather than re-used plastic bags. Baninggrocery bags is not a solution to limiting pastic bag use. Be clear about thepurpose and outcomes. At present the messaging is a little onesided.

May 14, 2012 9:44 AM

1435 The only things I like about plastic bags is their use for pet waste, and that theyseem to keep my produce fresh for a longer period of time than when I don't bagthe produce. I never think to take bags in for recycling, but am trying to be betterabout taking previously used bags along when I shop. A ban would be fine - I'djust need to change my habits.

May 14, 2012 9:43 AM

1436 It is my opinion that we do a good job of general recycling in this area. However,we do not need an ordinance which no one will enforce. This is not a good useof the diminishing staff resources of Thurston County. The budget, countyroads, public safety and public health should be our county governmentpriorities.

May 14, 2012 9:29 AM

1437 Look at what's worked in other communities. Incentives can work better thanbans.

May 14, 2012 9:28 AM

1438 We've been on the band wagon with re-useable bags since 2006. We re-use,recycle what few we bring into the house. While I'm not against banning bags,there needs to be a cost effective alternative, to take their place. And I'm notsure that cutting more trees is the answer. Although they compost very well.

May 14, 2012 9:24 AM

1439 Offer recycling of these bags just as we do other recyclables May 14, 2012 9:23 AM

1440 If we're going to use "one use" plastic bags for groceries, i'd like them to breakdown faster so they less likely to cause problems with animals

May 14, 2012 9:23 AM

1441 They are easier to carry groceries. More places to recycle the bags. It is harderfor the elderly to take bags into the store.

May 14, 2012 9:23 AM

1442 I have tried using reusable shopping bags before, but they get loaded so heavy Ican't carry them - I got tired of trying to get the clerks to not load them so heavy.I would reuse plastic bags if they were better quality and didn't get holes in themafter one use. Reusuable bags also don't have a disclaimer on them informingyou to wash them regularly, so this increases the risk of illness, another reason Iam hesitant to start using them.

May 14, 2012 9:20 AM

1443 We reuse the plastic bags that we do receive whereever possible, and recycle all May 14, 2012 9:20 AM

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torn or ripped bags that cannot be reused. Our living community requires trashto be bagged so that the staff can handle it for compacting. More bags would berecycled if this was offered curbside. I now bring mine to work or to the grocerystores that offer recycling. We have reusable grocery bags and we reuse ourextra paper bags from Trader Joe's until it is time to compost them. I amconcerned about the recent case of a young man, from the Tacoma area Ibelieve, who has lost an arm due to flesh eating bacteria that was linked to hisfamily's reusable grocery bags. This is frightening. Several of our bags areplastic coated and cannot be washed in the washing machine. The ban againstplastic bags will likely increase costs, but I am okay with stores charging morefor paper bags. It would encourage all of us to use reusable bags more oftenand reduce the litter and waste of unsturdy plastic bags.

1444 I always reuse my plastic bags. However, I have a large family and it isnecessary to purchase large loads of groceries at one time and it would be verydifficult to have that many cloth bags available to bring home my groceries. Myboys reuse the plastic bags for their lunches and they get recycled at their highschool.

May 14, 2012 9:16 AM

1445 I store food, line small trash cans in the house, keep using one for about a weekto put scooped cat litter into, tote items to work or to family's houses, use as carlitter bag, etc. I only consign bags to the landfill that are soiled beyond rescue.When they are somewhat soiled, I wash them with anti-baterial dish soap, hangthem to dry, and re-use them. (I know this uses water so not the best course,but...) I recycle ALL plastic grocery bags I can by taking them to a grocery storethat accepts them.

May 14, 2012 9:16 AM

1446 Favor a push for reusable bags as paper bags take more resources to makeeven though they are compostable.

May 14, 2012 9:15 AM

1447 Curbside recycling would be GREAT! Also having more locations in grocerystores could help.

May 14, 2012 9:15 AM

1448 More places to recycle plastic bags would be helpful. I reuse my bags andrecyclce them at the grocery store. A "ban" is unecessary.

May 14, 2012 9:14 AM

1449 I don't believe there is a recycle option for plastic bags in Thurston County. Ireuse my bags for other uses as much as possible, but they still end up in thegarbage eventually. I would recycle them if that was an option.

May 14, 2012 9:13 AM

1450 Currently plastic bags cannot go into our mixed recycling. Allowing this would goa long way toward minimizing their impacts. I probably re-use about 50% of theplastic bags I get by using them for garbage can liners and especially for a trashbag in my car. I would not support a ban on the use of plastic bags, but wouldsupport an added fee that would support litter removal crews in the countyand/or increased reycling fees to allow these bags to be recycled in a co-mingledrecycling.

May 14, 2012 9:11 AM

1451 I like the fact that they are not as full as a brown bag and they are easier tocarry.

May 14, 2012 9:10 AM

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1452 I regularly use reusable bags, but I don't like to get penalized for an occasionallaps of memory. There are also certain items that do not due well in paper. Iwould like to see some voluntary cooperation efforts first.

May 14, 2012 9:10 AM

1453 They are convienent and inexpensive is why we use them. However, theypersist in the environment and are a hazard to some wildlife and are an eyesore.Their widespread overuse has created a problem that should be addressed. Asimple change in human behavior can remedy the problem we have created.Currently these bags are free to consumers. They should not be as their usecreates a cost to society. They should be priced accordingly.

May 14, 2012 9:10 AM

1454 Concern for low income individuals having to pay for a paper bag. I would hopethe corporate stores would give out free reusable bags.

May 14, 2012 9:09 AM

1455 I don't like plastic bags, and I don't like when you get them at the grocery storethey usually only put a few items in so you have so many bags.

May 14, 2012 9:08 AM

1456 I always re-use my plastic bags for pet waste and garbage can liners. Saves memoney!

May 14, 2012 9:07 AM

1457 I use the bags for garbage. A ban would have me purchasing similar sizedplasitc bags for my garbage. I try to use a cloth bag when I don't need a plasicbag for my garbage.

May 14, 2012 9:07 AM

1458 Although I do see people bringing in their own reusable bags to grocery stores, itseems that most people don't. The clerks use way too many too - putting only acouple of items in each plastic bag. I need to use some plastic bags for kittylitter but try to use reusable ones whenever I can (and I remember to take themin). If stores sold reusable bags or gave them away if you spend a certainamount of money that might help. Also, stores like Target, Macys? What aboutthem? Thanks..

May 14, 2012 9:07 AM

1459 make them recyclable through Pacific Disposal recycling curbside. Have storesstop giving them with every little pack of gum. Stop wrapping my hairspray whenadding it to the bag of canned goods or pack it with other household cleaners ornon-edible/non-pet food items. Get more into the practice of asking customers ifthey even need a bag. Even the little black bags from the convenience storescould be severely reduced. I'm going to drink that soda when I get in the car.Why do I need a bag for it and the bag of chips. There's no use for it, other thanto make sure the person only walks out with what they paid for at the counter.

May 14, 2012 9:07 AM

1460 If we could recycle plastic bags in our curbside recycling, it would be MUCHeasier to do!

May 14, 2012 9:06 AM

1461 I think if more solutions were offered, more people would recycle them. Perhapsgive some type of store credit for turning in used plastic bags or some type ofincentive. I would be more supportive of that rather than a negative action (suchas a ban and a fee).

May 14, 2012 9:05 AM

1462 I re-use plastic bags during the summer months as I sell vegetables and use theplastic bags for customers to carry their produce once purchased as these bags

May 14, 2012 6:05 AM

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have handles.

1463 I try to use reusable backs most of the time, but there are times I forget them inthe car or we have more groceries that can fit in my bags.

May 12, 2012 5:28 PM

1464 I reuse all that I can, but I would like to see a ban on plastic bags...it is ridiculousto use something one time and throw it away. We need to protect ourenvironment, reduce our use of petroleum products and reshape our societiesconsumer habits. I support a ban!

May 12, 2012 4:31 PM

1465 Move to a city that already has this useless ban. Quit infringing on my life andrights.

May 12, 2012 10:56 AM

1466 I reuse plastic bags and if banned, would simply purchase them for trashbaskets, picking up dog waste, etc. As a result, there still would be plastic bagsin my garbage. The difference would be that I paid for them, along with my largerplastic kitchen garbage liners, my lawn-leaf plastic bags, my plastic largegarbage can liners, my plastic contractors bags, my plastic freezers bags, andmy plastic sandwich bags.

May 11, 2012 11:34 PM

1467 My usage of plastic bags is limited to produce bags for fresh produce--maybe 1-2/week. I reuse them, but eventually they usually end up in the trash.

May 11, 2012 6:34 PM

1468 Whay shoud we have to pay for paper bags when we didn't before the stroesused plastci bags. And if you are going to outlaw palstic bags make it for alllreatail store not just grocery stroes

May 11, 2012 2:56 PM

1469 Instead of banning plastic bags, make recycling available curbside. Many of ususe our bags for pet waste.

May 11, 2012 1:07 PM

1470 I really try to reduce my use of plastic bags. I bring my own reusable bags to thestore or just carry my items out of the store with no bag. Checkers should ask,"Do you NEED a bag?" before automatically putting one or two items in a bag.They may find when the question is put like that people will say, "no, not really,"The only time I use plastic is with drippy chicken or meat. Also, it's hard to buy10 loose oranges without plastic or some way to "wrangle" them. A lot of plasticis used in the produce section. Banning plastic? Yes, because they are a sorceof pollution, no because sometimes you just need plastic, like drippy meats etc.I'd be very happy if plastic was banned in Thurston Co. I'd figure a way to copewith my small concerns.

May 11, 2012 11:41 AM

1471 Personally I prefer to use paper bags because I reuse them for other reasonsand they can be recycled in my curbside bin. However, there is a significantamount of literature suggesting that plastic bags have less overall environmentalimpact. More facts are needed to make an informed decision. Also, it would be aLOT more convenient if plastic bags could be recycled curbside.

May 11, 2012 9:19 AM

1472 I think a documentary about plastic bags (featuring other plastics as well)clogging our oceans and other waterways should be available for the public toview via public arenas for educational purposes. Also, more general educationon how to re-use plastics. e.g., My mother braided rugs out of plastic

May 11, 2012 8:51 AM

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bags...lasted a long time and they looked great!

1473 Plastic bags can be donated/recycled at the Lacey Library, for carrying checked-out books, as well as at many grocery stores. I always contain/control my plasticbags, never letting one of them be released into the environment. I am stronglydisappointed in other people that cause problems with their plastic bags.However, I do not believe that the answer is a total ban. Instead, the perpetratorsshould be educated into proper behavior through peer-pressure and publicservice announcements (some of which could be funded through grants).Political intervention through attempts at legislating morals and politically correctbehavior doesn't work. There are a myriad of other more pressing problems inour world and county, which scream out for correction. I implore you to NOTsuccumb to the political hysteria which has fueled several cities to jump on theband-wagon of bag-bans. Stop and think for yourselves, which should bring youto the realization that bag-bans don't make either financial or political/ethicalsense. Hoped-for benefits to the environment won't outweigh the deliteriouseffects on a fragile economy. The plastic load in the environment is alreadyhuge, from all sources... not just bags. Besides that, the enormous debris fieldheading our way from the Japanese earthquake/tsunami last year will likelydwarf the litter problem. We need to get ready statewide, to address thatimpending natural transfer of humankind's refuse from one side of the world tothe other. Don't get sidetracked on plastic bags, since those who do risk defeatat the next election. It's just part of the same human nature you aim to re-align.

May 11, 2012 12:10 AM

1474 I try to use re-useable bags as much as possible. If I don't take one of my re-useables into the store, my next option is to request paper (except for items likeraw meat or items that are wet, like produce). Reducing the amount of plasticbags used is definitely needed, but there are still situations where the plastic iseither preferable (like raw meat, wet produce, or wet garbage) or is required (ourtrash pickup prefers the trash to be placed in plastic trashbags). Perhaps the feeshould be on requesting plastic shopping bags instead of paper, and reinstatethe 5-cent discount for using re-useable shopping bags at stores.

May 10, 2012 10:39 PM

1475 I personally always ask for paperbags when shopping at the grocery store. Theonly plastic bags I ever have from the store is an occasional one for vegetablesand produce. Where available I use paper sacks for those too. I use the paperbags for my garbage collection

May 10, 2012 3:39 PM

1476 only needed for sticky dripping things like chicken, Sometimes I forget, butotherwise always bring cloth bags. Occasionaly get a paper bag becuase I needone for paper recyling

May 10, 2012 12:32 PM

1477 I think plastic bags are handy for some items like meat, but mostly they shouldnot be produced, used or put back into the waste stream.

May 10, 2012 8:21 AM

1478 BAN THE BAGS!!! We are smart enough to do without this wasteful practice! :) May 9, 2012 2:46 PM

1479 I don't like plastic bags, other than compostable bags. During my travels inEurope, I've observed that shoppers are expected to bring their own bags (oftena rolling shopping cart) - and when they don't, a fee is charged for plastic bags. Iwould like to see Thurston County move in this direction.

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1480 I use my plastic bags for garbage and lining my trash cans. I also use them forcarrying things when needed. I feel that cloth bags get dirty real quick and needcontinuous washing which cost me money for detergent and water and electricityfor cleaning them, I live on a limited income and with all the taxes and otherthings that need to be paid, I can't afford them.

May 9, 2012 2:27 PM

1481 I'm from Germany and we have the plastic bags ban for 20 + years in use now. Ithink it is a great idea. It's just a madder of getting used to.

May 9, 2012 1:47 PM

1482 I don't know about the curbside recycling of plastic bags. I take mine to either asupermarket to recycle or to the excellent hawks prairie transfer station forrecycling. I like plastic bags because they don't leak like paper bags. I don't thinkyou will increase bag recycling because 85% of humans are apathetic or lazypigs.

May 9, 2012 1:39 PM

1483 Quit the social engineering you liberal loonballs. May 9, 2012 1:00 PM

1484 I think that curbside recycling would greatly increase the amount of recycling ofplastic bags.

May 9, 2012 12:51 PM

1485 plastic bags are convenient - make them to be able to put in the recycle bin - tiedup like shredding etc. put more "recycle" boxes in places around store - 1 in ahuge store like Fred Meyer is ridiculous. i try to use my own bags - but i don'talways remember for a "quick" run into the store.

May 9, 2012 12:41 PM

1486 I think we should cut out plastic bags all together or charge a high fee for eachbag used. If thats not possible then it would be great for baggers to but morethan just one or two items in a plastic bag and then move on to the next. Alsopeople need to use more reusable bags because I see plastic bags thrown awayall the time and it disgusts me.

May 9, 2012 9:16 AM

1487 Easy to throw away and compact very well. May 9, 2012 8:35 AM

1488 YOU the people who make the changes can't seem to make up your mind aboutwhat is safe. You let insane groups to decide issues that effect all the people.How much resources go into making cloth bags? Or cardboard boxes? Spendmore time in reducing the way products are packed for the consumer!Remember Paper or Plastic? YOU LOSE!

May 9, 2012 6:59 AM

1489 I prefer reusable cloth bags because they are larger, stronger, and much moreconvenient overall. Instead of using environmental scare tactics or a new law,try educating the public with a POSITIVE message about the convenience ofcloth bags. I'm so tired of the "gloom and doom" rhetoric.

May 9, 2012 6:49 AM

1490 i dont like enything about plastic bags becus i cant do enything with them butthrow them in the trash after i hav reused them. i personaly thingk that plasticbags should be band and that it be reqired that all paper bags be made ofreciceld matirial. but thats just me.

May 9, 2012 12:55 AM

1491 I really don't like anything about plastic bags. Everything I need can be takencare of with a reusable bag. I believe it would be beneficial for businesses who

May 8, 2012 4:05 PM

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"opt out" of plastic bag use to receive some incentive. I have no idea what thatwould be; however, I believe the only way to really facilitate what we want toachieve is to work with businesses. I don't feel that adding a fee for paper baguse is the answer, either. Also, not all reusable bags are created equal. Someof those bags have been found to be made with questionable materials. Iguess an argument, against, would be the cost of replacing them...which willprobably be felt by the consumer. If there would be a plastic bag recycling binprovided to residents, that would be a huge plus! Educate the public by showingus what is done with recycled plastic bags. Thank you for addressing this issue.

1492 Seems checkers are encouraged to put only a few same type items in one bag. May 8, 2012 1:51 PM

1493 Ban the bags! May 8, 2012 1:05 PM

1494 I would like to see less use of plastic bags in the county. I think they do havesome good uses especially if they are reused for other purposes. I like reusablebags but I have concerns that they too will start filling up the land fills. Especiallythe ones that have the plastic coating or lining. I also feel that it would help tohave the ability to recyle bags curbside. If it's easier, more people will do it!

May 8, 2012 11:11 AM

1495 There are no valid arguments against a ban. There are plenty of alternatives toplastic bags.

May 8, 2012 10:58 AM

1496 You (Lawmakers/Goverment) pushed us to use plastic without thinking thingsthrough. Which I believe our goverment seems to always do.... or uses thestatement "Your just going to have to pass it to see what's in it". Our state parks(overnighters) don't even have recyle bins, we are suppose to haul it all back.So "NO!", I would not support a ban and then charge us for paperbags. We asconsumers have to live in the beds we make.... so now you do too.

May 8, 2012 10:09 AM

1497 People who litter plastic bags should be made to wear them. (Pin them to thiershirts). Or, maybe they should be made to put them over their heads and tiedtightly around their necks. <grin>

May 8, 2012 9:39 AM

1498 I reuse plastic bags for so many things until they are no longer useful. I don'tknow if they can be recycled, but they should be.

May 8, 2012 8:06 AM

1499 I worry about customers who cannot afford to pay for bags, but it is easy to keepbags in the car and use them. Maybe the phasing in needs to be time sensitive.

May 7, 2012 4:37 PM

1500 Have more recycling containers available or locations where we can donatethem for use, i.e., salvation army, food bank???

May 7, 2012 3:40 PM

1501 I don't really like plastic bags and don't usually use them. What we do acquire,gets recycled at Fred Meyer. If you take the plastic bags away, people willfigure out they need to provide their own bags or buy a paper bag. Reward thosethat think ahead to bring their bags or refuse a bag for a small item (Fred Meyercredits you five cents per re-usable bag. In Europe, we were introduced tohaving to purchase a plastic bag for what was less than a penny but it sureadded up if you bought a lot. Double bagging was very rare because no onewanted to pay double for the plastic bags. If you purchased something in a

May 7, 2012 2:33 PM

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speciality store, they wrapped your item in paper and handed it over with no bagof any kind. It was learned early to bring your own shopping bag to carry whatyou purchased. My opinion is no plastic bags, just use cloth bags that can bewashed for health purposes of cashiers and that can be thrown into the trunk ofyour car. They don't take up much room when not being used and if youremember to put them back, you're never without them.

1502 If plastic bags were banned then I would be more diligent about bringing & usingmy own bags. If plastic bags were picked up curbside then I would be more likelyto recycle them. I don't toss them in the trash unless I have reused them forgarbage so I suppose that means they end up in the landfill. Ooops. They areconvienient for some uses like the disposal of wet items (a meat or fish tray ortheir paper wrappings) or lining a bathroom can.

May 7, 2012 1:51 PM

1503 Have all stores which sell goods in plastic bags be required to recieve them forrecycling. .Againsst ban because it infringes on rights of storeowners andconsumers.

May 7, 2012 10:51 AM

1504 I think plastic bags are wasteful. However, more ordinances and regulations arenot the solution. Instead of more laws, how about promoting reusable bags,biodegradable bags, or charging for the checkout bags. I usually bring my ownbags both for produce and for checkout, but I wouldn't mind if I was charged forpaper bags, and would be thrilled if there was a biodegradable alternative toplastic. Let's think of useful, functional solutions instead of regulating ourselvesto death.

May 7, 2012 10:30 AM

1505 Increase bag recycling would be great, more locations and options. I don't likecharging for paper bags, since I need them for compost/yard waste. I usually usereusable shopping bags, but if I forget or am low on paper I will get paper so Ican use them for compost.

May 7, 2012 9:55 AM

1506 They are a representation of how pathetically entitled we have become.Convenience, convenience, convenience...we will eventually become so fat andlazy and feel so entitled to convenience that some other country will quietlyovertake us and we won't see it coming or know what to do when it is happening.

May 7, 2012 7:59 AM

1507 I avoid plastic bags like the plague. The only ones I use are for produce andziploc bags. Both I wash & reuse until they have holes in them or you can't getthe smell out of them. I do not take a plastic bag at check out. I either bring myown or carry out what I've purchased without a bag.

May 6, 2012 8:03 PM

1508 Lets go back to paper bags! May 6, 2012 7:25 PM

1509 Many other jurisdictions across the nation are taking this approach. Change isn'talways easy, but the simple act of switching to canvas bags can avoid worsechanges in the future as people cope with a damaged environment.

May 6, 2012 2:19 PM

1510 Curbside recycling would probably increase recycling. We take ours back to thestore and deposit them there.

May 6, 2012 1:54 PM

1511 Plastic bags are a wasteful blight that have become a bad habit in our "use it May 5, 2012 9:33 PM

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once and throw it out culture" There is no good reason to use them. bagrecycling would not be necessary if there was a ban on theses overvalued items.

1512 PROS: Convenience! Perfect design for their purpose if not consideringdisposal.Can be used for a few secondary purposes. Recycleable. CONS:Ubiquitous to the point of having no percveived value. So they are created anddiscarded to excess. The things that make it great for its purpose makes it hardto manage in the waste stream... lightness makes it easily picked by wind/water& durability makes it persistent. Look digusting strewn about on the roadsidesand drainages. I love the idea of using reuseable bags instead, but doubt that itmakes such a huge difference in in overall environmental impact when theenergy for production and the relatively heavier/bulkier materials are factored in.Any bags will ultimately be in the waste stream. So we trade 1000 small bags for1 bag that is 1000 times the mass. A ban seems extreme and reactionary.Something like a surcharge for ANY bags, paper or plastic that the customerdoes not bring in themself, makes more sense to me; say a min $1 for the 1st &0.25 for each additional. Then put a 0.05 returnable value on them to help getback those that are taken; dealing with bag deposits refunds sounds lika totalnightmare though. I would definitely remember my own bags if I knew I'd savecouple bucks each time. And if charging will change the perception of their valueand cause people to think about them. Maybe squeeze a 2nd use out of thembefore disposing/recycling.

May 5, 2012 3:06 PM

1513 Banning plastic bags will not solve the problem of needing more recyclingawareness, nor will it stop the degredation of the environment. It is simply onemore regulation placed upon citizens and a form of revenue causing an alreadyhurting economy to pay for reusable and/or paper bags. Do not forget that thefactories that manufacture these bags employ human beings, there areconsequences to banning them; just as there are consequences to using them.

May 5, 2012 8:55 AM

1514 I remember that we were "led" to plastic bag use to alleviate the use of paperbags and save the Paper Planet. Now you are wanting to send us back to paperbags. I will then buy and use small plastic bags for animal waste. You will notwin.

May 5, 2012 6:06 AM

1515 I really don't like Thurston County trying to ban what bags I use. They try andrestrict everything I do...from how/what I garden, now to what kind of bag I use atgrocery stores!! Get out of my business!! I am not against plastic bags not beingavailable, but I do not like the fee for paper bags.

May 4, 2012 5:51 PM

1516 In my opinion the islands of plastic and trash we throw "away" is shameful. My 6year old daughter asked, "mommy, where is away?"

May 4, 2012 5:40 PM

1517 There's really no excuse for people not being able to bring their own bags whendoing most shopping. Occasionally we can forget, but that's when an appropriatesmall fee can be charged for the bags from the store. Thanks for consideringthis issue!

May 4, 2012 2:49 PM

1518 If the plastic bags are replaced with the paper bags with the handles, I'd not beupset.

May 4, 2012 1:52 PM

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1519 I think it needs to be more convenient for the consumer to be able to recycletheir plastic bags with their curb recycle & garbage. Retail stores should alsohave more receptacles available to collect old bags. I wouldn't be against havinga plastic bag ban & having a fee for paper bags. It would encourage us all toreuse our bags, reduce waste & protect our environment.

May 4, 2012 1:09 PM

1520 plastic bags are great for used kitty litter. save them for this use and as wastebasket liners in the bathroom.

May 4, 2012 10:12 AM

1521 I often use cloth bags when shopping, but, when I do get a plastic bag, Ireuse/recycle it. I use reuse them by using them to pick up pet waste and placingin the trash. For bags that have too many holes in them to reuse, I recycle themat a local grocery store. I feel that I am a responsible plastic bag user, but feelothers are not. Because of this, I would like to see a ban on plastic bags. (Eventhough it means I would have to buy bags for pet waste disposal!)

May 4, 2012 9:04 AM

1522 I do use plastic shopping bags for trash can liners and to pick up pet waste, so Ihave a use for the bags if I forget my reusable bag. If a ban is put in place Iwould recommend charging for the use of plastic bags (disincentive for usingthem) and conducting a campaign to inform citizens that it is not the stores thatare charging the fee. At the beginning I would also offer a way for folks to getfree or discounted reusable bags, possibly by having businesses donate them ordonate funding to have special bags made as part of an outreach campaign.

May 4, 2012 7:50 AM

1523 Keep out of the issue. May 4, 2012 6:44 AM

1524 If bags were banned, i know sometimes i would find this annoying andinconvenient, but would accept the fee if i had to purchase bag(s) at check out.People, including me, need to be more conserving and resourceful - like peoplewhere only 50 or so years ago. In time, carrying a reuseable bag or bags wouldbecome the norm. People don't like change, so expect push back -- but knowthat if this is adopted, people will adapt and get used to it in time. Iwholeheartedly support the ban. Thanks for seeking input.

May 3, 2012 8:31 PM

1525 What I like about plastic bags is that they hold grocery items (etc.). We canincrease bag recycling by making a bigger label on the bags saying somethinglike, "Please reuse this bag or recycle at any local grocery store." We can alsomake all stores have a plastic bag recycling station.

May 3, 2012 5:49 PM

1526 I would like to see public bag recycling programs. Plastic bags are very useful tome and my family. It would be difficult without them.

May 3, 2012 4:31 PM

1527 They are very useful at home for picking up animal waste and as small garbagebags. I typically shop in stores that use free paper bags and only get a bag ortwo per week that is plastic. I also own many reusable ones but I am alwaysforgetting to take them with me to the grocery store. It is probably a habit issueone that I need to get into and this type of change would get people thinkingabout it more but it is also one that hit's people in the pocket and when you'relow on money for food the last thing you want to do is have to spend thosedollars on grocery bags.

May 3, 2012 4:01 PM

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1528 The number of plastic bags used is ASTONISHING! I think there's got to be abetter way. Banning their use at the check-out stand while charging for the useof paper bags is a great idea: many fewer plastic bags will be used ANDshoppers have an incentive to bring their own reusable bags. My grocery storegives me a 5-cent credit for each bag I bring --also a good idea!

May 3, 2012 3:50 PM

1529 Plastic bags are great for a multiple of uses. I use them to line my bathroomgarbage can, to pick up after my animals at home and at the dog parks. Therehave been times that I have extras which I take to the dog park for other dogowners that do not have anything to use to pick up their animal waste. Plasticbags do have a use in a lot of american households.

May 3, 2012 3:46 PM

1530 i love plastic bags, can't you find something else to do May 3, 2012 2:36 PM

1531 Plastic bags are handy for a variety of reasons (wet clothes, covering wetpaintbrushes/paint rollers, faux painting). Instead of charging consumers forpaper bags or banning plasitc bags altogether, it would be better to allow plasticbags to be put in with other recyclables since I don't see them ever going awaycompletely. The obvious best method would be for all stores to go back to paperonly and absorb that cost as the cost of doing business. Believe me, they aremaking plenty of profit and we, the consumer, are already paying for the price ofeither type bag through goods we purchase.

May 3, 2012 1:33 PM

1532 Provide more locations where bags can be dropped off for recycle (Fred Meyeris where I take mine). For the ban: Reduce litter, decrease resource usage.Against the ban: I use them to line waste baskets. I use them when I forget touse my recycled bag. They are more convienient than paper bags for manyproducts. At some self-check-outs, using your own bag requires having one ofthe clerks come by to bypass using your own bag.

May 3, 2012 1:03 PM

1533 Currently plastic bags are not on the recycle bin list in my area, although Irecycle them for other uses when I do get them. I try to use reusable bags whenI remember to bring them with me on spur of the moment shopping trips. Plasticbags are great to reuse for wet items and garbage bags but eventually we haveto throw them away. A ban on these bags may not be the entire answer, mosteveryone I know uses some kind of plastic bag for lining thier garbage cans evenif it is not a plastic grocery bag. It would be more appropriate I think to have a"better plasitc bag", one that will break down in a very short amount of time.Taking steps to ensure that garbage does not enter our waterways would also behelpful.

May 3, 2012 12:44 PM

1534 I like plastic bags since I do reuse them for other purposes. But I fullyacknowledge that the majority of people do not and they end up hurting marinelife and at times terrestrial animals if they injest them.

May 3, 2012 12:04 PM

1535 Ban them. It's the only way people will change their habits. May 3, 2012 11:36 AM

1536 If we do this how about cutting the government budget by 25% too just in wages. May 3, 2012 11:28 AM

1537 I like having the bags to reuse for "icky" household waste that has to go in thegarbage. (i.e. snotty tissues, rags used for really gross cleanups, etc.) I reuse

May 3, 2012 11:19 AM

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plastic bags at least once, and sometimes more. I take reusable bags with mewhenever I can. It helps when the stores have "Did you remember to bring yourbags" signs, especially when those are posted in the parking lot. I do notsupport a plastic bag ban. Bans are not all that effective. See William Rathje'sbook, "Rubbish" and his research in The Garbage Project.

1538 Get your hands off of your tax payers. If you ban the bags then we will justPURCHASE plastic bags for our garbage and pet waste. This will in turnincrease the manufacturing, shipping and other related items to get theseadditional bags to the consumer. This will increase fuel consumption (greenhouse gases), energy use to manufacture, etc. I am unsure if the plastic bagscan be placed in the recycle container but will happily do so if the service isprovided. I do like to reuse the bags for garbage can liners and pet waste and totemporarily hold damp clothing for the wash. I also like to reuse paper bags forstoring shredded documents for recycling.

May 3, 2012 11:04 AM

1539 Think about the actual cost of the "reusable" cloth bags and where they aremanufactured? Who made them, what natural resource was used, labor laws,etc... Which product actually does more harm in total? This country still does farmore recycling than others. Don't push the liberal agenda on the majority justbecause you get the press time.

May 3, 2012 10:55 AM

1540 Some things just need to be go into a plastic bag, whether shopping ordisposing. HOWEVER, they represent a minimum of my purchases. I use myown shopping bags when possible. Many of the bags are just too flimsy andhave holes in the bottom, so you can't really use them when you need a water-tight container. They are also too small for more than a few items at the grocerystore. Those that are more substantial do get used over and over in my home, Inever just throw them out. Keeping paint brushes & rollers from drying outduring lunch or overnight, dog doo, cleanup rags or towels from oven cleaning,many other uses. My mother never threw them out (a child of the depression),they were always folded w/ a loose knot and kept in a large bag in her cleaningcloset.

May 3, 2012 10:16 AM

1541 Get rid of them. People won't switch to using reusable bags until plastic is takenout of the picture as an option.

May 3, 2012 10:09 AM

1542 I always reuse my plastic bags! I don't really feel it is the counties business todictate the type of bags that can be used.

May 3, 2012 9:43 AM

1543 Promote paper bags using discount or give one free usable bag for every $50you spend. I do like all the plastic bag recycle stands in stores.

May 3, 2012 9:31 AM

1544 The only positive aspect about plastic grocery bags is the ability to re-use themin restroom trash cans and for pet waste. They're especially useful for blown-outdisposable diapers away from home. However, all of these options still contributeto waste, whether the bag is reused or not. I'm all for a ban on plastic bags ingrocery stores. Sure, my family would need to purchase garbage bags for ourrestrooms, but we also reuse bread bags for pet waste, and our children won'tbe in diapers forever.

May 3, 2012 9:14 AM

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1545 I would love to see more recycling options like being able to recycle plastic bagsand styrofoam from home. I have stopped trying to recycle any plastic bags I doend up with (I mostly use reusable bags) because the places that take them arefar and few between and when you can find them, I can't fit the bags through thetiny hole or the bin is already full. Thanks for letting us comment.

May 3, 2012 9:12 AM

1546 I feel like this would be government getting too involved in business and aperson's personal choices. I strongly prefer using plastic bags, and I alwaysrecycle them.

May 3, 2012 8:32 AM

1547 I would like to see more recycling stations for plastic bags. I tend to reuse minefor other purposes, but I would recycle them if it was available where I shop.

May 3, 2012 8:13 AM

1548 Plastic bags are way better. May 3, 2012 7:36 AM

1549 i always use mine for something :) they are handy for a lot of things. do not banthem just try to encourage people to use the other ones.

May 3, 2012 7:34 AM

1550 I really need the plastic bags for all the uses. I would go out of my way to shopat a location that has them. Curbside recycling should be required to take them.If any ordinance was needed that should be the ordinance.

May 3, 2012 7:09 AM

1551 They are reused for pet waste and trash bags at our home. I would still needbags but these are free.

May 3, 2012 7:04 AM

1552 It would be great to have curb-side plastic bag recycling. LaMay inunincorporated Thurston County does not offer this.

May 3, 2012 6:54 AM

1553 Plastic bags are good for cat litter etc. messy jobs. Always reuse bags!!!Garbage people want that stuff in a bag. What to use if bags banned. Fresh,brand new bags????!!!!!

May 2, 2012 3:25 PM

1554 I know I should use my reuseable bags, but I don't always remember and don'tthink it is fair to penalize someone for using a bag. Also, the bags are useful forother things, like lining trash cans, and if I didn't have them to use for thatpurpose, I'd be buying other bags, which would not help the situation. Also, Ithink it is too much government intrusion into our lives to ban plastic grocerybags. If those, then what would be next?

May 2, 2012 3:22 PM

1555 Behavioral economics research shows that we are more likely to go with a"default" option instead of investing the energy to make a different choice. Thusif we want people to use reusable bags or reuse plastic bags we should makethat the default like they do in Europe. Also, we are more likely to change ourbehavior when we lose (have to pay) instead of gain (get a bag refund) whenparticipating in a behavior.

May 2, 2012 3:07 PM

1556 We need to do away with all plastic bags (although I like to clean up pet wastewith them -- if only they were biodegradable!)

May 2, 2012 3:04 PM

1557 I think they should ban them because there are alternative ways to packagegroceries, etc.

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1558 I have a lot to say about plastic bags. First of all, I want to make one thing clear:we should start using paper bags made from 100% recycled paper. The plasticbags that Americans have come to know are suffocating Mother Nature. Plasticbags stay in landfills for decades, centuries, even, when discarded. Only a smallamount of them actually gets recycled. Plastic bags can make their way out tothe ocean, and can potentially kill marine life. Thousands of birds die each yearby mistaking plastic bags for food. Plus, the factories that make plastic bags areharming the environment, too. Producing plastic bags requires millions of gallonsof petroleum that could be used for transportation or heating. Paper bags maybe heavier than plastic bags, but they are recycled more easily. Also, they makegood fire starter. Unlike plastic bags, paper bags don't release harmful fumeswhen burned. That is all I have to say. I hope that this can add to your list ofreasons to ban plastic bags.

May 2, 2012 2:22 PM

1559 I didn't think plastic bags were recycleable?! May 2, 2012 1:31 PM

1560 I HATE them....cahiers only put 3 items per bag then your groceries roll allaround, fall out, the bags snag and your stuff gets damaged.

May 2, 2012 12:50 PM

1561 Biodegrable plastic bags would be the way to go. The stores could provide themso people don't have to purchase them-if they couldn't afford to. Argument forplastic bags: they are cheap to produce (i don't know if that is true) Everybodyelse uses them, what's wrong with them?

May 2, 2012 12:47 PM

1562 Like: they have handles and make it easy to carry stuff. Dislike: use petroleumin manufacturing them, non-biodegradable. To increase bag recycling can therebe more drop-off places to make it more convenient? Or can we include themwith the other curbside recycling? If the retailers pass along the cost of plasticbags to the consumer, people would be more likely to use the reusable bags tokeep their costs lower.

May 2, 2012 12:46 PM

1563 I happen to reuse my plastic bags for other purposes. Recycling would be easierif there were such bins at the entrance to grocery stores or if my refusecollector/recycler accepted such.

May 2, 2012 12:25 PM

1564 If able to put in curbside recycle. May 2, 2012 11:31 AM

1565 Plastic Bags are not the problem. It's the people that litter them and all the otherstuff they throw out their windows. Better ban McDonalds Cups - I see more ofthem along the highways!

May 2, 2012 11:19 AM

1566 I totally agree that they shouldn't be used, but never remember to bring bagsfrom home. I recycle through my own personal use. I wouldn't mind a ban onplastic but am not sure I think you should be charged for paperbags.

May 2, 2012 10:39 AM

1567 Don't ban! If you want to discourage use, charge a fee to cover the cost oflandfill / recycling, and let the market work!

May 2, 2012 10:32 AM

1568 Please institute a ban on plastic bags- another concern I have, being a part timejanitor, that I would guess that there is a huge amount of plastic bags used insmall office trash can liners. What to do about them? Can you pass a law that

May 2, 2012 8:49 AM

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allows only the use of bags that are biodegradable?

1569 I use plastic bags to line my garbage can, to pick up dog poop, to keep thingsdry. I reuse and/or recycle every plastic bag I get. I don't get many, since I bringmy canvas bags to the grocery store. The store gives ME a nickle for each ofmy bags I use. Why would I want to pay a nickle when I do need an extra bag?

May 1, 2012 7:54 PM

Plastic Shopping Bag Survey - Thurston County

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