Environment-friendly Initiatives Taken at Fort Collins

Eco friendly
Debating over the right measure

Susie Gordon, an environmental resource planner for Fort Collins said that the reducing waste has always been a challenge for the residents. Though a definite measure has not yet been taken, the City Council has decided to discuss the issue in its next committee meeting. Even the public is invited to voice their opinions over the matter.

A study was made by the City Council to examine the initiatives taken by other cities to handle plastic waste. Brendle Group, a local consultant firm that conducted the study, explored the effect of bag bans in various cities and their consequences on the society, economy, and environment.

Three options to handle plastic waste problems were finalized based upon the study: conducting educational campaigns, levying a fee on plastic bags, and imposing a plastic bag ban.

While the first option would minimize plastic waste to a small extent, the idea of plastic bag ban would drastically cut short plastic waste. However, a ban is likely to be received unfavorably by merchants and dealers. A fee would reduce plastic waste to a moderate extent but would adversely affect shoppers with smaller incomes. Part of the collected money could be used to set up educational campaigns to spread environmental awareness.

Susie Gordon feels that dealing with the plastic bag issues would even promote environmentfriendly sectors like composting, renewable energy, and recycling.

Plastic Bans and Stocking wholesale reusable bags

In Boulder, shoppers are charged 10 cents for each plastic bag. The plastic bags are recycled and the city streets are regularly cleared of plastic bags. Plastic bag fees prompt shoppers to get their own totes. Dealers are also forced to stock their stores with wholesale reusable bags for sale.

The Manager at the Fort Collins Food Cooperative, Lynn Chriestenson says that most customers are getting their own reusable totes. The coop actually reuses plastic bags that are collected.

The plastic ban has already been issued in San Francisco, Maui County, and Portland. Montgomery County, Maryland, Washington D.C., Basalt, however, charge a fee on paper and plastic bags. In cities like Marin County, Seattle, Telluride, and Aspen, there is a fee imposed on paper bags and a ban on plastic bags.

Source: http://www.coloradoan.com/article/20121104/NEWS01/311050006/Fort-Collins-examines-options-from-education-ban-reduce-usage-disposable-shopping-bags?nclick_check=1

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