Don’t stop cities from banning bags

Paper or plastic?

Shoppers across America hear that question every day at the checkout line as they make the choice between paper or plastic bags. And many of us routinely answer, “Plastic.”

Either choice poses environmental problems. While some regard paper bags as more acceptable, they take up more space in landfills than plastic bags and can take nearly as long to decompose when buried.

But plastic bags are a particular hazard along the coastline, where they often end up floating in the ocean. Marine biologists attest that the bags imperil sea turtles, shrimp and other creatures.

Turtles, for example, sometimes mistake the plastic bags for food. The plastic material gets stuck in the turtles’ digestive systems, which can be fatal. Even small sea animals, such as shrimp, can mistake pieces of plastic bags for food.

Some coastal communities, such as the Isle of Palms, have sought to reduce the number of bags that end up in the ocean or littering roadsides and beaches by banning disposable, single-use plastic bags. But those efforts would be squelched if a bill in the S.C. House passes.

The bill, sponsored by state Rep. Eric Bedingfield, R-Greenville, and House Speaker Jay Lucas, R-Darlington, seeks to protect the plastic bag industry by making it illegal for cities and counties to ban the use of the bags. Lucas’ district is home to a company in Hartsville that produces plastic bags.

While we recognize that plastic bags are a vital part of transactions at a multitude of stores across the state, we also believe that cities and counties should have the right to try to curb the use of the bags if possible. When it comes to the environment, reusable shopping bags clearly are the best choice.

Coastal communities have a financial stake in protecting the environment. They rely heavily on healthy fisheries and litter-free beaches to drive tourism. In fact, the entire state benefits enormously from tourism as well as thriving commercial fishing operations.

A ban on plastic bags in a few of the state’s cities or counties would barely dent the use of the bags statewide. Nor would it have much impact on plastic bag producers.

The use of plastic bags is so widespread that greener alternatives have little chance of displacing them. And that’s too bad.

The Legislature doesn’t need to bar local efforts to take a more responsible approach to the environment just to appease the plastic bag industry. This bill is clearly a case of the behemoth trying to stomp the little guy.

Choose a reusable shopping bag and save a turtle.

This story was originally published April 20, 2016 at 4:24 PM with the headline "Don’t stop cities from banning bags."