The Kirkland City Council voted to approve a proposed ban on most plastic bags at city businesses, despite a 2013 survey of residents that showed overwhelming opposition. The ban prohibits single-use plastic bags while allowing exemptions for plastic bags such as those used for transporting bulk food, hardware items, frozen foods, meats and newspapers. It also requires retail stores to charge customers at least a five cent fee for recyclable paper bags.
The new policy is scheduled to go into effect on March 1, 2016. It is estimated that the new regulation will affect approximately 170 retail businesses in Kirkland.
Mayor Amy Walen, who voted in favor of the ordinance, has said a ban is necessary for environmental reasons.
“Kirkland is growing and we must grow in a smart way,” she said in a release. “I’m proud to see Kirkland adopt this consumer- and business-friendly legislation that shows Kirkland’s commitment to being responsible for our environment.”
The only councilmember to vote against the ordinance was Toby Nixon, who has voiced opposition to the idea of a plastic bag ban from the beginning.
Other cities with plastic bag bans include Seattle, Issaquah, Bellingham, Shoreline and Mercer Island.
A May 2013 survey conducted by Elway Research, Inc. of around 400 Kirkland residents found that eighty percent of them reuse more than one type of bag and nearly half of them already bring their own bags to the grocery store. The survey also found that residents heavily favored voluntary measures, albeit 85 percent thought stores should be required to have plastic bag recycling bins.
Yet, nearly 70 percent opposed any ban on disposable shopping bags, according to the survey. Despite this, the proposed ordinance was later presented to the council in October 2014.
The response from the business community in Kirkland has been mixed. Valerie, a manager at Value Village, said the switch from plastic to paper bags will not be too difficult for them and they don’t have a large supply of plastic bags. Also, their customers in Kirkland tend to use their own cars and so they won’t have to walk as far as those in other communities, such as Seattle, where transit is a more common means of transportation.
“Customers are pretty comfortable making the transition as well,” she said. “It was a little harder for customers in Seattle to carry the bags with them when they were using public transportation.”
Kelly, a manager at Denny’s Pet World, said they currently use plastic bags and are concerned about how customers will be able to handle lots of items in paper bags, as cat owners in particular frequently buy 48 cans of food. Although the canned food comes in bulk, the customers buy different types which requires the use of bags.
“Cans are heavy, bags of food are heavy,” she said. “It will be tough but we’ll figure it out.”
When asked about the city survey that showed nearly 70 percent of residents opposed the ban, she said she is not sure what messages that sends.
“Apparently we’re going to be green whether we’re ready for it or not,” she said.
The Reporter attempted to contact several other businesses in the community that either declined to give comment or did not return phone calls seeking comment. Executive Director Bruce Wynn of the Kirkland Chamber of Commerce said the issue has not been brought up by chamber members.
Kirkland currently has a high recycling rate.
Information on the plastic bag reduction policy is available at www.kirklandwa.gov/bringyourbag. For more information call the Recycling Hotline at 425-587-3812 or email recycle@kirklandwa.
