Activists Call for Plastic Bag Ban

The environmental group Austin Zero Waste Alliance delivered letters to city council members on Tuesday asking for a ban on plastic bags. Last year the city implemented a plan aimed at reducing plastic bag use, but the activists say that has not done enough.

Natural Grocers is just one of a handful of stores in Austin that has eliminated plastic bags.

"It is not free to the retailer and it's not free to the respect of the money and time that is spent cleaning up the environment," says Rick Eusanio, General Manager of Natural Grocers.

The store has even gotten rid of paper bags opting instead to give out recycled boxes if customers need them.

It is that green mentality that draws in shoppers like Sofia Martinez.

"I have a lot of bags so I keep some in the car and I keep a lot of them on the hook by the door," says Martinez.

She is one of an increasing number of Austinites who have switched over. According to the Austin Zero Waste Alliance, however, it is still not enough.

On Tuesday Alliance members delivered letters to Council Members asking for a ban on plastic bags.

Back in 2008 the City tried a voluntary approach. Mayor Lee Leffingwell says results were positive.

"Within about a year the six retailers participating reduced the amount of bags in landfills by over 50-percent," says Leffingwell.

Recycling numbers went up but not by much.

"In fact only a quarter of the plastic given out as checkout bags came back for recycling," said Alliance member Robin Schneider.

According to Bob Gregory with the Texas Disposal Systems processing the bags is not easy.

"They gum up the works, they get tied up in the conveyors and the equipment," says Gregory. He too is calling for a ban and hopes to see some changes.

Mayor Leffingwell agrees changes are needed. He met with five major retailers and the Retailers Association last week to discuss what other methods can be used to discourage plastic bag use.

"I'm not opposed to a complete ban if it comes to that, that may be the only solution," said Leffingwell.

Other cities have already passed similar bans including San Francisco and Brownsville in Texas. Brownsville's ban takes effect next year.