Poll: Most Austinites OK with plastic

AUSTIN (KXAN) - More than seven of 10 Austin residents support alternatives to an outright ban on allowing stores to provide plastic bags for shoppers, as learned in a poll done by the Texas Retailers Association released Tuesday.

“Hopefully the Austin City Council will see these poll results for what they are -- the voice of the people they represent,” said Ronnie Volkening, the organization's president.

City Council is considering whether to prohibit plastic bags in the city.

But the poll of more than 400 residents conducted from Sept. 25 to Oct. 2 found that 90 percent of those who accept plastic bags reuse them at home. The same amount know that the bags can be recycled at the major chain stores, which provide recycling bins at their sites so customers can return them.

Instead of a bag ban, the retailers group and an organization calling itself the Progressive Bag Affiliates would prefer consumer education to limit any harmful effects of the bags.

“Litter prevention is a goal we should all get behind, but a ban will impede such efforts and does nothing to encourage folks to become good environmental stewards,” said Rudy Underwood, regional director of the American Chemistry Council. “Consumers value plastic bags. Instead of taking away the right to use them, we’d like to work with the Austin City Council on comprehensive litter solutions and on promoting the existing recycling infrastructure.”

They would also like to see an alternative ordinance considered by the Austin City Council. They would like to continue using plastic bags but only if customers ask for them. The bags would also have the words "Please return This Bag to a Participating Store for Recycling." printed on them. In order to continue using plastic bags, depending on the size of the store, the retailer would pay at most a $250 a year to the City. 

Mayor Lee Leffingwell who is behind the plastic bag ban says he has not seen the groups alternative plans, but he says the details of the new ordinance are still being worked out.

"Certainly I want to look at and get the full details on it because we want to listen to everybody’s perspective on it. To me it seems like that is not going to get us where we need to be," Leffingwell said. 

According to the poll, only 13 percent of Austinites knew that plastic bags are made in Texas, but that most of them are made overseas.

For information about reducing, reusing and recyling in Austin, visit the Keep Bags Free Austin website.