Shoppers, it’s once again time to break the plastic bag habit

Some of us developed good habits during the pandemic. We took long walks or learned new technical skills. One positive routine that remembered our reusable grocery bags fell by the wayside.

They’re not a brand new bag, but these handy fiber bags haven’t been used for over a year.

During all of the months that the state’s plastic bag ban was suspended, I stopped keeping my supply of reusable bags in my car. Due to COVID-19, many retailers have stopped accepting. Well, it’s time to get used to it again – and be ready for the state ban, which will go into effect October 1st.

Washington’s new law banning single-use plastic carrier bags was due to go into effect on January 1, 2021. But Governor Jay Inslee paused it with Emergency Proclamation 20-82 of December 18. At the time, the governor said retailers had COVID-related delivery issues that were preventing them from getting enough reusable plastic bags to meet demand. “These challenges are now over,” said Inslee on Tuesday.

The emergency call proclamation expires on September 30 at 11:59 p.m., Inslee said. As a result, nationwide stores will no longer be handing out single-use plastic bags on October 1st. Customers can bring their own bags, or stores can provide paper sacks or reusable thicker plastic bags – for 8 cents per bag, a fee that is withheld by retailers and is subject to VAT.

Months before the pandemic broke out, Everett City’s Reusable Bag Ordinance went into effect on September 30, 2019. Approved by Everett City Council on December 5, 2018, it is designed to reduce waste and protect the environment. As state law will do, retailers will not be able to distribute single-use plastic bags, with exceptions to protect public health and safety.

Julio Cortes, a city chief communications officer, said Everett’s ban was “technically in place” but it was not enforced during the pandemic. “We are currently reviewing the city’s ban to see how it aligns with the state’s bag ban,” Cortes said via email on July 7.

To encourage the use of reusable bags, the City of Everett is making them available free of charge while supplies last. They are available from the Everett Public Library downtown and the Evergreen Branch. (Julie Mühlstein / The Herald)

Edmonds was Washington’s first city to ban single-use plastic bags from the checkout counter. The rule was passed by Edmonds City Council in 2009 and came into effect in 2010. Rep. Strom Peterson, a Democrat from Edmonds, was a sponsor of the state ban, along with Senator Mona Das, D-Kent.

Voices in the environmental community hailed Inslee’s move to restart the ban on plastic bags.

“Bringing your own bag will help reduce plastic waste and curb the flow of plastic into our waterways and oceans,” said Nora Nickum, marine policy manager at the Seattle Aquarium, in a statement Wednesday. “This law reminds us all to take this simple step.”

“Plastic bags are one of the most common items we find during beach cleanings,” added Gus Gates, Washington Policy Manager at the Surfrider Foundation, a nonprofit that helps protect the oceans.

Heather Trim, executive director of Zero Waste Washington, said disposable bags not only cause plastic pollution, they also cause problems in recycling facilities.

Just in time to resume a good habit, Everett City has resumed its “Bring Your Bag” efforts. As with an awareness campaign in 2019 in anticipation of the Bag Ordinance, the city is again offering free reusable bags. While supplies last, the blue bags with “Bring Your Bag” and the Everett logo on them are available in the Everett Public Library downtown and in the Evergreen Branch.

“You can bring your own bags when shopping at most retail stores to reduce single-use plastic, although some retailers may still ask you to use self-checkout or wrap your own purchases,” said a City of Everett newsletter on Jan. July.

At a QFC store in Everett on Tuesday, an inspector had no complaints about taking my reusable bag and filling it herself. And the store didn’t ask for paper bags yet. But at a Target store in Spokane I was charged 8 cents for a heavy, reusable plastic bag a week ago, even though the state bag ban wasn’t in effect.

The state ban does not include bags used in stores to package bulk items such as fruits and vegetables or small hardware items. Bags for frozen food, meat, fish, flowers or baked goods are also not included. Also does not include newspaper bags or pouches sold in food, trash, or pet litter storage packages.

Cortes said that along with Everett’s libraries, free reusable bags are being distributed to apartment buildings urging them to “promote waste reduction in their buildings.” In total, around 6,000 bags will be available to the public, he said.

In the Everett Library downtown, the free bags were available from the library and children’s section earlier this week. Abby Cooley, the library director, said before the pandemic, “I was just getting used to taking them to the supermarket.” The same applies here.

It is time to renew that habit.

Julie Mühlstein: [email protected]