Members of a task force charged with studying a possible ban on using plastic bags in Durango met for a first time Tuesday, and there were plenty of opinions.

The task force, made up of seven Durango residents, is a mix of plastic bag opponents, proponents and some who are neutral. The meeting was the first of likely many.

“The polarizing opinions of the task force have made it clear that one meeting will not be enough to decide on a plan of action,” said City Manager Ron LeBlanc.

Andrew Keith, a member of the task force, asked: “Is banning plastic bags simply a symbolic action, or will it be effective?”

Erich Bussian, another task force member, said all plastic use is the real problem.

Keith agreed, saying banning plastic bags would do little to improve the problem of plastic disposal. If something is going to be achieved, the task force should ban the use of all plastic, he said.

“The discussion here is bigger than bags, but all plastic that factors into the equation,” he said.

The use of plastic beyond Durango was part of the discussion.

“There is too much plastic consumed, and it’s not just what we use in Durango; it comes in the forms of packaging of everything,” Bussian said. “There are reasons that other communities are banning plastic bags, it is a step in the right direction.”

Use of plastic in consumer goods, the packaging of consumer goods and plastic bottles “are part of something that we can’t control, so we need to start with something that will limit the use of plastic that we can control,” said task force member Zahra Lightway.

Some are skeptical that the problem is severe enough to limit plastic bag use.

“I have yet to hear a tangible problem that we need to solve,” said Keith Brant, a task force member.

“The bigger problem is not the single-use plastic bag, but everything we buy and put into the plastic bag,” he said. “We buy too much stuff.”

Education, instead of a tax or ban, would be more effective, and it would protect the tourism industry by allowing choice, some task force members said.

“I think a lot of this is about the education and making people aware of how much is going into landfills or being recycled,” said Jack Llewellyn, a task force member.

“I want that choice to bring my own (bag). I see problems with the tourism economy,” he said.

Brant said increased costs a ban would create would cause more harm than good.

“A tax will be ineffective. We’re overtaxed as it is. Why would you make us ineffective in the national marketplace by making our stuff cost more?” he asked.

Environmental factors, were ultimately the largest driving force for some sort of ban of tax on plastic.

“If we’re going to have this task force and have this discussion, we need to try to the best of our ability to keep it fact-based. The fact that plastic is killing our planet is a little hyperbolic,” Keith said.

Task force members ultimately agreed that they need to identify and formalize their goals so they can identify options.

The task force will hold future meetings that will allow residents to provide feedback and ideas.

After Tuesday’s meeting, some residents who attended weighed in.

“I’m invested in this issue as a taxpayer. If we tax the bags that people carry their food home in, it’s a hidden tax on the most vulnerable members of the community,” said Deb Thomason.

pblank@durangoherald.com