Another letter to the editor about the plastic bag ordinance. What’s left to say that hasn’t already been said? As a supporter of the ordinance, I am noticing some thoughtful, thought-provoking arguments against the bag ban. Yes, we, the community of Durango should be notable for our willingness to educate, not compel others in making good choices in environmental stewardship (Neil Bourjaily, Letters, Herald, Oct. 23) as well as bridging the ever-widening gap between progressive and conservative members of our community. Yes, maybe banning bags is only a drop in the bucket of solving our waste and landfill problems. But it is a step in the right direction.
Maybe many of the thoughtful authors of the letters to the editor against the ban do already voluntarily refrain from plastic bag waste. But truth of the matter is, many people in our community simply do not give it a second thought. And to say that this should be accepted because of our tenets of limited government is an example of head-in-the-sand short-sightedness. Our continued waste of natural resources and the inability of plastics to decompose in a timely, organic manner means that we should do what we can to change the tide of events leading to an unsustainable future for our planet. And if, in a baby-step fashion, that means passing a bag-ban ordinance, then by all means, let’s do so.
A step in the right direction is a step in the right direction. Fifty years ago, the majority of adults smoked. I remember seeing people throw large amounts of litter right out their car windows on a daily basis. My father came home from work drenched in asbestos dust regularly. These things are not universally accepted anymore. I believe 50 years from now, we will look back on our waste and use of plastics in the same manner. Passing this referendum is a proactive attempt to start this process in our community. Not passing this referendum will mean business as usual. And business as usual is simply not a sustainable option.
Mary Oswald
Durango
