Over a dozen other Colorado cities along with California, New York and other entire states and countries have instituted restrictions on single-use bags because they are wasteful and have longterm lasting effects on our oceans, wildlife and lands.
Not requiring a single-use bag for every purchase is a change of mindset that has to take place before we can cut down our usage and a ban is the easiest way to get people to cut back.
The vast majority of Durangoans support a ban but just need a little push.
Approximately 100,000 bags per day are given out in stores here in Durango alone. The vast majority of these only get used for minutes then wind up in landfills, oceans, wildlife and ecosystems and remain for many decades.
We can easily make the shift to correct this, it is just a change of mindset and personal habit. I have traveled to many other cities where the people there have made this shift. They bring their reusable bags and carry out their groceries without the waste of single-use bags. It just makes sense and it’s easy.
We can’t let a small minority of people who complain that they can’t figure out an alternate way to dispose of their cat litter keep us from making this easy and sensible change.
Jeff BleeckerDurango
