Gilroy Addresses Plastic Bags and Polystyrene Plastics

Gilroy is working to ease the local use of plastic bags and polystyrene, a non-biodegradable plastic. The city council passed two resolutions on that address the two materials, which are notorious for littering waterways and other natural habitats.

One is a recommendation encouraging businesses and consumers to choose alternatives to polystyrene whenever possible. The other solely adopts a campaign to discourage the use of plastic bags. However, neither resolution is a ban on the plastics.

“The city has looked at the issues, but at this point, it’s not something we’re ready to go forward with an outright ban on,” said Councilman Peter Leroe-Munoz, who voted in favor of the resolutions. “It is important for people to recognize and use alternatives when they can.”

The only dissenting vote on the issue was from Councilman Bob Dillon, who said he didn’t want to pass a resolution regarding a personal choice.

“I think it’s a ridiculous thing for government to regulate, [and] I think it’s a waste of our time and money to vote on that issue," Dillon said.

“People who use plastic bags will keep using them and people who use reusable bags will keep using those." “I don’t think it’s something the city council should be regulating.”

Fifty cities in California have a full polystyrene ban, including Santa Cruz, Palo Alto, Millbrae, and San Francisco. Others, like San Jose and Fremont, have partial bans that apply only to vendors.

The state senate shot down a statewide ban on plastic bags last year, though some cities, like San Francisco, have a ban in place.

While the Gilroy Chamber of Commerce doesn’t have data on polystyrene use, it is concerned about the effect that fees associated with banning plastic bags could have on local businesses and consumers.

“Whenever you have fees, the consumer or business has to cover the cost,” said Susan Valenta, president and CEO of the city’s Chamber of Commerce.  “And if it’s on the business, that’s going to be passed on to the consumer.” 

Overall, the chamber has maintained a consistent position on plastic bags.

“We have never supported an outright ban,” Valenta said. “Our take is that we need to have an ongoing educational component so that the consumer does turn to reusable bags. [Education] is much more effective because it is a change in behavior.”

The chamber is looking at solutions for polystyrene, such as creating separate recycling bins for the plastic that can’t be mixed with other recyclables, and regional environmental groups like the Sierra Club have a staunch stance on banning plastic bags.

“We’re in favor of banning plastic bags because not only are they a problem in landfills, they also make their way into waterways,” said Michael Ferreira, the chair of the club’s Conservation Committee. “They do a lot of damage ecologically in a lot of ways.”

Ferreira couldn’t speak to the Gilroy resolutions specifically, though he did say that because there is no state law addressing plastic bags or polystyrene, that municipal governments are left with the burden to regulate.

“Because there is no statewide law, it makes it necessary to work on the local levels,” he said. “That puts a lot of pressure on cities to do bans. Every city will treat the issue differently.”

Valenta said that over time a ban on plastic bags might be a moot point as consumers voluntarily switch to reusable bags.

She remains concerned that a future ban will do more harm then good and  asks, “In these economic times, do you really want to put more costs on the consumer?”