WA Plastic Bag Ban Passes Senate, Called 'Socialist Method'

RENTON, WA - A law that would ban single-use plastic bags in Washington passed a key hurdle Tuesday when it was approved the state Senate. Bill sponsors see it as a major step in protecting the environment, but one senator thinks it's socialist.

Plastic bag ban SB 5323 passed the Senate 31 to 14. Puget Sound state Sens. Mona Das, D-Renton, Guy Palumbo, D-Woodinville, and Reuven Carlyle, D-Seattle, were among the main sponsors.

The bill would prohibit "a retail establishment from ... Providing to a customer or a person at an event: (a) A single-use plastic carryout bag; or (b) a paper carryout bag or reusable carryout bag made of film plastic that does not meet recycled content requirements and ... Using or providing certain polyethylene or other noncompostable plastic bags."

Instead, retailers would have to provide recyclable paper bags at 10 cents a pop. The bill would also prevent local cities from creating their own carryout-bag laws.

Of the ban, state Sen. Doug Erickson told the Associated Press: "This is a socialist method. Little things like this is the indicator that we are trying to micromanage the economy."

Sponsors say that preventing plastic bags from ending up in the environment should be a top priority, especially because of threats to local salmon. Also, plastic bags can't really be recycled anymore.