Supporters of Easton’s Plastic Bag Law filled the chamber at Tuesday night’s Easton Town Council meeting as Council President Frank Gunsallus introduced an ordinance to remove the 10 cent paper bag fee from the law. Gunsallus argued that repealing the 10 cent fee “was needed for people who are struggling.” Council member David Montgomery also in favor of the action said the 10 cent fee was “irritating to people” and without “justification.”
Three council members—Don Abbatiello, Rev. Elmer Davis, and Maureen Curry—said they would vote against any change to the law. Curry defended the fee saying the law “was working and the 10 cents (fee) is not onerous in any way, shape, or form. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.”
Rev. Davis said, “The fee has taught me to be more responsible” although he still sometimes forgets his reusable bag. “I have not heard anything contrary to the ban,” adding, “I’m not convinced we need to change it.”
Abbatiello noted that stores like Aldis and BJs do not provide any bags. “These are places people go to shop on a budget.” He noted that groups like St Vincent de Paul and the Neighborhood Services Center provide food for those in need and also provide reusable bags. “It is not convenient to do something for the environment,” he concluded. “But it’s important to do something for the environment.”
During the public comment period, the council heard from Sarah Price of the Maryland Retailers Alliance, which represents thousands of retailers in Maryland, who explained how the 10 cent fee supports businesses. “The minimum 10 cent fee included in the statute is both the most effective way to encourage shoppers to bring their own bag and the most appropriate fee baseline to offset the mandated material costs for the retail industry.” Price stressed that shoppers have a choice. They can avoid paying the fee by simply bringing their own bags.
Plastic-Free Easton’s Elaine Tama congratulated the town for its successful rollout of the Plastic Bag Law a year-and-a-half ago, but now wondered why Gunsallus would “remove a whole section from the original ordinance. It’s really working, so why would we want to change it?”
Jeff Harrison, president of the Talbot Watermen Association, was an early supporter of the Plastic Bag Law. At that time he said, “We have to understand, whatever we do on the land eventually ends up in the water.” Last night he testified to the law’s success, saying he “doesn’t see bags in the water anymore.”
Other residents who attended last night included Ron Lesher who gave Gunsallus a reusable bag, asking him to offer the bag next time someone complained to him about the 10 cent fee. Another attendee offered her advice for how to keep a reusable bag handy. Others shared heartfelt stories of the harm from plastic pollution. The testimony of most attendees echoed Council member Curry’s words: “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it!”
The ordinance to remove the fee will be up for a vote at the next Town Council meeting Monday, September 16, 5:30 PM at the Town Hall. A public hearing will precede the vote.
Marion O. Arnold
Plastic-Free Easton
Marvin Nielsen says
We now do as much of our shopping as possible in Denton. We carry the “non-reusable” bags in our pockets when forced to shop in Easton. I enjoy explaining to people from Baltimore why they must pay 35 cents for a bag at Wawa.