Detroit Today: Should Michigan end its ban on plastic bag bans?

Michigan Democrats recently came a step closer in their goal to repeal a 2016 state law preventing local municipalities from banning the use of disposable plastic bags and containers.

The House Natural Resources and Outdoor Recreation Committee heard testimony last week on a bill introduced by State Rep. Felicia Brabec, (D-Pittsfield Twp.) back in April aiming to repeal the law enacted by the then Republican-led legislature. A companion bill was introduced in the Senate in March sponsored by State Sen. Sue Shink, (D-Northfield Twp.), with the goal of allowing local municipalities and counties to regulate single-use plastics.

Sen. Shink joined Detroit Today this morning along with Christy McGillivray from the Sierra Club of Michigan to discuss the proposed bills and why supporting bag bans is good for Michigan’s environment. Andrea Bitely, vice president of marketing and communications at the Michigan Retailers Association, also joined the show to discuss the potential downsides of repealing Michigan’s plastic bag ban law.

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Guests:

• Andrea Bitely is the vice president of marketing and communications at Michigan Retailers Association. She says single-use plastics offer businesses affordable food storage options and also offer health and safety benefits for consumers. 

“We would like businesses to be able to make these decisions for themselves,” says Bitely. “As consumers continue to make the choice to not use single use plastic bags, and use paper bags and use reusable bags, I think we’re going to see more and more businesses go in that direction.”

• Christy McGillivray is the political and legislative director for the Sierra Club of Michigan, an environmental justice organization. She says allowing local municipalities to restrict plastic bag use is an important step in protecting the environment.

“We’ve collectively created a problem when it comes to plastic pollution and we need to collectively solve it,” said McGillivray. “Relying on individual choice is not going to address the scale of a truly collective and global industrial problem.”

• State Sen. Sue Shink is a Democrat representing District 14, which includes the cities of Ann Arbor and Jackson. She has introduced a bill to repeal a plastic bags ban. She says repealing the law would allow communities to introduce their own programs to reduce waste and litter. 

“What this is, it’s not a statewide ban. It’s not an imposition,” says Shink “It’s the ability of local governments to make those decisions with their local residents about a solution that works for them. It’ll encourage innovation.”