photo by: City of Lawrence

Members of the Sustainability Advisory Board discuss a potential city ordinance regulating single-use plastic and paper bags as part of the board's meeting June 8, 2022.

Members of Lawrence’s Sustainability Advisory Board met Wednesday to begin discussing an ordinance to impose a 15-cent fee for single-use plastic and paper bags, revealing some mixed opinions about how the board wants to proceed.

The Lawrence City Commission asked the board last month to restart the discussion on disposable plastic bags. The city has previously discussed banning plastic bags altogether or creating a bag fee, and a draft ordinance was even proposed, but the process was delayed amid the COVID-19 pandemic and the potential for state legislation prohibiting such bans.

After discussing other agenda items at Wednesday’s meeting, the board only had time for about 30 minutes of discussion about bags before it had to adjourn. In that time, a few of the board’s nine members expressed support for the existing draft ordinance, which would require stores to charge their customers a 15-cent fee for each single-use plastic or paper bag. Two members, meanwhile, expressed opposition.

Board Chair Kira McPherson said that she previously supported the draft ordinance, but that she was now opposed to banning plastic bags or charging the 15-cent fee. She said she was concerned that it would have a limited impact, and that it would also put a burden on frontline workers if there were pushback from shoppers.

“What does this accomplish? We’re not getting rid of plastic flatware, we’re not trying to ban Styrofoam, we’re not banning plastic boxes or anything else that anybody uses, especially restaurants,” McPherson said, adding that she saw enforcement as a hardship for frontline workers. “… It’s the workers who take the brunt of the abuse and the stress.”

Board member Stan Rasmussen, who was not at the meeting but submitted written comments, said he questioned whether the proposed ordinance would have a meaningful impact on waste reduction and changing people’s habits. He also expressed concern that the 15-cent fee could be regressive, as the fee would be more of a burden for people with low income.

Board member Mattie Bell expressed support for a provision in the ordinance that exempts people using food assistance from the fee, but wondered how the 15-cent charge would impact those who don’t qualify for assistance but still struggle financially.

Board member Nancy Muma said she supported the ordinance and the establishment of the 15-cent fee. Muma said research previously gathered by the board indicated that a 15-cent fee would encourage people to bring their own bags. She said that different community groups could provide reusable bags for those not able to afford them, and that the board previously discussed its own bag giveaways.

“We’re not suggesting that we charge them 15 cents,” Muma said. “We’re suggesting that the 15 cents is going to motivate them to remember to bring their reusable bags.”

Muma said a board subcommittee discussed the ordinance at a meeting in May, and the subcommittee thought that overall it looked good, though there might be a need for possible amendments or tweaking. Speaking to McPherson’s point about other plastic waste, Muma said that while the ordinance didn’t address everything, it was an important first step.

“I think there’s lots of other plastics and other approaches that we have to take, but this is a way to start,” Muma said.

Board member Ben Sikes said there was broad agreement among the board members that they didn’t like plastic bags, but he wasn’t clear on what those opposed to the ordinance were suggesting instead. He said the ordinance was a tangible proposal, and that if there were an alternative to get rid of bags, he would need to see what that was.

Board member Steve Cramer said he was in favor of the ordinance. He said he thought it was a way to make the public more conscious about plastic waste, and that he thought people would adjust.

“Personally, I’m in favor of using this to make the public aware,” Cramer said. “I don’t think it’s going to be nearly as big of a hit or inconvenience.”

The board also heard from two members of the public. Margaret Kramar said she was definitely in favor of incentivizing people to bring reusable bags. Kramar said she’s been a volunteer at the food pantry Just Food, and that the pantry has a system where it gives people points toward extra food if they bring their own bag, and she said almost everyone brings a bag or other container. Michael Almon also said he was supportive of the ordinance, and that he thought people would make the change to reusable bags if they had the incentives.

The board has not yet set a date for a special meeting to continue the discussion, but members indicated they would like it to occur later this month. Once the board votes on its recommendation, the issue will go to the City Commission for ultimate consideration.