Today  the City Council will receive the petition requesting a ban on plastic bags at  point of retail sale. The proposed policy will prohibit single-use bags at all  retail stores; will allow only paper bags containing at least 40% recycled fiber
(for a cost of 5 cents per bag to the customer), and allow retail stores to  provide reusable bags either at no cost or for sale.

Excluded from the  ban are: bags used by consumers inside stores (i.e., produce bags); bags  containing or wrapping frozen foods or meats; those containing flowers or  plants; unwrapped prepared foods or bakery items; Pharmacy prescription bags;  newspaper bags; door-hanger bags; laundry dry cleaning bags; and product bags. 

That's a lot of exclusions, but there will still be an impact on local business that the 5 cent per paper bag fee (which by the way has to be itemized  on the customers' receipt) may or may not offset. It will also take a little  more time at checkout.

Other communities have enacted bans with varying  fee structures for paper. The closest to home is in Portland which targeted  national chain stores, but not small business. The Portland policy was also  formed by a coalition of businesses, environmental groups, and city staff. I  don't know if the Sierra Club -- who is proposing the ban -- conferred with the  business community, but I know they did not confer with the Chamber. Our  Government Affairs Committee would have liked to weigh in on the proposal to  help educate and learn from our members about the impact this may have on local  business.

There will be enforcement costs for the City, and fines may be  assessed to cover for the cost of the enforcement. Who will be asked to do that  enforcement? How will the city -- with a current budget crisis -- afford to add  to the job duties of staff? With so many exclusions, will only certain  businesses be monitored? That hardly seems like a City policy to encourage business.

There will be costs incurred by businesses over and above the cost of the bag. There will have to be additional programming for cash  registers, and training for employees, just to get started. The City will also  have to expend resources to explain the new policy and educate the business community. Again, in a cash-strapped City government, cost and the timing is questionable.

I hate plastic bags flying around as much as anyone, but  shouldn't we educate rather than legislate? Why should we impose new restrictions on business rather than create an incentive? Tell us what you think.