Beginning Jan. 1, an ordinance banning the distribution of plastic shopping bags will take effect in the Haines Borough, though some store owners say they still have questions.
“I have so many (plastic) to-go bags that I’ve used before, can we use ones that have already been used?” Bamboo Room and Pioneer Bar owner Christy Tengs Fowler asked. “If I have a case of bags on hand, what do I do with those?”
The ordinance, adopted by the borough assembly in April, bans “single-use, non-compostable plastic shopping bags for the purpose of carrying away goods from the point of sale,” with the exception of plastic bags used by customers to package bulk items.
Talia’s Treasure owner Tammy Hauser said that she, too, had a bag of re-used plastic bags she cycles back to customers at the point of sale. “When I get them, they’ve already been used once or twice,” she said. “I feel that’s still helping.”
Borough manager Debra Schnabel said that, to clarify, business owners must go back to the intention of the ordinance “which is to not introduce any additional inventory of plastic bags to circulate in the community.”
“So that if a commercial business in Haines is, in fact, recycling bags that they acquired not through purchase, but through someone else’s recycling, then that can be used,” she said. “The prohibition is against the purchase of new plastic bags for introduction and circulation in the community, the idea being that over time the plastic bags that are in circulation will disintegrate or be destroyed.”
In substitution for new plastic bags, Haines business owners can look to the nine other Alaskan communities that have implemented a plastic bag ban.
Misfit Consignment owner Tamara Moffitt in Palmer said her customers donate paper bags along with their consigned clothes, which she reuses for sales. “I have not had to buy any paper bags since it went into effect in the beginning of the year,” she said.
Cordova Gear manager Natasha Casciano said her store’s solution has been to offer reusable bags for purchase at $4 apiece, or for free if a customer spends more than $200 in a single visit. “Overall, because we offer an option that’s a good value, people aren’t upset about it,” she said.
Alaska Commercial Co. grocery store manager Robbe Gilmour said his store in Cordova has purchased re-usable plastic bags of higher-grade plastic that are marketed for use up to 99 times. “We give customers paper and charge 20 cents for a plastic one,” he said. “We wanted to charge enough to make people care and get in the habit of bringing bags.” The store donates half the proceeds from plastic bag purchases back to a local conservation organization, he said.
Alba’s coffee shop in Bethel, Alaska only distributes paper bags, as does Kodiak Hana Restaurant, employees at both places told the CVN.
The Safeway in Kodiak charges 25 cents for a plastic bag, but distributes paper for free, manager Delisa Michener said.
Sarah Swinton, Olerud’s owner, said the store plans to transition by introducing reusable shopping bags for purchase for $2.99 or $3.99, size depending. They will also continue to offer paper bags.
“A lot of people are bringing their own bags in,” Swinton said. “I will probably have some plastic left over. I might sell it by the case before January 1.”
Chilkat Bakery will turn to paper, owner Miki Atkins said. She said she will reuse paper bags– and buy more if needed– but expects it might be difficult to transport hot to-go food in a paper bag without handles.
Other local business owners said they hadn’t had time to think about the transition yet, but many noted that customers are diligent about bringing in their own bags.
“Many people chose the no-bag option,” Rhonda Hinson of Alaska Rod’s said.
Magpie Gallery owner Laura Rogers has always offered customers a choice of a compostable plastic bag or paper, though she said most customers prefer paper or their own bag.
A case of 500 biodegradable plastic bags costs $34.99 on Amazon, compared to 1,000 single-use plastic bags for $24.99.