Logan City Council bans businesses from using single-use plastic bags

Ten months after turning down a plastic bag ban in February, Logan City Council revisited and passed councilmember Herm Olsen’s proposed ban in a 3-2 vote, to be implemented in April.

Olsen proposed a ban last February that would prohibit businesses from providing single use plastic bags, intended to reduce plastic pollution in Logan. 

“This plastic doesn’t disappear,” he said. “It breaks down into microbeads of plastic that finds its way into our water system, our food chain, and it’s simply unnecessary when we have better alternatives.”

Under the ordinance, businesses refusing to comply would face a $250 fine and increasing fines for multiple violations. The council decided to table the vote for six weeks and revisit the ban in March.

In March, the Logan Environmental Department and Solid Waste Advisory Board proposed a county-wide plastic waste reduction program designed to educate the public about the impacts of single use plastic and initiate discussions with retailers. The program also included a plan in which businesses may choose to either charge consumers 10 cents per bag or pay a surcharge of $17.50 per ton of waste they generate.

The council decided then to wait another six months for a progress update on the waste reduction plan from the SWAB before taking further action. But in September, the board suggested extending the timeline another six months.

Tuesday, being the last meeting of the year and Olsen’s last meeting as a councilmember after 12 years on council, the council brought both the original ordinance and a resolution supporting the reduction plan to the table.

Resolution 19-63, which states support for a plan to continue education in the county regarding plastic and encourage businesses to charge for bags, passed unanimously.

Olsen then proposed passing Ordinance 19-24, the original plastic bag ban, on top of the previous resolution. The idea was that, as the ordinance would not go into effect until April 22 in 2020 – Earth Day – passing the ban may encourage the SWAB to make more progress on the plan by March. If the plan is successful and implemented by March, council could consider rescinding the ban. 

City attorney Kymber Housley advised against the idea of adopting an ordinance with the plan to possibly rescind it later on.

Olsen said passing the ban now would be a more symbolic act, to send a message to the SWAB and Logan Environmental Department that the council wants to see results.

“The nature of this particular problem is real. It’s serious enough that I think it’s a good statement to the Solid Waste Advisory Board and the county that we’re serious,” Olsen said.

Councilmember and chair Jeannie Simmonds agreed.

“There are certain times when I think the incentive is the appropriate way to get things, from one step to another,” she said.

Councilmember Jess Bradfield, who called in to the meeting, did not support passing the ban, deeming it unnecessary with the plastic reduction plan already in place.

“We had discussed that we wanted to wait for the county to give them this opportunity and the county has actually taken it and moved forward with it and things appear to be going swimmingly,” Bradfield said. “I don’t think they need a stick at this point.”

Replied Olsen: “This is a statement that says we care. Logan City cares. We hope the county will care. But sometimes it requires a leader.

“Perhaps it’s symbolic, but symbols are important.”

Councilmember Tom Jensen voted no, suggesting the council revisit a vote in spring rather than voting now.

Councilmember Amy Anderson, after a deliberating pause, voted yes.

Bradfield said, “I feel like that is sending the wrong message to the county and to our local businesses,” and voted no.

Olsen voted yes.

Simmonds, the last to vote, voted yes, carrying the motion 3-2.

Audience members began to applaud and Simmonds motioned for them to stop. Olsen smiled, raising a fist in subtle celebration.

“I am delighted that the resolution passed endorsing the county-wide plastic reduction program, and I’m thrilled that two council members had the gumption to step up to the plate and send a symbolic message,” Olsen said afterward. “It has taken years to educate and alert the community about the need for such action. 

“We owe it to our kids and grandkids to be better stewards of Mother Earth, better stewards of Cache County and Logan.”

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@naomiyokoward