Logan plastic bag ban repealed
**Editor’s note: this is an updated story from a previous article that was published on Dec. 5.
On Dec. 7, in Logan’s weekly council meeting, the Logan city plastic bag ban was repealed with a three to two vote. After multiple delays, the plastic bag ban was originally meant to take effect on Jan. 1, 2022.
Included in this discussion was the proposed county wide plastic recycling and reduction management plan, which is on the Cache County council agenda for the Dec. 14 meeting.
This waste management plan implements new plastic recycling options for businesses in Cache County with the goal of reducing plastic waste.
Logan city council members Amy Anderson, Mark Anderson and Tom Jensen voted for the repeal of the plastic bag ban while council members Jeannie Simmonds and Ernesto Lopez voted against the repeal.
Jensen, Amy and Mark stated their support for the county-wide waste management plan over the ban because of their concerns that businesses will not adapt well to the ban if it took effect. They agreed the waste management plan gives businesses more options for their plastic recycling.
“One of the things I like about the plastic management plan is that it helps to motivate behavior whereas the ban is preventing behavior,” Amy said.
Amy and Mark originally supported the ban.
Lopez stated his continued support for the ban and referenced the success similar legislation has had elsewhere. Simmonds did not express her opinion on the ban other than her vote.
A group of Utah State University students attended the meeting in opposition of the repeal.
Macy Gustavus, a graduate student attending USU, organized informational sessions about the ban prior to the council meeting and encouraged students to show support by attending the Dec. 7 meeting.
“I’m asking you on behalf of myself and all of the researchers and community members here today to consider not repealing the plastic bag ban until we know that the county-wide waste management plan is really solid and actually working,” Gustavus said. “This is for the health of our community and Cache Valley in general.”
When the repeal was voted on and passed, the group of USU students left the meeting, expressing their disappointment as they exited.
“The plastic bag ban and the waste management plan are not mutually exclusive, and the county plan is not going to make any change,” said Georgie Corkery, one of USU students in the group. “One of the options is basically to do nothing, and recycling is not the solution.”
Logan resident Peggy Neuber also attended the council meeting.
“I know it’s not just plastic bags that are the problem, but I think we need to start here,” Neuber said. “Other cities have done it and people get used to it. I don’t think educating and getting people ready is going to happen. If people don’t know about the plastic problem now, they never will, or they will never pay attention to it.”
-Maya.Mackinnon@usu.edu
Thank heavens! I definitely prefer the plastic bags. They are easier for carrying groceries and can reused for indoor garbage. Remember the old days when we had to wash out garbage cans? Using plastic liners keeps all the cans clean from spilled food waste. Thanks for stopping the ban and leaving us the option to use plastic.
I agree, thanks for once again giving us our freedom back. For those that don’t like them, don’t use them. For those that do let them. Stop pushing the way you want things to be on everyone else.
The county wide Plastic Reduction and Recycling plan is by far the better option. So the repeal of the ban isn’t crucial to cleaning up our community waste. Those folks who love plastic don’t have to deal with the mess we create for the neighbors of our landfill. Being grateful for “The option to use plastic” is like being grateful for the option to spew toxic fumes from big-tired ‘man’ trucks. Or being grateful for the right to ignore a broken sewage pipe and the effect that has on our neighbors. We need to love Mother Earth, not desecrate it. And the Logan Environmental Department confirms that single-use plastic bags are our single biggest garbage problem. No one should be entitled to free plastic bags. We’re not an entitlement society.