Copyright Chicago Tribune
Park Ridge city leaders had another discussion at the City Council Committee of the Whole meeting Monday night about potentially banning plastic grocery bags. The council is not expected to formally vote until next year on a measure about this. And, a potential ban would affect only retail stores that are over 10,000 square feet. Establishments like the hospital and country club would be exempt, according to the discussions. Mayor Marty Maloney said he doubted the bigger retailers would care much about the issue. “If we limit it to 10,000 square feet, I don’t think we’re going to hear a lot of hue and cry,” he told the council. “I don’t see there’s going to be a ton of hue and cry over the loss of plastic bags at Jewel and Mariano’s and other big stores like that.” Maloney said he doubted even residents would care if the ban only affected the big retailers, since customers would still be able to use paper bags. This summer, the council heard from city staff about a possible plastic bag prohibition, including a small bag fee – similar to what Chicago shoppers pay at most retail outlets. However, the possibility of a fee didn’t get much traction at that meeting, and City Planner John Scoppaletti and Director of Community Preservation and Development Drew Awsumb, focused the Monday update on an outright ban. But, it would be for only the biggest grocery stores in the city. The elected representatives seemed more or less in agreement with a limited ban, though some alderpeople said they would support a total ban on all single-used bags everywhere. Two speakers said much the same thing. Missy Lamgam addressed the council and said a lot of residents do reuse the bags, so they’re not single-use. And, she argued, making a ban applicable to only a handful of stores won’t make a dent in plastic usage. “Is this worth moving forward for? A few stores,” Lamgam asked, before listing a handful of reuses people have for the bags. “It lines garbage cans, you take a few when you walk your dog and … if we don’t have them, we’re going out and buying plastic bags. “Let’s be real, are we moving the needle in any meaningful way by actually doing this,” she asked. Andrea Cline, chair of the Sustainability Commission, agreed. “If we don’t go all in, what difference are we making?” Cline asked. “So, I encourage the city council to ban all plastic bags in the city.” Alderperson Lauren Rapisand said later in the meeting she wouldn’t mind a total ban, but most on the council seemed to want only a limited one. It’s not clear whether the retailers have any opinion at all. Other municipalities have outright bans or charge small fees for the bags. So, Awsumb has said he expects larger retailers will be able to comply with whatever the City Council decides. However, Awsumb said he has not heard from any retailers since the city began discussing the ban. Alderperson Joseph Steinfels said he asked the management of the local Jeweli-Osco grocery store to call him and he left his card. But, he said he has not heard anything one way or another from the grocer. “I don’t think we’re going to solve climate change by this action,” the mayor said. But, Maloney said that even a few less bags can make a difference. “This is a step you can take. We can’t solve the problems of the world but we can take a step to solve this little problem,” the mayor said, referring to a widely-repeated complaint that the small plastic bags are not good for the environment. Awsumb said after the meeting the city may discuss the topic again later this year, but with budget discussions coming up, he doubts any action will happen before next year.
