Thursday, January 22, 2009
Portland's Plastic Policy is Behind the Curve
"State and local governments across the nation have been focusing on plastic bags for years as they search for ways to protect the environment, curb global warming and reform a disposable-minded society. Americans use more than 90 billion plastic bags a year, and only a fraction get recycled" as reported from a Washington Post article today. That fraction is somewhere in the margin of 5-6% and what's even worse is that there's currently no profitable program in place to recycle these bags that will NEVER go away. The scale of this issue and its effects on our oceans was further highlighted on New York Public Radio today. The article in the Post goes further into the issue by highlighting Virginia legislator's attempt to wrestle with statewide policy to ban plastic bags. "The proposed ban did not originate with environmental groups. The discussion started last year, when cotton farmers in eastern Virginia discovered that bags floated into their equipment, damaging machines and diminishing the cotton's quality. They formed the Virginia Plastic Bag Coalition to look into the issue." Virginia legislators are now considering banning plastic bags at grocery stores and chain retailers because of their potential harm to the environment. See for yourself it's happening all over the world, it's time for Portland to Ban the Bag!
Comments:
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I sent an email to the City of Portland commissioners. I received a brief response from Commissioner Fish stating that due to the economic situation, Mayor Adams is not presently considering a fee on plastic bag use.
I also received the following admonishment from Commissioner Fritz. Apparently she doesn't like form emails being sent to her city email account. Nor did she say whether or not she supports a ban on plastic bag use.
"Dear Doug,
Thank you for caring about this issue. As a longtime advocate for the
environment, former Board member of the Coalition for a Livable Future, and
co-founder of the Tryon Creek Watershed Council, I am well aware of the
destructive nature of plastics. I am also acutely conscious of the current
recession and the need to work with our regional partners to find solutions
to our slumping economy, as well as our shared environmental challenges.
I have received over 200 emails on this topic, most with identical content.
Since I read all my messages myself, and reply to each one individually, the
effectiveness of the message was greatly diminished after reading the same
words the first half dozen times. I don't make decisions based on how many
people contact me in support or opposition. I consider the facts, and
different opinions on the potential impacts of the proposed action.
I suspect you probably filled in the form on the Surfrider.org web site, as
that site requested. I realize form letters usually receive an automated
response - but that means computers are talking with computers, not people
with people.
The next time you feel passionately about an issue, please know that one
sentence sent directly to me here, at this address, would be far more
effective than clicking to send a form on a web site that results in elected
officials receiving dozens of identical emails. Or, organize a joint
approach, and send a delegation to come in to talk with me and/or my staff.
As it is, I am spending so much effort responding to each sender, that I
have no time left to look into the issue you want me to act on.
I do thank you for caring about this issue.
Sincerely,
Amanda Fritz
Commissioner, City of Portland
I also received the following admonishment from Commissioner Fritz. Apparently she doesn't like form emails being sent to her city email account. Nor did she say whether or not she supports a ban on plastic bag use.
"Dear Doug,
Thank you for caring about this issue. As a longtime advocate for the
environment, former Board member of the Coalition for a Livable Future, and
co-founder of the Tryon Creek Watershed Council, I am well aware of the
destructive nature of plastics. I am also acutely conscious of the current
recession and the need to work with our regional partners to find solutions
to our slumping economy, as well as our shared environmental challenges.
I have received over 200 emails on this topic, most with identical content.
Since I read all my messages myself, and reply to each one individually, the
effectiveness of the message was greatly diminished after reading the same
words the first half dozen times. I don't make decisions based on how many
people contact me in support or opposition. I consider the facts, and
different opinions on the potential impacts of the proposed action.
I suspect you probably filled in the form on the Surfrider.org web site, as
that site requested. I realize form letters usually receive an automated
response - but that means computers are talking with computers, not people
with people.
The next time you feel passionately about an issue, please know that one
sentence sent directly to me here, at this address, would be far more
effective than clicking to send a form on a web site that results in elected
officials receiving dozens of identical emails. Or, organize a joint
approach, and send a delegation to come in to talk with me and/or my staff.
As it is, I am spending so much effort responding to each sender, that I
have no time left to look into the issue you want me to act on.
I do thank you for caring about this issue.
Sincerely,
Amanda Fritz
Commissioner, City of Portland
# posted by 
: 3:19 PM
: 3:19 PM
Keep the dialogue going. Send a personal reply about why you care about the issue. Ms Fritz returned form emails with form emails. This is just the beginning, not the end, so keep the good faith discussion going. Remember our city commissioners work for us!
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