Mayor Dawn Zimmer is used to fielding questions from the press, aides, council members, and city directors. However, last week, a new group of green-shirted citizens asked Zimmer a question of their own: why doesn’t Hoboken ban plastic bags?
Would you support a phased in ban on plastic bags in the Mile Square City?
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The students speak
Sixth grade student Dakota Rogers-Myers was selected to deliver an opening address on behalf of her fellow students and said that the findings of their studies about plastic bags was “so startling” that the class felt obligated to talk directly to elected officials.
“The long and short of it is that I think we need to ban the bags.” – Mayor Dawn Zimmer, on plastic bags
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Student Morgan Fields spoke not only about the dangers of plastic bags to the environment in Hoboken but also about the animals that come in contact with bags that may find their way into the ocean.
The students spoke about the possibility of a 50 cent tax on all plastic bags and a switch to paper, but said the ultimate answer is to ban the bags entirely.
“It may seem like a crazy rule but many countries and cities have already done it,” Fields said.
The students appeared to be preaching to the choir in their talk with Zimmer.
“Together we can make this happen,” Zimmer said.
The next steps
Zimmer added that the city is currently “looking at different models” about how this type of legislation could move forward. She added that the city will reach out to the business community, but that she would need the children who spoke passionately about the issue to come forward to a City Council meeting, and to bring their parents and friends along.
Zimmer noted that there may be some people in the city who will oppose a tax or ban, but her question put forth to the students was “how do we get people to think positively?” about the proposal.
The mayor noted that it took her some time to remember to use recyclable bags herself, but now her family brings their own bags to the grocery store.
Fifth Ward Councilman Peter Cunningham raised the possibility of the establishment of a partnership with local businesses.
“There could be a way to incentivize the program,” he said.
Zimmer said she is in favor of a “phased-in” approach, where a tax on the bags could be an effective transition to a complete ban, but said some aspects had to be addressed with the legal department to decide what the next possible steps are to move toward a bag ban.
Looking to Jersey City
Neighboring Jersey City recently proposed an amendment to an ordinance that would require the use of compostable plastic, recycled paper, and/or reusable checkout bags by stores located in the city limits, and would provide penalties for violations.
“I think Hoboken needs to go further,” Zimmer said when asked about the Jersey City ordinance. “The long and short of it is that I think we need to ban the bags.”
Teachers Alexandria Ceci, Libby Vino, and Tiffany Cohen joined Jill Singleton, the head of the middle school, for the presentation at City Hall.
“We’ve been talking about it for a few years,” Vino said. “We were approached by MY ECO [a reusable bag company] and it seemed like the perfect partnership.”
A nationwide, controversial issue
Plastic bags are currently taxed in Washington, D.C. A 5-cent tax generated $150,000 in revenue in one month earlier in the year, and that money is being used to clean the Anacostia River. According to one report, the bag tax dropped usage from 22.5 million bags per month to 3 million. In 2007, San Francisco banned plastic bags at grocery shops.
However, the issue is not without its own controversy.
In California, a state-wide ban failed in September after the legislation came under attack by the plastic bag manufacturing industry.
Websites such as thetruthaboutplasticbags.com have been established to oppose plastic bag bans. Though not listed front and center on the site, the information is put forth by Hilex Poly, which according to their website is “an industry-leading manufacturer of plastic bag and film products.”
While the afternoon session may have seemed pleasant, a tougher fight will await the city if a bag ban is formally proposed.
What do you think? Would you support a ban on plastic bags in the Mile Square City? Take our poll at www.HudsonReporter.com.
Ray Smith can be reached at RSmith@hudsonreporter.com.
Middle school students speak out
Only 1 percent of plastic bags recycled each year
Dear Editor:
My name is Aaron and I am writing to you to try to help our Earth. Our Earth is polluted by plastic bags. We recently had an event at school where we invited leaders from Hoboken to hear about the dangers of plastic bags. Here are some of the things we learned about plastic bags.
Billions of plastic bags are used every year, and only 1 percent are recycled. Plastic bags kill animals on the land and in the sea, who mistake them for food and then die. Plastic bags stay in landfills for thousands of years, and ever after that, they are not gone – they release toxins into the air and water. Aside from all of that, they really hurt your hands when they are too heavy, and they break easily, causing us to double up and double the damage to the environment.
We think plastic bags should have a tax on them so fewer people will use them. We think that everyone should use reusable bags instead. Also, we hope that Hoboken will ban plastic bags before Jersey City.
Aaron
Sixth Grade
Plastic bags a problem kids will deal with in future
Dear Editor:
My name is Angela, and I am from the seventh grade at All Saints Episcopal Day School. I want to thank the Mayor and members of the City Council for taking the time to meet with us on Nov. 9 and to listen to our message.
Hoboken should know that our environment is being hurt by plastic bags. You may not think this is a problem now, but it is a problem that kids like me will have to deal with in the future. Billions of plastic bags get used, but only 1percent of them get recycled. Where do the rest go? They litter the streets and parks in Hoboken and get stuck in trees and in the drains on the corners. When they break down, they release toxins into our water supply. Plastic bags are a big problem.
We want people to stop using disposable plastic bags and start using reusable bags. We have a solution! We are asking you, the adults in our city, to create a ban or put a tax on the usage of plastic bags. The tax money could be used for recycling bins on street corners, or other things for the environment in Hoboken. You’ve seen Jersey City take the lead on this in New Jersey. But did you know that San Francisco, Portland, Coastal North Carolina, Modbury, New Dehli, Bangladesh, and China have already put some kind of restrictions into place? Let’s make Hoboken an environmental leader.
Angela
Tax money can be used for other environmental projects
Dear Editor:
My name is Austin. I am writing to you to tell you about the dangers of the plastic bag and a solution to the plastic bag problem. Plastic bags may not seem like much, but they are horrible for the environment. They sit in landfills and take thousands of years to break down, kill numerous sea animals, and while they’re breaking down, they release toxins in the air.
Here is a solution! We can charge a tax on plastic bags. Then we can use the money for recycling bins, solar panels, and more environmental projects.
Austin
Sixth Grade
Breakdown of plastic bags puts toxins in air, water, land
Dear Editor:
My name is Keanna and I am in the sixth grade. I would like you to know that we at All Saints Episcopal Day School are trying to help the world. So I am writing on behalf of my middle school to give you some information.
Plastic bags are such a problem. They get in the sea and animals mistake them for food and die. Also, when they break down, they put toxins in the air, water, and land. Plastic bags are so bad that it is time to do something about it. We should put a tax on plastic bags. The extra money can go to so many things to make our city even better.
Keanna
Sixth Grade
Let’s ‘put the lid’ on plastic bags
Dear Editor:
My name is Michael and I am writing to you because I care about the earth and our community. I want to “put the lid” on plastic bags in our city. Plastic bags are a problem that can be seen as litter all over our community. They are made of oil and do not decompose for thousands of years. When they finally do break down, they release toxins into our air, land, and water. There are two ways we can help get rid of plastic bags. The city could create a bag-tax and people who don’t want to pay that tax could use reusable bags instead.
Michael
Seventh Grade
Let Hoboken set precedent for the world
Dear Editor:
My name is Nicole and I’m in the seventh grade at All Saints Episcopal Day School. We had a Leadership Summit last month and, sadly, many of the leaders we invited were unable to attend. I wanted to explain to you all our message, so it feels like you came.
Lately, we have been discussing the troubles that plastic bags are causing. We found out that plastic bags stay in landfills for thousands of years and they hurt animals. Only 1 percent of the billions of bags we use get recycled.
We want to do something about this! We kids, want you, our leaders, to put a tax on or even ban plastic bags from the city of Hoboken. Then we can use the money to make Hoboken a better place for everyone. We want to change New Jersey and maybe even the world!
Nicole
Seventh Grade
Plastic bags kill wildlife and threaten our natural resources
Dear Editor:
I am Rachel and I go to All Saints Episcopal Day School. I am writing to you to get our message out there so that we can help save our planet. Plastic bags are a huge problem to the environment. That is because they get thrown away carelessly and litter our animals’ habitats and the ocean. Many animals are dying from eating these bags that they mistake for food, and they could even become extinct because of our carelessness. Also, when bags break down, they poison our underground wildlife, water supply, soil, and harm our food chain.
If we ban plastic bags, some people might become unhappy. So maybe we could put a tax on the bags. The tax could be 50 cents, and the extra money would go to help improve our environments, build roads, provide school supplies, and so much more. So, please help us.
Rachel
Sixth Grade
Filling Hoboken leaders in on Leadership Summit
Dear Editor:
Hello. My name is Sam and I attend All Saints Episcopal Day School. My classmates and I are very sorry that so many of the leaders of Hoboken could not attend our Leadership Summit. I am writing on behalf of our middle school to tell you about the message you missed.
Plastic bags are a huge problem for the earth. I think you know why, but I’ll tell you anyway. One of the reasons plastic bags are bad is that they take thousands of years to break down. Another reason is that they are made of oil, and we all remember the oil spill.
We have a solution: reusable bags. Reusable bags can be used for groceries and in many other ways, like camping, trick-or-treating, or carrying sports equipment. Every time you use a reusable bag, think about how many plastic bags you are saving.
Sam
Seventh Grade
Poll closes Thursday Nov. 18, 2010