I come from a city that has had a ban on plastic bags for quite a long time and in 2014 a complete ban will be in effect on the whole of Los Angeles. They do usually have a charge of 10 cents for plastic-bag use. That doesn’t seem like a lot compared to the cost of a latte per day. Because it seems to be the thought that plastic does not damage the environment, maybe you best tell the birds that are eating the plastic that ends up in the ocean and other places. Then they will know why their offspring is dying from lack of nutrition. Also, how about the plastic islands that are ending up in the ocean and killing sea life? Oh, I guess that is not important as long as we don’t have to remember to bring our personal bags to the markets and the stores.

Just as information, the following are some cities and countries that have bands on plastic bags: Santa Monica, Long Beach, Pasadena, West Los Angeles, San Jose, Oakland, San Francisco, Portland, London, Mexico, 12 towns in Australia including Sydney. Rwanda has had a ban on plastic bags for years and has a reputation of being the cleanest nation in the world.

I have to say I am very surprised at the fight some people seem to have about something that will help keep such a beautiful place like Durango environmentally clean.

Debbie Bliss Hoover

Durango