Durango has plastic bags on the Animas River Trail. The cost to clean up the trail is paid by every resident. Plastic bags are jamming the sewer system according to the director of utilities in a City Council report. The cost is paid by every Durango resident. The litter on the side of the road, hanging from trees, fences, and plugging culverts is unacceptable for Durango. Durango pays for the impact from plastic bags. It is a fee.

According to Tiffany Parker, La Plata County Clerk, “Since the bag fee isn’t a ‘tax’ under TABOR it cannot be placed in it. I can’t even mention it. The Notice of Election booklet is strictly for TABOR issues only.” The city will use the $.05 to provide reusable bags for residents and visitors. Senior housing, low income housing, the community shelter, the Family Center, the Welcome Center can all benefit from reusable bags. A hardship exemption is for residents receiving state or federal aid. The bag fee cannot be used by the general fund. The grocery stores will keep $.05 for their adminisration of the ordinance.

Vote to keep the checkout bag ordinance and join millions in Massachusetts, Hawaii, Iowa, Oregon, Washington, California, Texas, Wisconsin, Maryland, Connecticut, Alaska, New York, North Carolina, Rhode Island, District of Columbia, Arizona, Sante Fe, New Mexico, Breckenridge, Boulder, Carbondale, Aspen and Telluride in standing up for your Durango environment.

Sweetie Marbury

Durango