LETTER TO THE EDITOR: Thank you Wasilla for banning plastic bags

To the editor:

Thank you to the City of Wasilla for your bold move to help reduce plastic bag pollution in the Valley. Thank you Mayor Bert Cottle and Council members for your support in passing Ordinance 17-24 which prohibits the distribution of single use plastic bags 2.25 mils or less.

Many thanks also to the numerous Community Councils and individuals across the Borough that supported our awareness campaign with financial support. Thank you to radio station 95.5 which aired 13 weeks of free ads to kick off our radio awareness campaign.

The Plastic Bag Committee will continue to work getting the information out about the hazards of plastic bags across our beautiful and pristine Borough and State.

These flimsy bags being banned in the city of Wasilla are the ones most likely to fly out of your hands and garbage trucks then soar into the trees, bushes, and waterways – and ultimately end up in the stomachs of our fish and animals.

Folks - please be assured that you will still be able to find plastic bags in the produce and meat departments of the stores, and stores will still be able to bag your groceries – just not in the flimsy single use plastic bags.

Remember the best solution is to make a habit of taking your own sturdy, reusable bag when shopping!

Change can be challenging, but the Plastic Bag Committee is continuing to work to make the transition easier when the ordinance is enacted July 1, 2018.

For more information please visit our Facebook page: Plastic Bag Committee.

— Liz Jackson

Palmer