Monroe County waste district to give out free reusable shopping bags

The goal behind the bag giveaway is to reduce public dependency on plastic bags and to educate the public about the negative effect plastic bags have on the environment, said Tom McGlasson Jr., executive director of the solid waste management district.

Replacing plastic bags with reusable bags would also mean fewer plastic bags in the community. 

Julie Thomas, a Monroe County commissioner and a board member for the waste district, said the bags are meant to encourage residents to change their habits. She said the new bags would likely come with some information on alternatives to plastic. Last month, the district stopped accepting plastic shopping bags, trash bags, shrink wrap, dry cleaner film, food storage bags and other similar types of plastic bags. 

The change came in response to a growing glut of plastics at recycling plants in the U.S. and around the world. China also announced late last year that it would no longer take plastics and recycled materials from other countries.

County officials and the district board approved the purchase of the reusable bags earlier this week. The bags will be made from 100 percent recycled plastic material. McGlasson said Friday he anticipates ordering the bags next week. He said it could take 30-60 days until they arrive. In the meantime, McGlasson said the district will develop a plan to notify the public about the bags and how they will be distributed. 

Not everyone likes the idea of county officials buying reusable bags with taxpayer dollars. 

Bloomington resident Scott Wells urged officials to work with other companies to accept plastics rather than waste taxpayer money by buying reusable bags in hopes of changing people’s habits. He said there are businesses willing to take plastic bags, such as Kroger. 

McGlasson said the district has not been able find another source to take the district’s plastic materials, but hopes to find one.