This ban might be the last straw for some businesses

The average American uses 365 plastic bags a year, according to a 2018 National Geographic Report. The country goes through a few hundred million straws a day, according to market research cited by The New York Times.

Environmentally conscious members of the Albuquerque City Council would like the city to do its part to reduce the number of those items as well as foam containers that end up in landfills or worse, the ocean. They’ve drafted legislation banning the items after hearing from residents such as Ashley McKenna, who started an online petition in late 2018 urging the city to stop retailers’ use of plastic bags (about 750 people had signed the change.org petition as of last week). And from children urging action to protect the environment for their generation.

There’s no argument something must be done to protect the environment. Trying to find ways to reduce the trash in our landfills and oceans would be a good start. And no one wants to refuse the pleas of school children about the need for a cleaner environment in the future. But this feel-good ordinance might not feel so good for business owners, and ultimately, consumers — whereas a phase-in that incentivizes ecologically conscious behavior can help protect both the environment and private sector.

Councilors Isaac Benton, Cynthia Borrego, Pat Davis and Diane Gibson, all Democrats, last week introduced the Albuquerque Clean & Green Retail Ordinance, a bill that would:

Prohibit retailers from providing customers single-use plastic bags or foam containers for their purchases.

Prevent businesses from distributing single-use straws that aren’t paper or biodegradable, though it requires them to also have plastic versions on hand for those who request them.

Make it illegal to distribute single-use paper bags and carryout containers unless they meet the city’s recycling standards.

The New Mexico Restaurant Association has already signaled opposition, saying it would raise costs and force eateries to buy recyclable items that can be hard to find because of growing demand. Dan Garcia, an owner of Garcia’s Kitchen, says the ban could raise costs $12,000 per year at one of his locations alone.

Now of course a ban is possible — Seattle banned plastic straws, bags, utensils and foam containers a decade ago. But it phased its ban in over 10 years, giving suppliers and storefronts time to adapt. Seattle also runs an education campaign encouraging residents to carry their own reusable straws and flatware and businesses to reduce packaging. In California you now have to ask for a straw, they aren’t automatically handed out.

In other words, those governments didn’t mandate that things turn on a dime. Yet Albuquerque’s proposed version will have consequences everyone will feel.

Forcing a business to take a $12,000 hit in one shot almost guarantees layoffs or higher prices, and it ignores the concern that acceptable versions of bags, containers and straws can be hard to find and more expense to obtain. Then there’s the issue of government micromanaging private business.

So why not first incentivize and publicize responsible ecological behavior? That sure has gotten Metro-area residents to step up when it comes to water conservation. Encourage businesses to publicize their incentives — many groceries already give credit to customers who show up with reusable bags — or to switch on their own. That’s how progressive Santa Fe tackled plastic straws, and Starbucks and Dunkin’ are among those voluntarily phasing out plastic straws, utensils and other materials. And because there’s only one Earth, why not promote reusable tote bags as part of the One Albuquerque initiative?

The proposed legislation requires a study in fiscal 2022 to determine the impact of the ban, but isn’t it fairer to consider the effects on business and mitigate negative ones before enacting it?

Councilors should be commended for taking constituent concerns to heart to protect the environment. But business owners are constituents, too, and they will have little choice but to pass higher costs on to the rest of us. Here’s to finding the common ground that paves the way to more sustainable products being the rule rather than the exception in Albuquerque.