Expand the Bag Ban Toolkit

Demonstrating public support for a local ordinance is one of the most effective ways of ensuring the best policy gets passed. CALPIRG has drafted the below petition, which can be used to collect signatures in support of a local plastic bag ordinance. Italicized sections of the following sample should be replaced with your specific information:

Dear Elected Official,

I’m writing to ask you to take common-sense action to reduce plastic waste in our community. Plastic waste pollutes our environment and spreads toxic microplastics in our communities. Plastic bags are one source of plastic waste we just don’t need. California has taken an important step to cut plastic waste by banning plastic bags at grocery stores, but we must continue the push to eliminate all unnecessary plastic bags. I urge you to lead on this important issue and reduce harmful plastic waste by banning plastic bags of any thickness at all restaurants and retail stores in our city.

Help us tackle litter and address plastic pollution in Municipality by introducing/supporting this policy today.

Letters to the editor can help build visibility for local ordinances in the media. They can be used to show support ahead of votes and educate the public, elected officials, and retailers. An example is below:

“Like many others, I love walking in the Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve, enjoying the nature and wildlife along the way. However, trash in the water and along the banks takes away from the beauty of the walk, and more importantly, harms the animals living there. The main offender I see in the Reserve are plastic bags. In our waterways and streams, plastic breaks into microplastics, spreading toxins throughout our ecosystem and even into our own bodies.

I am glad California finally banned plastic bags in grocery stores. But grocery stores are not the only source of plastic bags; places like restaurants and retail stores can still provide them. Unfortunately, after a short trip home, most of these plastic bags will quickly become trash. Luckily, we can help prevent more plastic waste from polluting our environment by expanding the existing plastic bag ban to include restaurants and shops. With alternatives like reusable bags that won’t harm our environment or hurt our wildlife, this decision should be an easy one.

We use plastic bags for minutes, but they can pollute our environment for centuries. A stronger bag ban will lead to cleaner streets and healthier communities. I urge my local leaders to pass this legislation as soon as possible, so that we can provide a better future for ourselves and our environment.”

Sign-on letters can help show support for passing a plastic bag ban in your municipality. CALPIRG drafted a letter that can be used to collect signatures from local small businesses and community organizations in favor of an expanded plastic bag ordinance. An example is below:

DATE, YEAR

City has beautiful neighborhoods and natural places – but plastic pollution is threatening our environment and our health.

So much pollution comes from things we do not need and have known for decades we should not be using, like plastics. Making plastic requires drilling for oil and releasing toxins into the air. 

Almost all of this plastic becomes waste as soon as it is opened. This plastic is neither reused nor recycled but instead landfilled, burned, or lost into our environment, where it can persist as a pollutant for generations. Once discarded, plastic breaks down into smaller pieces called microplastic. Today, microplastics have been found nearly everywhere, even inside our bodies.

The solution is clear. We need to stop this waste at the source. California has taken an important step to cut plastic pollution by banning plastic bags at grocery stores, but we must continue the push to eliminate all unnecessary plastic bags. I urge you to lead on this important issue and reduce harmful plastic waste by also banning plastic bags at restaurants and retail stores in our city.

This is an issue many small businesses and organizations care about. XX number local small businesses and organizations have signed on in support of such a measure. Their support is attached on the following pages.

We look forward to seeing XX City Council continue to lead on the environment.

Best,

Your name

Your organization (if applicable)