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Logan City Council repeals plastic bag ban

A plastic bag on a gray background.
Christopher Vega
/
Unsplash

The Logan City Council meeting saw a heated debate over the ongoing issue of the city’s plastic bag ban Tuesday night.

One of the most extensively discussed items at the City Council meeting this week was the consideration of a proposed ordinance repealing the Logan’s single use plastic bag ban.

More than a dozen supporters of the plastic bag ban attended the meeting. Macy Gustavus, a graduate student at Utah State University researching microplastics in aquatic ecosystems, was a spokesperson for the plastic bag ban supporters.

“I'm asking you on behalf of myself and all the researchers and community members here today, to consider not repealing the plastic bag ban until we know that the countywide waste management plan is really solid and actually working," Gustavus said.

The Cache County Waste Management Plan addresses the issue of single use plastic bags by giving businesses two options: charge a 10 cent fee to use plastic bags or they can commit to recycling plastic bags. Opponents of Logan’s plastic bag ban are concerned that if other cities in Cache Valley don’t adopt similar bans, Logan businesses could lose customers. However, Issa Hamud, the Environmental Director for the City of Logan, argues adopting the county management plan will resolve this issue.

“We've had meetings with retailers, we've had meetings with industries and other big businesses in town. And we have not seen anyone who is against it. It is very simple, easy to follow. I think it can be easily implemented," Hamud said.

However, supporters of Logan’s ban have concerns over repealing the ban entirely until they are sure of the countywide plan.

Councilwoman Jeannie Simmonds clarified some of the back and forth between Logan and Cache County.

“Well, we want to do it but the county might not want to do it and the county is integrally involved In waste management, through Logan city, so it gets kind of complicated that way," Simmonds said.

The council voted three to two to support repealing the bag ban.

Ellis Juhlin is a science reporter here at Utah Public Radio and a Master's Student at Utah State. She studies Ferruginous Hawk nestlings and the factors that influence their health. She loves our natural world and being part of wildlife research. Now, getting to communicate that kind of research to the UPR listeners through this position makes her love what she does even more. In her free time, you can find her outside on a trail with her partner Matt and her goofy pups Dodger and Finley. They love living in a place where there are year-round adventures to be had!