City votes to ban plastic

Say goodbye to plastic shopping bags.

Without any discussion, the Brownsville City Commission on Tuesday passed a ban on plastic shopping bags that will take effect in 2011.

The commission’s decision provoked cheers from supporters who said the change will make a big difference in Brownsville.

"It is a good day for Brownsville and it will continue to be a good day for Brownsville," Rose Timmer told the commission. Timmer, with the nonprofit organization Healthy Communities of Brownsville, spearheaded the effort with Commissioner Edward C. Camarillo to make the change.

Opponents did not speak at Tuesday’s commission meeting.

The commission is calling for a voluntary ban of plastic bags through December 2010 and it would become mandatory Jan. 1, 2011 when businesses can only provide recyclable paper bags, reusable bags or biodegradable bags.

Neither the voluntary nor the mandatory ban applies to plastic bags for bagging meat, fish and poultry products.

The ordinance that the commission approved notes that the city has a duty to protect the natural environment, the economy and the health of its citizens.

It points out that the plastic bags contribute to litter, clogged sewers and drainage systems and pollute waterways. In addition, the plastic bags are difficult to recycle and contaminate materials processed through the city’s composting program.

The voluntary ban will not be in effect until after the amendment to the litter ordinance is published in a newspaper in order to provide official notice. The date was not immediately available.

Stores such as Wal-Mart and H-E-B support the ban, their spokesmen said.

"I think it is going to be wonderful," Craig Timmer told the commission, noting that the youth of today will see a different Brownsville when they grow up. He said the future Brownsville would be "really, really fantastic" instead "of a big mess that we see right now."

Sharon Putegnat thanked the commission for making the "very, very necessary decision," pointing to the dangers of plastic bags. "This has been a good decision," she said.

Joe Lee Rubio with the Brownsville Beautification Committee also praised the commission’s action. "I know it’s going to take a little bit of work to get everybody educated," said Rubio, who also predicted, however, that the ordinance would become a model for other cities, counties and states to follow.

The commission also created a committee to troubleshoot any issues regarding the application or enforcement of the ban. The commission has not yet appointed the committee members.