KODIAK — The Kodiak City Council approved a ban on some plastic bags.
The new law goes into effect on April 22, the Kodiak Daily Mirror reported Monday.
Store owners, some of which have mixed feelings on the ban, will be able to keep giving customers bags from their current inventories for eight months.
Councilmember Charles Davidson said only “disposable plastic shopping” bags will be banned, meaning it’s possible store owners could give out other types of plastic bags.
Other plastics still allowed include those used to “contain dampness or leaks from items such as frozen foods, meat or fish, flowers or potted plants” and “bags sold for buyer’s use off the seller’s premises for such purposes as the collection and disposal of garbage, pet waste, or yard waste.”
David Zimmerman, manager of Sutliff’s hardware store, said he voiced some concerns to the council but that his store would adjust to the changes.
“It is probably going to cost us a bit more to switch to paper bags, but it’s manageable,” Zimmerman said. “Hopefully people will remember to bring bags with them when they’re shopping. It’ll take some adjustment, but we’ll figure it out.”
Kelly Krueger, speaking on behalf of herself and Sun’aq Tribe of Kodiak, said that the tribe has submitted a grant application to National Geographic to fund efforts to reduce marine plastic pollution.
If given money via the grant, some would go toward purchasing 2,000 reusable bags for public use in Kodiak.
