Conscious Choice: PCC Takes The Trash Out

November 2007 | On Our Radar

PCC Takes The Trash Out

Sheryo Wiser

What do Tanzania and PCC Natural Markets have in common? Both have discontinued the use of plastic bags; in fact, the African nation instituted a total ban in 2006.

As of October 1, PCC boldly went where no other grocery retailer has gone and discontinued using plastic shopping bags. According to Tracy Wolpert, CEO, “While this decision to eliminate plastic shopping bags will entail some additional cost, it’s simply the right thing to do. We have studied the environmental impact of paper versus plastic and believe that paper is the more sustainable choice, while bag reuse is the best choice of all.”

Plastic, once hailed as a modern-day wonder, has faced increasing scrutiny over its impact on the environment. The estimates of how many plastic bags used annually vary wildly from 500 billion to anywhere up to 1 trillion. Even taking the more conservative estimate of 500 billion still roughly translates as 1 million every minute, according to Reusablebags.com.

So what is the City of Seattle’s action plan when it comes to plastic? Currently, Seattle spends about $23 million each year to send some 900 million pounds of garbage to a landfill in eastern Oregon. According to the Seattle’s last waste composition study, plastic bags accounted for 339 tons and that was just from residential garbage. Once in a landfill, it is estimated that plastic bags take 1,000 years to decompose.

While Seattle Public Utility’s Dick Lilly praises PCC’s decision as “encouraging” and is hopeful that other stores will follow suit, the fact remains that Seattle’s often-laborious policy of study and consensus is in full gear with no real date set for specific action. By December 2007, SPU will have recommendations on plastic shopping bags and Styrofoam food containers. However, the study is not limited to a yes or no answer, says Lilly, nor is it limited to just plastic, but paper as well.

“We’re looking at all the possible strategies we can employ—consumer charges similar to Europe, taxes, bans, or public education and increased recycling,” says Lilly. “Which also includes studying cost and the most environmentally effective solution.”

In any case, finishes Lilly, the best choice consumers can make is starting with their own actions. “The behavior of individuals determines what is in the waste stream and recycling stream, and it is up to individuals to put the least amount of strain on the environment. Meaning that it’s time to give BYOB a new meaning as in Bring Your Own Bag whenever and wherever you shop and just say No Thank You to plastic and paper.

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