Ohio lawmakers working to prohibit local bans on plastic bags and straws

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Ohio lawmakers are working on a ban on bans. Plastic is not a bad word to some in the state government. In fact, the House just passed a bill that could make Ohio a bit less green.

The law would prohibit local communities from banning single-use plastic bags. It would also block bans on single-use cups and straws.

It could reverse local bans in Cuyahoga County, Orange Village, and Bexley.

Republican Governor Mike DeWine opposes bills that would prohibit local bans on plastic bags. The GOP is setting up a local control spat after the House passed the bill Wednesday and now goes to the Senate.

While Republican state lawmakers want to rescind the local rights, the municipal governments have the backing of DeWine, who echoes environmentalists’ concerns about plastic bag pollution.

Mike Kasler was shopping at Weiland’s Market and picked a paper bag for his purchases. “Well plastic breaks down in what, 400 years, how long does it take the paper to break down?”

Kasler said, “I prefer paper. That is an issue of concern. But I am also concerned how the legislature seems to want to invade the City of Columbus and other municipalities home rule provisions.

They are really I think overstepping their bounds. And if Columbus wants to go to paper, or if Athens whatever town wants to go to paper, Bexley, it’s their right to.”

Jennifer Williams is the owner of Weiland’s and serves on the board of the Ohio Grocers’ Association. Williams said “It represents a choice about how they contribute to the environmental issues or don’t contribute to that. I think it is something people can control over what they choose.”

“Plastic bags are cheaper, probably a third cheaper than paper bags,” Williams said.

“The paper bags have their own form of issues, trees, and pollution, the tote bags are generally made overseas, so you have fossil fuels to get them here. Labor practices, I don’t know. It’s just none of them are perfect. Let’s be consistent as a state,” Williams said.

“We order thousands and thousands of bags and totes ahead of time. It takes so long and there is volume discounts. So if you have a ban it should transition properly to give the grocers or any business really enough time to use up their supply,” Williams said.