Did They Pay for That?

According to Nate Wright of the Cordata Community Food Co-Op, since the Single-UsePlastic Carry Out Bag Ordinance went into effect “people, for the most part, have reacted positively to it.” Despite this the Co-Op’s downtown location did suffer another issue: theft. Wright explained that during the beginning of the ban the downtown Co-Op experienced customers leaving with unpaid merchandise. As the traditional plastic bag could no longer serve as an indication of who had already paid for their groceries, the problem escaladed “to the point where they actually asked people not to shop into their bags but to use a hand basket.” He added that since asking customers to do so the issue has since subsided.

Initially, some of the city’s intentions were to reduce waste and protect the environment by restricting the use of plastic bags. As a report by the Environment Washington Research & Policy Center stated, Bellingham contributed approximately 30 million of the 2 billion plastic bags Washington state consumers used every year before bag bans were enacted. However, the city also claimed that it was “taking a big step forward” in saving money through the ban as well. But if businesses become victims of theft as a result how is Bellingham saving money?

What policies could stores follow to avoid this problem? Leave your suggestions and comments below.

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