FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

March 17, 2016

MEDIA CONTACTS

Gwen Schuler, Media and Communications, gschuler@cityoftacoma.org, (253) 591-5152

Stacy Ellifritt, Media and Communications, stacy.ellifritt@cityoftacoma.org, (253) 591-2005

Tacoma Residents Invited to Attend Disposable Shopping Bags Public Forum on March 29

The City of Tacoma’s Office of Environmental Policy and Sustainability will host a Disposable Shopping Bags Public Forum on Tuesday, March 29, from 6 - 7:45 p.m. at the Tacoma Public Library, Main Branch in the Olympic Room (1102 Tacoma Ave. S).

Members of the public and business community are invited to attend the forum to discuss restricting the use of disposable plastic bags in Tacoma. Attendees will be able to comment on the proposed draft ordinance language and implementation plans.

This event comes in response to City staff’s presentation to the City Council’s Infrastructure, Planning and Sustainability Committee on Feb. 24, 2016. The committee asked staff to draft an ordinance following the “Bellingham Model.” This model has been adopted in various forms by 12 of 14 Washington jurisdictions that have adopted disposable bag restrictions. Tacoma’s proposed ordinance bans disposable plastic shopping bags and charges a fee for carryout bags.

The committee asked staff to continue getting public feedback to shape any potential shopping bag restrictions. Comments may also be submitted to sustainability@cityoftacoma.org, until Friday, April 8, 2016.

For information about upcoming meetings and events, disposable shopping bags and related resources, visit cityoftacoma.org/ShoppingBags or call (253) 502-2273.

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