HomeMy WebLinkAbout04-23-18 Public Comment - M. DeFanti - Plastic Bags Deceb
April 4, 2018
Maxwell DeFanti
418 West Garfield
Bozeman, MT 59715
Bozeman City Commision
121 North Rouse Ave
Bozeman, MT 59715
Dear Bozeman City Commission,
My name is Maxwell DeFanti, a student at headwaters academy. I am writing on account
of plastic bags being freely distributed at most supermarkets. This plastic is being widespread
across the globe. Without some way to limit plastic use, our oceans will be filled with toxins. If
we can manage to, even if just at a local level to slow down plastic use, we might be able to help
the world by protecting it from microplastics that inevitably kill many animals.
I propose a tax on plastic bag use at supermarkets around town. People would have to pay
five cents per bag if they choose plastic. This means that the more plastic used, the more the tax.
Hopefully more and more people will use paper or reusable bags which will help our
environment. Pretty soon people will realise that using non plastic bags both saves them money
and helps their oceans.
There are several reasons I am worried about plastic. First and foremost many marine
animals die of ingesting plastic, one hundred thousand a year. Second of all plastic is flooding
into the oceans and all of their chemicals contaminate them. Once these chemicals are in the
ocean small animals eat them and then the contaminates work their way up the food chain to us.
According to A Plastic Ocean one in every four fish that we eat has microplastics inside of it.
As you can see a plastic tax of five cents per bag would greatly benefit the city of
Bozeman, as well as that, our fish will become cleaner and healthier.
I greatly appreciate your consideration.
Sincerely
Maxwell DeFanti