HomeMy WebLinkAbout04-13-21 Public Comment - T. Quatraro - Plastic Pollution ReductionFrom:terry
To:Agenda
Subject:Introducing Plastic Pollution Reduction Coalition
Date:Tuesday, April 13, 2021 8:27:52 AM
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I, Terry Quatraro, 5205 Eclipse Drive, Bozeman Montana, plan to speak to the Bozeman
City Commissioners at tonight's meeting as a representative of the Plastic Pollution ReductionCoalition from Hope Lutheran Church 's Creative Care Team.
This coalition is made up of stakeholders including local businesses, non-profits, and citizenswho are concerned about the accumulation of plastic pollution primarily the single use
petroleum based shopping bags. This coalition' s partners include several local grocers andretailers, Valley of the Flowers Project Happy Trash Can, Bozeman Beautification Advisory
Board, Republic Services, Eco Montana, MSU students, and Bozeman High School's SolarClub.
The mission of the Plastic Pollution Reduction Coalition (PPRC) is to:
* recommend policies/programs which will help eliminate reliance on single use petroleumbased shopping bags and overall plastic pollution.
*develop a cooperative relationship among businesses, producers, and citizens througheducation and promotion that will result in a more sustainable community.
First of all I would like to commend the City Commissioners , Mayor Andrus, Natalie Meyer
Sustainability Program Manager, and the City Manager Jeff Mihelich for your currentinclusion of a climate action plan in your future strategic goals.
Also I would like to commend Commissioner Cunningham for his recent article in thechronicle (4/2/21) entitled "Collaboration, innovation can be Bozeman ' ...". In that article he
states,"I am convinced that Bozeman has the ability to tackle our most vexing communitychallenges, but the key to doing so is collaboration among our various institutions and
citizens' groups."I wholeheartedly agree.
My hope is that this subject of collaboration can be brought to the attention of the Bozeman
City Commissioners and put on the agenda at a future meeting to enable further discussion andan action plan to perhaps :
+ create an informative link on the city website and ads in the media ( similar to the promotion
of Water Smart Bozeman) that explain and educate the community about the pollutionproblems of plastic and ways to move towards zero waste and other sustainable practices.
+ move towards encouraging city waste companies to use biodegradable bags to contain waste
and for distribution on clean up days.
+ promote educational endeavors to encourage sustainable practices such as Bring Your OwnBag for a change and Boomerang Bags.
+have a way of positively recognising businesses making an effort along a sustainable, plastic
reduction path.
Thank you and I look forward to hearing from you soon.Terry Q uatraro
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