HomeMy WebLinkAbout08-20-24 Public Comment - G. Swenson - Bozeman Single-use Plastic initiative petitionFrom:gigi swenson
To:Bozeman Public Comment
Subject:[EXTERNAL]Bozeman Single-use Plastic initiative petition
Date:Tuesday, August 20, 2024 11:56:41 AM
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Hello Commissioners,
I spent about 50 hrs in the last month collecting signatures for the single-use plastics petition. Probably 90% of the people I spoke with were in support of the initiative but either lived outside
the city limits or had already signed. It was very difficult to find the last 350 or so (that we werelacking), with the number of people we had canvassing. What is clear though is that Bozeman
residents do want this initiative on the ballot and it's very unfortunate that this year we needed25% of the voters instead of 15%. Please encourage the city attorney to allow this initiative to be
placed on the November ballot.
We have to begin somewhere to reduce our use of plastics, and this ban is a start. Very fewplastics can actually be recycled so most are filling our landfills, blowing around our land as
garbage, and all are breaking down into microplastics that are getting into our food and water. Astudy that was done a few years ago on the Gallatin River showed microplastics present even in
the headwaters! There will not be much incentive for companies and researchers to find better,more sustainable substitutes for petroleum-based plastics unless we the people demand it. This
kind of initiative sends a message that we want other alternatives.
Thank you for your consideration,
Gigi Swenson