To the editor:

Today I heard on the radio that Bainbridge Island became the fifth city in Washington to ban plastic bags. They have joined local communities such as Mukilteo, Seattle, Bellingham and Edmonds, as well as San Francisco and Portland in the Northwest region.

I consider South Whidbey to be as progressive and proactive as any of these places and wonder why we are not leading the charge on this matter. I understand that South Whidbey and an Island County ordinance may be too complicated to begin enacting this idea, but certainly beginning at a city level in Langley seems a good place to start.

We all know that plastic bags never fully biodegrade and have biodamaging effects on our land and water and animal resources. Perhaps it just requires someone to start a movement because the will is already here and we just need to take the right action. I say that it is time.

For those that are worried about the impact on businesses, the Bainbridge Island Downtown Association found the measure to be a cost-neutral process by allowing stores to charge 5 cents for recyclable paper bags. I know personally that the 5-cent charge will help to remind me to make sure I always keep a few canvas bags with me in the car all the time.

I challenge this community to see how easily we can adopt a measure for the better and surprise ourselves.

CRAIG WEINER

Langley