(Silver City, NM, 3 November 2014) In preparation for the ordinance requiring a reduction of single-use plastic carryout bags at retail stores, the Town of Silver City will be giving away reusable bags for people to use. Purchase of the bags was made possible with help from PNM and The Volunteer Center. The bags are available at City Hall, 101 W. Broadway, the Office of Sustainability 1106 N. Pope St., the Volunteer Cente,r 13th and Corbin, and PNM payment center 3815 N. Swan in Silver City and 800 Central Ave. in Bayard..

These reusable bags are the best way to shop. Although they are also made of plastic, it is heavyweight so they can be used numerous times and can be recycled. Each reusable bag has care and use instructions as well as brochures on recycling and reuse that were inserted into the bags by local Girl Scout volunteers.

The ordinance reducing single use plastic bag usage was sponsored by Town of Silver City Councilor Cynthia Bettison and approved unanimously on July 8, 2014. It will go into effect on January 8, 2015. All retail stores inside town limits except restaurants are affected by the ordinance.

The ordinance only applies to the thin single use plastic bags that are prone to blowing around and littering our landscape. When the ordinance goes into effect stores will have the option of providing either paper bags, boxes or heavy weight reusable plastic bags. Unlike California, where similar ordinances are common, there is no mandatory fee to the customers for the change from single use plastic bags. Instead it is up to the discretion of each retail outlet if they will charge for paper or heavy weight reusable plastic bags.

The ordinance does not affect other types of plastic bags that are used in stores for food safety. Stores will still have plastic bags available for meat, produce and bulk food items. Stores will also still be selling the wide variety of packaged plastic bags they currently sell. You will still be able to buy sandwich bags, trash can liners and large trash bags.

For additional information contact the Office of Sustainability at 519-8987.