Plastic bag ban fails in Montana for lack of signatures

(The Center Square) – Proposed ballot initiatives to ban single-use plastic bags in Bozeman and Missoula have failed to qualify due to lack of signatures.

Montana Plastic Free , the organization behind the ballot initiatives, says on its website that plastic is harming the environment and human health.

“On average, bans on single-use plastic bags can eliminate almost 300 plastic bags per person, per year,” the organization states in a FAQ on its website. “ Researchers have found that plastic bag bans successfully reduce plastic bag litter by at least one-third wherever they have been implemented.”

Bans on single-use plastic bags have been instituted in other parts of the country for similar reasons. In Montana’s case the first offense for anyone violating the ban would be a fine of $1000. For each additional offense, there would be a $2000 fine.

On the other side of the argument is the American Recyclable Plastic Bag Alliance . Director Erin Hass called news of the failure to qualify a “win for working families” in Montana.

“These proposals under consideration were overly broad and would have resulted in a ban on the sale of all plastic bags – not only single-use grocery bags but also reusable shopping bags, trash bags, sleeping bags, backpacks, handbags, and more,” said Hass in a press release . “That’s why Montana has a statewide uniformity law – to prevent disruption and confusion caused by broad and vague local ordinances and to ensure the rules are clear and manageable for local governments and businesses.”