The city of Kirkland paid tax dollars for a survey regarding a plastic bag ban … and then flat out ignored the results.

PCC Natural Markets’ spokeswoman Diana Chapman advises us “…if you legislate it, people will follow.” Forced compliance is not “following.”

The proposed plastic ban and charge for paper bags is a ripoff based on faulty science. The cost and carbon footprint of keeping reusable bags clean is higher than that of using new plastic bags.

The proposed 5 cent charge per paper bag is just another tax that hits lower income people the hardest.

Stores provide a clean environment and clean bags (plastic and paper) for purchases. With flu, bacteria, viruses and Ebola floating around, it would be so reassuring for the city and PCC to order us to bring dirty, used cloth bags into stores.

Virginia Costanzo, Kirkland