Dear Mayor Tim Keller, 

We are concerned about the implementation of the Clean and Green Ordinance which went into effect January 2020 and reinstated August 1, 2021. This ordinance was intended to remove plastic bags from retail stores around the city in an effort to reduce plastic use and waste, as part of the ongoing effort to combat climate change. We were all with you at the signing of the ordinance and we are now asking you to follow through to reduce plastic in Albuquerque. 

However, once implemented we saw that there was a glaring loophole in the language developed by Solid Waste to define “reusable plastic” as over 2.25ml. This definition was not part of the ordinance and it has allowed large chain stores to circumvent the intention of the ordinance by providing thicker plastic bags that continue to damage our environment and health. It is also very confusing, both for employees and the public, about what is acceptable. 

Solid Waste has informed us that they will not make any change to their description until they hear from the advisory committee, which is not required to make any recommendation until June 30th, 2022. Climate change and plastic pollution is a global emergency and we cannot continue to drag our feet on implementing change. 

We ask that as Mayor you work with solid waste to revise their description of what bags are acceptable and eliminate the thick plastic bag loophole.  Please revise the description to eliminate ALL non-woven plastic bags, as many other municipalities have done. We would ask that the timeline be 1 month, as the big box stores in question have the resources to make this change quickly. 

With this thick plastic bag loophole, we are also concerned about the Clean and Green Certified Business process. Allowing businesses to be recognized as Clean & Green while using thick plastic that takes longer than 1000 years to break down, is unacceptable. We hope that as Mayor you will show leadership and not allow these businesses to greenwash the ordinance.

Thank you so much for working with us on this issue!