Asheville is on the verge of becoming a leader in sustainability. Many towns and cities have adopted single use plastic bag bans, and now Asheville can become one of them.

Single use plastic bags have negative effects on our environment. Plastic pollution can directly harm marine wildlife through entanglements, ingestion, and leeched toxins. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), over a million fish and birds die each year due to consuming or becoming entangled in plastics. Since plastics don’t biodegrade, they can travel up the food chain as microplastics, and eventually be consumed by humans.

Recycling is not a viable option for many single use plastics, such as bags and straws, since they get caught in recycling machinery. In addition, these plastics are not cost effective to recycle. The only reasonable option is to stop using these single use plastics, and move to reusable or compostable options. Join our movement!