How the Hailey, Idaho Student Environmental Club Scares an Industry Giant, and How You Can Too

The battle against the environmental impact of single-use plastic bags is a classic David vs. Goliath story: local individuals trying to reduce waste and save the planet are going up against the giants of petro-chemical companies bent on keeping the flow of fossil-fuel laden bags at an all time high. Take, for example, the owner of ChicoBags, a reusable bag company that was recently sued by three of the top US manufacturers of plastic bags—Hilex Poly LLC, Superbag, and Advance Polybag—in an attempt to discredit the reusable bag company's green merits.  (The recent settlement shows the plastic bag company's arguments were as flimsy as their bags).

Then, there are the numerous cities across the state of California that have passed such bans, including San Francisco, Malibu, Palo Alto, and Los Angeles County, but are now threatened with lawsuits by, you guessed it, Hilex Poly. Big time pressure from the industry shut down state-wide ban efforts in California this summer, and thwarted a city ban in Seattle last fall.

Perhaps nowhere is this struggle more evident than in the small town of Hailey, Idaho, where a group of Wood River High School students have waged a successful campaign to get a plastic bag ban listed on the upcoming ballot on November 8th.  Now, as voting day draws near, Hilex Poly has once again flexed its fund muscles and reportedly begun a massive ad campaign espousing (falsely) the health hazards of reusable bags, and the benefits of plastic bags.  Through ads in the local paper, on Facebook, and bulk mailings, residents of Hailey are being bombarded by the plastic bag manufacturing giant—a wave of messaging that the local Wood River High School Environment Club doesn't have funds to compete with. As student advisor, Erika Greenburg, said when we spoke: "These kids are totally dependent on the adults to vote, most of them are not 18. Yet, it's their future, their environment that these plastic bags affect. But how can we compete with mass-scale messaging by Hilex?"

It's a tough battle. But not impossible.

Despite challenges from industry Goliaths, plastic bag bans continue to be proposed and passed across the country.  Come 2012, bans will go into effect in Brownsville, Texas, Maui and Kauai counties in Hawaii, and American Samoa. Just this past Tuesday, the City of Aspen, Colorado passed a ban, and neighboring Basalt passed an ordinance last month to charge fees on both paper and plastic bags. Chicago will vote on legislation next week, while the city of Newport, OR moves forward with legislation to ban distribution of plastic bags.

And, back in California, a review has been scheduled to investigate the pro-plastic bag text inserted into new curricula—a disgraceful attempt by industry to corrupt basic environmental education. (More than 30,000 people have spoken out through Veronica Zaleha's petition on Change.org).

Whether it is pressure on industry or on local city councils, you can make a difference and help turn the tide of plastic bag pollution.  New bag bans are cropping up everyday, targeting city councils, state legislatures or companies, and this movement could use your help.  Search Change.org's website for "plastic bag ban" and/or your city, and see if a petition is up. If not, why not start your own and be a part of the change?

If you start a petition, email environment@change.org, and we'll connect you with some additional resources for support.

Follow Change.org's action hub for environmental and energy justice on Facebook and Twitter.  Photo credit: timparkinson