San Anselmo Chamber

4th Quarter 2014 • San Anselmo Network Success 12 Connie traveled to China with Chamber representatives from throughout the United States Red Hill merchants went all-out and raffle prize winners were plentiful! Thank you Red Hill merchants! Standing: Connie Rodgers, Kris Kelson, Greg Davison, Benedetto Cico, Jay Luther Seated: Danielle Dinnerman, Connie Pelissero, Joyce Brown CHAMBER EVENTS PHOTO GALLERY The Chamber Goes to China with the Marin Council of Chambers October 11-19, 2014 Red Hill Shopping Center Mixer • October 16, 2014 Chamber Board Planning Retreat • October 29, 2014 Senator McGuire's senatorial campaign focused on the importance of environmental conservation. He views the bag ban as not only a prominent business issue, but as a necessary environmental one. Before the bag-ban passed, interest groups, such as the American Progressive Bag Alliance, a group of plastic bag manufacturers, made it their mission to halt the bill from passing, arguing that the ban could have a "negative economic impact," and that grocers could take advantage of the law by profiting from the sale of paper bags. However, I would argue that if a customer brings a reusable bag, there is no economic impact to the business or customer. Furthermore, businesses in other towns across the state that already have the ban in place, have adapted smoothly to this supposedly costly change. Additionally, the paper bag cost of a mere 10 cents per bag is only to cover the incurred costs to the business. This reaps no benefit for the businesses who are thoughtfully selling recyclable paper bags. Ahead of the curve, United Market owner, Bill Daniels, stopped distributing plastic bags in his stores over three years ago after realizing the negative impact of plastic bags on the environment. However, he never charged customers for paper bags (which are significantly more expensive than plastic but nevertheless more environmentally sound). To his delight, the San Rafael and San Anselmo communities, where United Market stores are located, were amazingly supportive of his decision. The amount of people who brought reusable bags increased with time, lessening the amount of paper bags needed. "I'm just so impressed with Marin County," Daniels said. "Everyone stepped up and started bringing their bags." This increase in reusable bags is not only cost efficient, but in United Market's case, is supporting the community in a charitable way. United issued a five-cents back policy for every reusable bag the costumer brings. For every reusable bag that customers bring, United donates five cents to a selected charity each month. Through this system, the environment is not only saved from harmful plastic bags, but the community is able to prosper from the money saved. Given the struggle over banning plastic bags in California, one question remains prominent. Would it have saved precious time, consumer confusion, and our environment if the statewide ban had occurred sooner? Perhaps the inconsistencies between municipalities have hurt business, and certainly the environment, more than the ban itself would have. Perhaps not. In either case, we're fortunate that towns like San Anselmo, and businesses like United Market, have been forward thinking – seeing the big picture and making the necessary change to ban plastic bags long before the statewide movement. Now the question is, will their vision and this new statewide ban inspire other states to follow? Plastic Bags continued from page 1

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