Some locals have expressed their displeasure on website comments and in widely distributed emails about the potential of a plastic bag ban on Bainbridge Island.

They argue that there would be no way to dispose of dog droppings, groceries would arrive home drenched and they would suffer other grievous inconveniences. One emailer suggests that it should be our right to litter and pollute if we so choose (?).

For those of us who have lived very comfortably using reusable grocery bags and making do with bread bags for a multitude of uses (including dog duty), these arguments seem silly and the last argument, just plain strange.

It is tragic, given the state of our environment, that anyone – especially coastal community residents – would be opposed to this attempt to help curb the fouling of our oceans. Only those who have no access to news could be ignorant of what plastic bags are doing to the health of our waters and the seafood we consume.

As one who has helped clean up areas that feed into our waters, I and countless others can attest to the fact that too many bags pollute our ocean.

Given the lack of national and state action, let us hope Bainbridge Island passes a ban on plastic grocery bags. Keeping millions of these bags used by island residents annually out of circulation is a start no matter how small in reducing the waste of resources and preventing totally unnecessary pollution.

Erika Shriner, Bainbridge Island