Associated Students Inc. unanimously voted Oct. 5 in support of extending the Long Beach plastic bag ban to campus.
The resolution proposed by senators Lizette Felix and Sagar Ramachandra would aim to cease the distribution of plastic bags with purchases from 49er Shops.
However, according to Ramachandra, ASI has no jurisdiction over 49er Shops. Thus, the plastic bag ban voted by ASI would act as a recommendation to 49er Shops, rather than a requirement.
According to Felix, she and Ramachandra discussed their resolution with the University Student Union and 49er Shops, and both agreed with the notion of supporting a greener campus.
“Another reason why we wanted to write this resolution was we, meaning my fellow Sen. Sagar Ramachandra and I, wanted to promote the idea that students can make a green impact in their environment.” Felix said. “You don’t have to be in ASI to make changes in [Cal State Long Beach].”
During the ASI Senate meeting Wednesday, senators considered that commuter students often rely on plastic bags distributed at shops to carry their purchases. The ban would encourage students to bring reusable bags from home, furthering the campus’ sustainability, Ramachandra said.
“Things take time [to adjust] … but it should do the trick,” he said.
According to Ramachandra, 49er Shops Director Fred Neely is currently considering the financial costs of alternatives to plastic, as well as prices for potential reusable bags.
Ramachandra believes plastic bags are a waste ecologically and financially because most students use their backpack anyway.
Senator Jorge Soriano argued that if bags are not distributed at 49er Shops, art students with more items and art supplies to carry than other students would be burdened. Senator Lucy Craig argued that art students should not rely on plastic bags in the first place.
“Just bring bags from home,” she said.
If 49er Shops turns to paper bags as an alternative to plastic, Ramachandra said he hopes the bags are of a similar quality to those at Trader Joe’s.
“If you ever go into Trader Joe’s, they have really great paper bags, sturdy, with handles,” he said.
The city of Long Beach’s grocery stores stopped distributing bags Aug. 1. According to Ramachandra, because CSULB is run by the state and not the city, it was not affected by the ordinance.
Felix and Ramachandra; however, said that, by following the example of San Francisco State University, which also set a plastic bag ban, CSULB can move forward as a greener campus.
He said the resolutions’ wording implies that 49er Shops have not taken steps to become “green,” even though it’s making a green effort.
ASI Senate will further discuss revisions to the plastic bags resolution during its second reading on Oct. 12.
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