TRUCKEE – The town of Truckee is seeking community input on the possibility of doing away with single-use plastic bags.The proposal would ban all plastic checkout bags, while allowing area businesses to offer customers recyclable paper bags for an undetermined fee. All generated funds would be kept by the businesses to cover implementation costs.”(The) main intention is to stimulate reusable bag use, and in effect, reduce Truckee’s waste through a dramatic decrease in consumption of single-use checkout bags,” according to a town statement.Before any recommendations are made to the Truckee Town Council, town staff is requesting feedback from the community on whether it would support the idea.”We’re really trying to get a read on the interest of the community,” said Tony Lashbrook, town manager.Surveys – one geared toward residents and the other toward business owners – are available online and can be filled out until the end of the month, said Nichole Dorr, the town’s recycling coordinator.The survey for residents features seven multiple-choice questions, with two including an optional written portion. The business survey features five multiple-choice questions, with three including an optional written portion. The surveys should only take few minutes to complete, Dorr said.”It’ll be interesting to see what we learn,” Lashbrook said.Details such as which businesses could be affected and the fee for paper bags have not yet been determined.”What we’re really trying to do is gauge the community’s sentiment before we even start putting together those pieces,” Lashbrook said. Once feedback is compiled, it, along with additional research, will be presented to the town council at a later date, he said.Other communities that have implemented a ban on plastic bags include San Francisco, San Jose and tourist destinations such as Aspen, Colo. Closer to Truckee, the city of South Lake Tahoe has discussed a plastic bag ban over the last several years. According to the Tahoe Daily Tribune, a committee is working on an ordinance that’s expected to be brought before city council at a future date. The proposal would allow businesses to provide customers with recycled paper bags, but would require they charge at least 10 cents per bag. Retailers would keep the money received from distributing paper bags.”I’m excited that there’s some momentum to make it a reality here in Truckee,” Dorr said, adding that other communities have helped pave the way. “… We’re part of a bigger movement.”

For community members: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/CXTQYRCFor business owners: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/2FBT7VJ