Possible Shopping Bag Restrictions – Public Survey, Summarized Results 2,188 Total Responses Q1. Do you live, work or shop regularly in the City of Tacoma? (check all that apply) Answer Options I am a Tacoma resident I work or frequently shop in Tacoma No, I do not live, work or shop in Tacoma Other (please specify): Percent 78.3 % 60.1 % 2.1 % 3.0 % Response Count 1714 1316 47 66 answered question 2188 skipped question 0 Q2. When you shop for groceries, do you usually: Answer Options Ask for plastic bags Ask for paper bags Take whatever the clerk gives me Bring my own bag Percent 21.4 % 10.1 % 26.7 % 41.8 % Response Count 465 220 581 910 answered question 2176 skipped question 12 Q3. What do you normally do with your disposable shopping bags? Answer Options Plastic Bags Paper Bags Throw them away 3.3% 2.8% www.cityoftacoma.org/shoppingbags Recycle them 25.5% 36.4% I don't use Re-use them these bags 67.6% 3.5% 52.0% 8.9% answered question skipped question Response Count 2153 2041 2171 17 Page 1 of 9 Possible Shopping Bag Restrictions – Public Survey, Summarized Results 2,188 Total Responses Q4. Please rate the following statement: I am concerned about the amount of litter and waste plastic bags create. Answer Options Strongly Agree Agree Neutral Disagree Strongly Disagree Response Percent 47.3 % 13.8 % 11.2 % 10.8 % 16.9 % answered question skipped question Response Count 1030 300 245 236 368 2179 9 Q5. Do you support a fee or a ban on disposable plastic and/or paper bags? Response Answer Options Fee on plastic bags Fee on paper bags Ban plastic bags Ban paper bags No action Yes (%) 44.3% 36.1% 48.6% 16.0% 37.4% www.cityoftacoma.org/shoppingbags Maybe - I need more information (%) No (%) 9.8% 45.9% 11.8% 52.1% 8.9% 42.5% 14.1% 69.9% 7.1% 55.4% answered question skipped question Response Count 2024 2034 2039 2018 1766 2093 95 Page 2 of 9 Possible Shopping Bag Restrictions – Public Survey, Summarized Results 2,188 Total Responses Q6. Would you support the following fee options for paper and/or plastic bags? $0.05 Answer Maybe - I need more Options Yes (%) information (%) No (%) Response Count Plastic bags 42.6% 6.2% 51.2% 1869 Paper bags 38.6% 6.8% 54.6% 1873 $0.10 Answer Options Plastic bags Paper bags Yes (%) 34.7% 31.8% Maybe - I need more information (%) 5.0% 5.7% No (%) 60.3% 62.5% $0.25 Answer Options Plastic bags Paper bags Yes (%) 28.0% 22.3% Maybe - I need more information (%) 4.9% 6.2% No (%) 67.1% 71.5% Response Count 1211 1195 $1.00 Answer Options Plastic bags Paper bags Yes (%) 19.2% 11.0% Maybe - I need more information (%) 4.3% 4.4% No (%) 76.5% 84.6% Response Count 959 935 Response Count 1264 1264 answered question skipped question 2041 147 Q7. If a fee is applied to disposable bags, how should it be used? Answer Options Given to retailer to offset increased bag costs Given to a community environmental clean-up organization Split between retailer and other organization No fee Other (please specify): www.cityoftacoma.org/shoppingbags Response Percent 8.1 % 31.7 % 18.9 % 34.7 % 6.6 % answered question skipped question Response Count 170 662 395 725 139 2091 97 Page 3 of 9 Possible Shopping Bag Restrictions – Public Survey, Summarized Results 2,188 Total Responses Q8. If a fee or ban is adopted, which businesses should it apply to? (check all that apply) Answer Options All businesses Businesses over a certain square footage Businesses over a certain revenue Businesses of a certain type (please specify): Response Percent 64.4 % 10.4 % 17.3 % 18.6 % answered question skipped question Response Count 1239 200 333 358 1925 263 Q9. Please rate the following statement :The City of Tacoma should adopt an ordinance restricting the use of disposable shopping bags. Answer Options Strongly Agree Agree Neutral Disagree Strongly Disagree Response Percent 45.2 % 9.9 % 4.5 % 6.4 % 34.0 % answered question skipped question Response Count 948 208 94 135 712 2097 91 Q10. What is the appropriate lead time for implementation of an ordinance if approved? In other words, how long should the delay period be between when a restriction is passed and when it goes into effect? Response Answer Options Percent 3 months 23.4 % 6 months 23.5 % 9 months 5.3 % 12 months 18.9 % Not sure 9.7 % Other (please specify): 19.2 % answered question skipped question www.cityoftacoma.org/shoppingbags Response Count 477 479 107 386 197 391 2037 151 Page 4 of 9 Possible Shopping Bag Restrictions – Public Survey, Summarized Results 2,188 Total Responses Q11. Please use the space below to provide additional feedback about a possible disposable shopping bag restriction in Tacoma. Answer Options answered question skipped question Response Count 1153 1153 1035 Q12. Optional: If you would like to receive updates on this topic, please provide your contact information below. Answer Options Name Company (if applicable) Email Address Response Percent 94.5 % Response Count 547 14.0 % 97.4 % answered question skipped question 81 564 579 1609 Q13. What is your gender? Answer Options Female Male Other (please specify): Response Percent 63.9 % 35.3 % 0.9 % answered question skipped question www.cityoftacoma.org/shoppingbags Response Count 1239 684 17 1940 248 Page 5 of 9 Possible Shopping Bag Restrictions – Public Survey, Summarized Results 2,188 Total Responses Q14. What is your age? Answer Options 18-35 36-50 51-64 65 Response Percent 26.5 % 32.4 % 26.0 % 15.1 % answered question skipped question Response Count 514 627 504 293 1938 250 Q15. Which race do you identify with? Answer Options Response Percent White 83.6 % Hispanic or Latino 3.0 % Black or African American 2.4 % Asian 2.3 % American Indian 1.2 % Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander 0.9 % Other race 6.6 % answered question skipped question Response Count 1550 55 44 42 22 17 123 1853 335 Q16. What is the last year of schooling you completed? Answer Options Response Percent Response Count High School or less 4.7 % 91 Some College/Vocational 22.1 % 424 College Degree 42.1 % 809 Post Graduate School 31.1 % 598 answered question 1922 skipped question 266 www.cityoftacoma.org/shoppingbags Page 6 of 9 Possible Shopping Bag Restrictions – Public Survey, Summarized Results 2,188 Total Responses Q17. Which of the following best describes your employment at this time? Answer Options Response Percent Self-employed or Business Owner 13.8 % Employed in Private Business 30.4 % Employed in Public Sector (government agency, educational institution, etc.) 29.6 % Not Employed 6.4 % Student 2.5 % Retired 17.2 % answered question skipped question Response Count 266 585 568 123 49 331 1922 266 Q18. Which best describes your household? Answer Options Response Percent Couple with children 35.0 % Couple with no children 35.7 % Single with children 6.5 % Single with no children 22.8 % answered question skipped question Response Count 664 678 124 433 1899 289 Q19. Which best describes your home? Answer Options Single family house Condominium Apartment Other Response Percent 81.5 % 4.2 % 11.8 % 2.5 % answered question skipped question www.cityoftacoma.org/shoppingbags Response Count 1564 81 226 48 1919 269 Page 7 of 9 Possible Shopping Bag Restrictions – Public Survey, Summarized Results 2,188 Total Responses Q20. Do you rent or own the place in which you live? Answer Options Rent Own Don't know / other Response Percent 23.1 % 75.0 % Response Count 441 1430 1.8 % answered question skipped question 35 1906 282 Q21. What is your approximate household income? Answer Options $50,000 or less $50 to $75,000 $75 to $100,000 $100 to $150,000 Over $150,000 Response Percent 28.0 % 23.2 % 19.9 % 18.7 % 10.2 % answered question skipped question www.cityoftacoma.org/shoppingbags Response Count 490 406 349 327 178 1750 438 Page 8 of 9 Possible Shopping Bag Restrictions – Public Survey, Summarized Results 2,188 Total Responses Public Survey Comment Summary (1,143) Pro Action Reasons Status Quo Reasons Environmental Impacts: wildlife, waterways, soil, resource use, litter, carbon footprint, waste Discourages shoppers, visitors, unplanned shopping (will shop elsewhere) Low recycling rate of disposable bags Already recycles and/or reuses disposables Should assign cost to things with negative impacts Unsanitary bacteria in reusable bags Catalyst for environmentally responsible decisions, awareness Hardship: low-income, disabled, elderly Increase quality of life, health (plastic impacts), sense of pride Perception that plastic is better for environment; reusables are resource intensive In line with Tacoma’s environmental mission, community values Reusable bags are hard to wash, remember, load items into, and don’t last Clerks inefficiently bag items Loss of manufacturing jobs www.cityoftacoma.org/shoppingbags Page 9 of 9