State senator's bid to ban plastic bags rallies foes

RALEIGH (Winston-Salem Journal) - Businesses that fear losing sales if North Carolina bars large Outer Banks stores from giving away plastic grocery bags are mobilizing against the brainchild of the state Senate's powerful leader.

Representatives of plastics, chemical and other companies said Tuesday they opposed the pilot program that already passed the Senate. The bill, sponsored by Senate leader Marc Basnight of Dare County, was still approved by the House Environment and Natural Resources Committee.

Supporters said discarded bags are especially a problem on barrier islands, where litter is more obvious and sea animals more likely to confuse the floating bags with jellyfish and eat them.

Opponents of the pilot program think the ban sought by Basnight could later spread statewide. That concerns business interests.