By Mikaela Howie
As you head to the ballot box this year, you may be hearing about the Bozeman Plastics Ordinance (BPO), a citizens’ ballot initiative that will prohibit the distribution and selling of single-use plastics bags (carryout bags) and polystyrene containers (food containers and packing peanuts) within the city of Bozeman. If the BPO passes, Bozeman will join ranks with cities (and counties) worldwide that have reduced plastic pollution, taken action against microplastics in our waters, and saved money.
Scientists are finding microplastics throughout the food web, in our soils, water, and even in our own bodies.
Biodegradable and sustainable alternatives to single-use plastic bags and food containers are already readily available for low cost for businesses in Bozeman.
As birders, we have another reason to support reducing single-use plastics. It is well documented that seabirds ingest plastic bags when they mistake the bags for jellyfish, plankton and other food items. But did you know that plastic bags and the microplastics they degrade into are commonly found in terrestrial birds across Montana as well? Ingestion of plastics leads to a disease called Plasticosis that leads to starvation and death, especially in nestlings.
Birds can also easily become entangled in discarded plastic bags and even incorporate plastic into their nests, mistakenly thinking the plastic bags make good materials for lining their nests. Even if we don’t litter, our plastic trash can still cause problems for birds when it falls out of our trash or blows out of the landfill. The best solution is to reduce plastic at the source.
By supporting the Bozeman Plastics Ordinance (BPO) in November, you will be helping keep plastic bags and microplastics out of our environment and keeping our birds healthy.
In addition to supporting the Bozeman Plastics Ordinance (BPO), you can go the extra mile by organizing a trash pick-up in your neighborhood, buying items with reduced or non-plastic packaging, and reusing plastic bottles at home. Learn more about the BPO here: https://www.mountainstatespolicy.org/bozeman-plastics-initiative-to-ban-plastic-bags-straws#:~:text=This%20November%2C%20voters%20in%20the,the%20measure%20on%20the%20ballot.
