On January 11, 2018, we attended the Texas Supreme Court hearing of The City of Laredo vs. Laredo’s Merchant’s Association that will determine if it is legal to ban single-use plastic bags. In 2014, Laredo banned single-use plastic bags. In 2015, the Laredo Merchants Association sued the city, arguing that the ban conflicted with state law on waste management.
We spoke on the steps of the Capitol about how plastic bags kill our wildlife, clog our waterways, and pollute our bayous.
Sadly, the Texas Supreme Court ruled against the City of Laredo. Laredo's plastic bag ban was struck down. This precedent pretty much makes it illegal to ban plastic bags in Texas.
So, what now? Bag-Free Bayous was founded with a petition to ban plastic bags in Houston, but we will move forwards. While we are disappointed, we can still take action.
We will continue lobbying with other environmentalists, keep on fighting.
We will focus more on our Bayou Bags, an upcycled alternative to single-use bags that keep waste out of the landfills and bayous while strengthening our community.
But most of all, this is about you. This decision impacts all Texans and their cities. So while we keep on fighting for change with organizations like Texas Campaign for the Environment, you can too!
Use reusable bags when you go to the grocery store. Visit your beautiful bayous. Talk to your friends, start conversations about your environment!
Little changes and big changes make a huge difference.