As trash fills the seas, Missouri lawmaker wants to block government crackdowns on plastic The Imperial Republican's proposal would make sure that no city, county or town could ban any 'auxiliary container" such as a bag, cup, package, container, bottle or other package.

The Sierra Club and the Missouri Coalition for the Environment testified against the legislation.

"There is a pollution problem in this state," said Ed Smith, the policy director for the coalition. He mentioned his group's work on the smoldering Bridgeton Landfill. "Anything that helps reduce material making it into the landfill to begin with is going to be a net benefit for the environment."

Rep. Kevin Windham, D-Hillsdale, said he worried that if governments placed taxes on plastic items, poor people would be disproportionately affected.

Rep. Alan Gray, D-Black Jack, said that he was skeptical because of the anti-local control aspect of the proposal.

"We (legislators) always talk do about 'we don't want people in our business,' but yet we want to get in other peoples' business," he said.

Shaul said the decision to cut back on plastics should be left to businesses and consumers. Some St. Louis-area businesses, such as the Crow's Nest in Maplewood, have made plastic straws available only upon request.