It may seem surprising for a progressive liberal from Cambridge to applaud Meredith Warren’s op-ed, which argued against taking away plastic bags from consumers. But I share her views completely. Banning plastic bags from retailers, and making consumers pay for paper bags with handles, means consumers are paying twice for what is already included in the price of goods.

Consumers reuse these plastic and paper bags in multiple ways. I think many who support the ban do not do the weekly shopping, take out the garbage or recyclables (in my building we are supposed to put recyclables in paper bags), store household goods, or walk a dog.

I live in a city that has banned plastic bags, and am now buying plastic bags and paying for paper bags with handles. Can we just stop this movement and come up with a better idea? For starters, how about not charging for reusable paper bags?

Barbara Anthony

Cambridge

The writer is former Massachusetts undersecretary of consumer affairs and business regulation.