The Plastic Bag War Rages On

nytimes.com:

In the wake of Seattle voters' decisive rejection of a proposed 20 cent fee on paper and plastic bags, opponents of disposable shopping bags have vowed to press for an all-out ban on the bags.

Read the whole story: nytimes.com

Comments

[sfmama]

As a San Franciscan, I can say that carrying the reusable bags has really caught on here. Now big stores can still bag your groceries in paper, but plastics are only allowed for small businesses. But most people didn't start bringing their bags until plastic was banned. It works.

[HalfBakedSushi]

I have carried mesh and cloth bags with me to all stores (grocery, clothing, various sundries) for several years now. Recently, I was given three huge cloth bags which are now ubiquitous. Every time I pull those bags out at the check-out, I get responses along the lines of "I have cloth bags, but always forget them."

My response to that is usually that I forgot mine frequently as well, but would always walk back to the car and get them upon remembering ... until it became a habit. Now I don't forget. It takes practice to change behavior.

Reduce Refuse Reuse Recycle Renew

[sabelmouse]

i am very happy ireland introduced the charge. at least now plastic bags are not given out automatically and i am not looked upon as borderline crazy for carrying 2 or 3 cotton nets that are light, small when scrunched up but strong and quite roomy when in use.
i got them at Marks & Spencer last year and they have made it easy to be always with bag.

[RightWingMarine]

One has to wonder what is going through the minds of some of those on the left:
since the people aren't willing to pay more for their plastic bags we should just take them away altogether. After all we know what's best for other people.

[CoolPapa]

That's a pretty clever generalization, right winger military person. Like with Bush, and accounts in the news today that Ridge was forced to raise the terrorist threat level on the eve of the 2004 election, because we know what's best for the people, to protect the people. To go to war based on yellow cake uranium and secret meetings in Germany that never took place. It goes on and on, but if you are to say the left believes it knows what is best for other people, the knife cuts both way.

Anyway, what is your solution to the vast amount of plastic filling our landfills and collecting in the Pacific Ocean garbage dump? I'm really curious to learn the 'right wing' solutions to many of these problems. Cue crickets chirping as usual on issues such as these. Perhaps you really want to shout out 'Drill, baby, drill.'

My brother is fighting with the Special Forces in Afghanistan right at this minute, so even though we probably agree on very few issues, thank you for your service.

[RightWingMarine]

I didn't mean to give the impression that I was leveling this accusation at all leftys and indeed I only speculated on what some of the left may be thinking. As for the solution to the garbage problem in the Pacific I don't have a solution for that and I doubt that anybody has a solution that will satisfy everyone. I believe that force (such as telling others they can't use plastic bags) should be used as little as possible and only as a last resort.

[ForVivi]

Mexico City bans stores from distributing plastic bags

China has adopted a strict limit, reducing litter and eliminating the use of 40 billion bags, the World Watch Institute said, citing government estimates. Although compliance has been spotty, violation of the law carries a possible fine of 10,000 yuan ($1,463), World Watch said.

In Tanzania, selling the bags carries a maximum six-month jail sentence and a fine of 1.5 million shilling ($1,137).

Mumbai, India, outlawed the bags in 2000 and cities in Australia, Italy, South Africa and Taiwan have imposed bans or surcharges. Ireland reported cutting use of the bags by 90 percent after imposing a fee on each one.

http://edition.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/americas/08/19/mexico.plastic.bag.ban/

[mikefina]

YEAH, and Seattle voters said "no, thanks". How about respecting that choice?

[fumes]

just carry hemp bags with you to the mart..

oh right.. that's still illegal yet..

[sepikriver]

What is the problem with you guys. When I was studying in England in 1980 they charged 2p for each grocery bag – about 25 US cents in today's devalued currency. At this time the Brits didn't have huge incomes and most people reused their bags.

IKEA in Ottawa instituted a 5 cent charge for their bags four or five years ago. Their usage of bags immediately dropped 95%.

Recently in Ontario (Canada) retailers on the own accord have decide to institute a 5 cent charge for all bags. My favorite grocery store is giving the entire amount collected to environmental organizations. Most of our big stores have voluntarily followed suit. In Canada we have bitten the bullet and within weeks the use of bags has dropped enormously. This has been done without any government regulation or even the threat of it.

It is these small efforts which will help to turn the tide of over consumption. In the end there has to be a sense of community and a desire to pass a better world to our children for this sort of action to work.

[RightWingMarine]

most of the examples you cite are of companies voluntarily making this decision, why get the govt involved now?

[HalfBakedSushi]

Apparently, the majority of people aren't responsible, aware, or disciplined enough to do the right thing w/out some sort of (local, state, or federal) government mandate.

If more people would be more proactive, I bet there would be no need for the government to step in and regulate. However, as we have so blatantly seen lately, most people - especially hard-core capitalists - do not self-regulate.

[inc3000]

Starting today, in Mexico City, all grocery stores have been banned from handing out and using plastic bags, instead will be dispensing biodegradable bags. Something to think about.

[camanokat]

I carry several different sizes of sturdy bags in my car. The Costco ones are HUGE. They are so much better than flimsy plastic bags that spill the groceries all over. It's not at all inconvenient.

[theophagousmonkey]

Theo says, Yea for you! Theo also carries bags in the car, and those Costco bags are indeed handy. It took a while for Theo to remember to take them into the store every time, but mow it's pretty routine. Theo has found it difficult at times, though, for instance when the baggers get confused by the cloth bags (it happens, they need training in it). The other day one bagger just plain came out and announced how much he hated Theo's cloth bags. Theo was able to restrain himself. It's amazing, Theo says, just how much space those plastic bags used to take up, waiting to back to the store for recycling.

Cheers,

Theo

[prosha]

plastic bags are very convenient, i don't want to keep track of my own bags

[V4Vigilance]

I live in Seattle, consider myself a strong supporter of the environment, and I voted against this measure for a couple of reasons.

1. I want to see plastic bags banned altogether.
2. I didn't get why paper bags that are recyclable, compostable, biodegradable and usually made with a high recycled fiber content were being lumped together with plastic bags.

I don't see this as an indication that Seattleites are in love with plastic bags. More likely, just like health care reform, people don't get excited about lame half-measures in response to pressing problems.

[HalfBakedSushi]

Sometimes "lame half-measures" are the impetus for longer term change. We gotta start somewhere and vetoing a measure that would at least get us started down the right path b/c it doesn't coincide exactly with your philosophy is akin to throwing the baby out with the bathwater.

[spikeykitten]

There is a need to recycle more - right back into the environment from where it came.

[AMaitrejean]

In France when you go to the supermarche, your bring your own bags into the store. The grocery stores do not offer either paper or plastic. We have a collection of tote bags and they are stored in the car. I do not find this inconvenient in anyway. It's time for the modern world to move on from old ways of doing things and into a more eco-friendly, person responsibility lifestyle. It's easier than you think.

[inc3000]

Many countries do the same. People bring their bags and that's it, when I came to the US I thought it was weird how everyone used too many bags once. .....what a waste.