12 replies to this topic

[Hardison]

On January 1, 2012, some grocery store chains started charging people 25 cents if they didn't bring their own reuseable bags. About 50 to 60% of people (no hard data, just my observation) bring their own bags. I've even seen people bring reususable bags to Costco.

There is a big push to eliminate grocery plastic bags (one time use) in the city of Los Angeles altogether. The plastic industry is starting to push back. Unfortunately, it looks like thier PR campaign is working.

See the article here:

Los Angeles Plastic Bag Fight

[mariaandrea]

Not surprising and inevitable that they would try to fight back. Understandable too, since let's not mince words, we're trying to put them out of a job. The argument that the ban is bad because of job loss is negligible, however, because some manufacturers can switch methods, and manufacturers of reusable and paper bags will need more workers. And I really hate it when they attack it from the littering aspect saying it doesn't cut it enough to make sense. There hasn't been enough long-term data from more than one location to even make that argument.

Here in Seattle, we're going to have a HUGE ban that starts in July. It includes plastic bags at grocery, drug and convenience stores, but also includes clothing stores and home improvement stores, like Home Depot, and even covers farmers markets. There might be a couple more places - I can't remember. It will cost 5 cents to buy a paper bag if you forget to bring your reusable bag. I'm sure people here on both sides of the issue are watching the fight in LA to see how it might pertain to us.

[4leafclover]

I highly anticipate this to happen. Banning plastics will come a very long way. I guess what should be present is the volunteerism of those market owners to stop using plastics. There are a lot of means for carrying bought items, and this all boils down to how people are committed into saving Earth from wastes.

[Hardison]

mariaandrea, on 29 April 2012 - 07:51 AM, said:

Here in Seattle, we're going to have a HUGE ban that starts in July. It includes plastic bags at grocery, drug and convenience stores, but also includes clothing stores and home improvement stores, like Home Depot, and even covers farmers markets. There might be a couple more places - I can't remember. It will cost 5 cents to buy a paper bag if you forget to bring your reusable bag. I'm sure people here on both sides of the issue are watching the fight in LA to see how it might pertain to us.

Seattle's ban is much more comprehensive than the one proposed in Los Angeles. It's a bigger metro area, but your ban is all encompassing. It was only a matter of time that the plastic company fougt back. It looks like they are winning too. Jobs are a hot issue here and the mention of loss of jobs stops people in their tracks.

I really hope the bans happens. I have about 10 resusabe bags, but  I sometimes forget to bring my bag. This ban will force me to remember to bring my bags. Landfill space is a big issue here. We also shipped some of our garbage to another state. This state isn't very happy about it. I do think this ban is a big step in the right direction.

[zararina]

Plastic is not yet banned on our city but other cities had implemented plastic ban already. And there are also protest or disapproval from other stores or establishment when it was first implemented but the implementation is more likely to be successful since major malls on those cities had implemented it.
And personally I like paper bags or reusable bags and hope it will be implemented here or everywhere sooner.

[aspen]

Plastic bags have been banned in some towns here. When you know this is the case, you go prepared with your cheap Chinese poor quality excuse for a reusable bag that falls apart at the stitches and zips. But if you go to supermarkets where bags are still available  and you are prepared to pay for a  supermarket plastic bag (different from the ones above) then it should be made to last longer than a single use. I reuse plastic bags for a variety of things. If you have ever had a market stall and sold potted plants then a reusable bag is most welcomed for the buyer to carry a number of pots around comfortably. Bags do have huge environmental problems especially with sea-life. It's up to us to get it right. So I have mixed feelings.

[mariaandrea]

Well, I have a cupboard full of "bad" plastic grocery bags I use and reuse, so I'll just continue reusing them and even taking them to the store with me. In terms of quality, a lot of those store re-usable bags are cheap and terrible and fall apart, but at least they claim to be made of recycled materials. The best bags I have are made of sturdy canvas. I don't mind paying 5 cents for a paper bag. It's smart to set the price that low and frankly, I use them as my garbage bags.

[btatro]

I can only see the benefits of this. I bring reusable totes to the store and choose paper is I do not have enough for my groceries. Every once in a while I will get a few plastic bags because I use them for garbage bags in my bathroom, but I could find other alternatives if needed. Why not use something you can use again and again instead of wasting all the plastic?

[artistry]

I read some place that there were production plans, in the works for bio-degradable plastic. That would be a great way to go and shoul;d make a big difference. Hopefully it will soon be in the marketplace, to then end the use of regular plastic.

[steph84]

I wouldn't mind paying just 5 cents for a paper bag if I forgot my reusable bags. I think that is a reasonable fee. Some stores were charging $.15 for a plastic bag (Walmart) and that just creating a wild outrage. If consumers feel like they are being punished then they are not going to go for it.

[ACSAPA]

At this point I'm used to carrying reusable bags. I have the ones that fold up into a tiny bundle so that I can always carry them in my purse and not forget them. So if stores in Florida banned all plastic bags tomorrow, I wouldn't be affected but I can see how it would suck for people who always forget their reusable bags.

Reusable bags are widely available and cheap, but some people STILL don't use them, so maybe a ban on plastic bags is what it will take to get people to use them. On Earth Day my local supermarket gives out reusable bags for free and I still don't see people carrying those bags.

[Sandra Piddock]

I've got into the habit of carrying a folding bag around with me, and leaving more bags in the car. The UK has been implementing this policy for a number of years, and while people railed against it at first, it was accepted in the end. Some stores added 'sweeteners,' like extra reward points, or deducting 1p from the bill for every bag you re-used. It's a way of life in the UK, and it will happen everywhere else in the long term.

I don't have any sympathy for the manufacturers. In the UK, they've gone over to producing so-called 'bags for life,' and they are more profitable than the other, flimsy bags, so in the end, the manufacturers will win as well.

[Hardison]

I wasn't sure if this warranted a separate thread or not....

Santa Cruz is being sued by the Save the Plastic Bag Coalition (LOL!) asking the courts to throw out the plastic bag ban. Their argument is that  prohibiting plastic bags increases paper and re-usable bag production, which causes negative environmental impacts.
I don't know how the lawyer could say that with a straight face!

http://www.ksby.com/...dinance-241786/