Comments on: Could California be the First State to Ban Plastic Bags?

By: Simple Living News Update

Simple Living News Update — Mon, 07 Jun 2010 13:03:28 +0000

[...] California Might Ban Plastic Bags [...]

By: Dave

Dave — Thu, 03 Jun 2010 23:44:36 +0000

They should have banned both paper and plastic. As a delivery driver for a company that manufacturers both plastic and paper products, this law I believe will actually make it worse on the environment. First off the energy that our company uses to manufacturer paper bags is far greater then that of plastic bags. If you add in the fuel that is needed to transport paper bags to their location then the environmental impact may actually be even worse of that of plastic bags.

I used to do one 53 foot trailer load of plastic bag delivery to a San Francisco supermarket every six months. Now that San Francisco has already banned the use of plastic bags in supermarkets, I now drive that same 53 foot trailer once or twice a month to the same supermarket filled with paper bags. The cost is 100 gallons of diesel back and forth. If you can do the math then you would realize how much more energy paper bags wastes to make and transport then that of plastic bags.

Before you even ask, yes that market already does a ten cent fee to customers for a paper bag. It has done nothing to reduce their consumption of paper bags.

Hopefully next time they decide to pass some more environmental laws they can think a little bit harder about the side effects it may cause.

By: Beth Park

Beth Park — Wed, 02 Jun 2010 05:56:12 +0000

Hi,
I live in Luxembourg (a rather small country in Europe located in the corner between France, Germany and Belgium). About a year ago, maybe two, all the grocery stores in the entire country just stopped giving out plastic bags. Not sure how they coordinated this (I kind of assumed the initiative came from the government but I don’t know). We now have to either bring our own bags (which we already did) or pay 3 cents to buy one. Amazing how quickly it became the norm to walk around with your own bags. They also sell bags that are made from the plastic that is picked up at our doorstep for recycling. Great initiative and literally from one day to the next, no bags available unless you buy them.
Beth

By: What’s Going On

What’s Going On — Tue, 01 Jun 2010 13:38:01 +0000

[...] Fake Plastic Fish talks about her hopes for a California plastic bag ban. [...]

By: Olivia

Olivia — Mon, 31 May 2010 13:46:16 +0000

Here in Canada, many, if not most, stores (of ALL types, even clothing stores or pharmacies) charge for plastic bags. This has been a very effective way of getting people to switch to reusable bags. While visiting my daughter recently in a different province, I ended up stuffing 3 bras into my purse and pockets in order to avoid the 5 cent plastic bag charge. I have many reusable bags in my car but it was 2,000 km. away. Grocery stores have been doing this for some time but now it’s beginning to catch on everywhere. This seems to me more effective as people seem to resent being forced to do something. Maybe Canadians are just more frugal and resent having to pony up the extra nickel per bag?

By: Susan

Susan — Sun, 30 May 2010 22:07:03 +0000

Thanks, Beth! Once again you’ve provided information that my local (San Diego!) media has not. Never heard of this legislation until I stopped by your blog today. Took all the actions listed. For the bag tax supporters: Note that if you get a (paper only) bag at the store, it’ll cost you a quarter. Bet it won’t take long til you remember to bring your own bags. I always bring my own bags and the people in line with me aren’t impressed by my nickel a bag refund. In this case, I think the stick will prove more motivating than the carrot.

By: Jennifer Margulis

Jennifer Margulis — Sun, 30 May 2010 15:10:10 +0000

I am SO WITH YOU on this. Forwarding this information to everyone I know! Thank you. I hope OREGON (where I live) will be next. Plastic bags are disgusting, polluting, and bad in so many ways. We don’t need 200,000 to prove what we all already know. I don’t know how people in the plastics industry sleep at night.
.-= Jennifer Margulis´s last blog ..A Picture of Love =-.

By: John Costigane

John Costigane — Sun, 30 May 2010 12:15:22 +0000

Hi Beth,

It comes as no surprise that the plastic industry vested interest opposes enthusiasts’ Zero Waste aims. Good luck with the campaign to support a ban on plastic bags but remember that we consumers can promote the drive to Zero plastic bags ourselves, and influence others.

Here in the UK, reusable bags are everywhere and likely to increase with time. There is nothing the plastic industry can do to change that. They simply should take up Zero Waste themselves and be part of our shared sustainable future.

By: Oldnovice

Oldnovice — Sun, 30 May 2010 00:43:57 +0000

I'm not supportive of a ban. I'm supportive of a tax, or (as many stores have already begun) a refund of so much for every bag refused. Sorry. .-= Oldnovice´s last blog ..Planning For The End of Oil. =-.

By: Akiko Kanna Jones

Akiko Kanna Jones — Sat, 29 May 2010 21:26:26 +0000

I posted this on my site as well. I am excited to see the results next week. I am making another short video of "Dance 4 Oceans" now. A friend of mine told me that she started to notice plastic trash everywhere after watching my first video. That's a good start. .-= Akiko Kanna Jones´s last blog ..Fight plastic pollution by supporting AB 1998! =-.