I don’t want to stir people up, but shouldn’t we be addressing why people get the disposable bags? Why is there no discussion on teaching people what they should do with them instead of just charging everyone a fee and assuming the individual will just let the bag float away in the wind? It wasn’t even announced here in LA when all the stores starting putting the bag recycling containers in front of the stores. Why aren’t the recycling habits and streams being addressed instead of just plastic bags? Why don’t stores have something as simple as a bag “rental” fee where people can pay maybe 75 cents to take a reusable bag home and they can bring it back to the store and receive their deposit back if the bag is still in usable shape (like glass milk bottles in the past).

I personally do not get disposable bags from stores, but I use them from my coworkers to transport recycling from my work place to recycling centers by riding the train and walking. Considering my own reusable bags have already been torn and damaged by things nowhere close to as sharp as an edge on an aluminum can, unless I come across about 30 very sturdy reusable bags that will not leak or grow mold and can be washed, I could not do what I do (take care of all of my companies recycling needs) without “disposable” bags. Should I buy bags just to toss them? Should I buy reusable bags and toss them? Should I spend more money buying bags than I could ever recover on the cost of the materials being recycled? Should I just toss everything in the trash instead of recycling?

I sent the letter and forwarded this to my mothers’ club and book club.

Important to note, though, that if you don’t have time for a letter, a phone call is pretty persuasive to our representatives too. Calling your rep about an issue literally takes less then one minute. Usually, the staffer answering the phone only wants to know what the bill is, your position, and the city you live in. Sometimes, they will also ask you your name. Super easy and these personal contacts to reps make a HUGE impact because most people never bother.

As to Homeschoolmom, I have the same experience at more mainstream stores like Luckys’ and Target. Hopefully, the changes at Whole Foods and more alternative stores will spread. And if not, this bill will make them!

I sent the letter and am thrilled by this idea—I hope it’s passed, but the utter contempt and eye-rolling I get at a regular grocery store (like Vons) when I bring my reusable bags makes me less hopeful. People seem really defensive about their plastic bags! Thanks for the heads-up, cuz I hadn’t heard even a whisper of this here in San Diego.

Susan

Our new mayor Sam Adams, is proposing a 10 cents a bag tax on plastic bags which is so great!

I was recently in a supermarket and when asked if plastic was okay, I said I had my own bag. The woman in front of me turned around as she was leaving and said I suppose I’ll be turned into the Green Police now! Taken aback, I replied, there are other advantages like not having them clog up my cupboards. We have a long way to go with this fight!

Ok, I know I already commented, and I also know this doesn’t count for your challenge but…after thinking on this subject more today, and your call to contact the California Assembly I thought that I should contact my Seattle City Council and let them know how happy I was on their announcement yesterday. So, I did. While I can’t help in the California dept. I think it’s important we let our governments know when they do something we like too…so thanks FPF…for putting the thought in my head! :)

Fantastic incentive! I don’t live in CA although I wish I did, but have also been hearing about Seattle effort to ban plastic bags by charging for them. I think we are finally headed in the right direction!

I may not live in California, but I support ya! I’m going to send a similar letter to my representatives from Kentucky. Our family stopped using disposable bags almost 2 years ago, but we seem to be the exception to the rule in my area.

I would just like to brag that Los Angeles passed a plastic bag ban. Go LA! I will send letters to my California Assembly later today. But in the mean time w00t LA!! Holla!!!

Woops, please delete that previous comment. I submitted it in the midst of an edit.

I plan to move to California at some point in the next 5 years. I wish I lived there now so I could participate.

I wish I lived in California and could participate.

Beth-

I don’t live in Cali, but Seattle just passed a bag tax that goes into effect January 1 and I did a post about it yesterday! I’ve been a reader of your blog for a few months, but first time poster! I admire what you’ve done/are doing. I think I’ll link on over to your site today in hopes some of my (very few) readers will head on over and take action! Thanks for all the info!

Jill