One Month Until Plastic Bag Ban Takes Effect (Austin, West: mall, bus)

[mimimomx3]

Originally Posted by Austinite101

Sunset Valley just voted recently to a ban nearly identical to Austin's. Also, word on the street is Westlake is also considering following on Austin's example.

I would imagine so- it makes sense.

[riaelise]

Yall keep mentioning about how things are running smoothly and people largely conducted their business as usual. Cmon now, did you really think people were going to grab the pitchforks and torches over plastic bags? It isn't the South Austin people who are going to take their business elsewhere since they are within the city limits and they're not going to drive to Kyle just for paper bags. It's the people who are straddling the city limits of two cities who will shop elsewhere - the Cedar Park, Round Rock, Pf people. Williamson especially doesn't really care about Austin eco-stuff. My RR HEB happily provides copious plastic bags on demand and will continue to do so.

[Austinite101]

The HEB I was at was the one on Slaughter and Manchack in Far South Austin. And if the people of Williamson Co. don't want to have to go through the difficult feat of remembering their reusable bags in Austin, then they can just shop where it is to their liking. It's that simple.

[llkltk]

Originally Posted by atxcio

The HEB thicker plastic bags are really nice. They can hold so much more and are easy to carry. It just really shows you how ridiculously low quality the disposable ones really were.

One quick observation that I have noticed since the switch... people are bringing all kinds of bags, not just the typical reusable ones. Especially if they don't have enough of the regular cloth ones. It's making for a learning curve in bagging, at least it looks like it. I've seen them give away (free) a couple of the pay bags when they don't want to deal with the particular thing the customer wants to fill with groceries.

How much are the thicker plastic bags? Are you supposed to bring those back in and reuse them?

[capcat]

Originally Posted by riaelise

Yall keep mentioning about how things are running smoothly and people largely conducted their business as usual. Cmon now, did you really think people were going to grab the pitchforks and torches over plastic bags? It isn't the South Austin people who are going to take their business elsewhere since they are within the city limits and they're not going to drive to Kyle just for paper bags. It's the people who are straddling the city limits of two cities who will shop elsewhere - the Cedar Park, Round Rock, Pf people. Williamson especially doesn't really care about Austin eco-stuff. My RR HEB happily provides copious plastic bags on demand and will continue to do so.

I can't imagine it would make that much difference to people. The plastic bags were a nuisance. Got to the point that I went out of my way to avoid them. Just another thing to manage around the house -- it seemed like they multiplied on their own.

[atxcio]

Originally Posted by llkltk

How much are the thicker plastic bags? Are you supposed to bring those back in and reuse them?

I'm not really sure how much thicker, but it's significant. Maybe 2-4 times thicker? They are thick enough that you wouldn't expect them to break if something with a corner is poking against them. And they have handles. I believe you can re-use them but I'm not sure that's what they intend.

[riaelise]

Originally Posted by capcat

I can't imagine it would make that much difference to people. The plastic bags were a nuisance. Got to the point that I went out of my way to avoid them. Just another thing to manage around the house -- it seemed like they multiplied on their own.

A "plastic bag" is more than just the grocery bags. It is my understanding that it includes any plastic bag, including those used for clothing, household goods, and other purchases. Plastic bags may be a nuisance to some people, but to me, they are a convenience. When I am purchasing things from Marshall's, I want all of my clothes in a plastic bag. I in turn re-use those plastic bags for other things around the house.

If I had to pay for the plastic bags, then fine, I would. I'd pay a price for convenience.

[capcat]

Originally Posted by riaelise

A "plastic bag" is more than just the grocery bags. It is my understanding that it includes any plastic bag, including those used for clothing, household goods, and other purchases. Plastic bags may be a nuisance to some people, but to me, they are a convenience. When I am purchasing things from Marshall's, I want all of my clothes in a plastic bag. I in turn re-use those plastic bags for other things around the house.

If I had to pay for the plastic bags, then fine, I would. I'd pay a price for convenience.

To each his own, of course. As for me, I've reconsidered the uses I had created for plastic bags and found that they weren't needed after all. Life's simpler.

[gpurcell]

Originally Posted by tildahat

Should have said much of the developed/industrialized/Western world. Then my statement would be simply true.

Considering the three countries I've lived in all meet that definition--and in all of them you get a bag to take home purchases--you are, again, simply false.

[woodinvilleguy]

Originally Posted by capcat

To each his own, of course. As for me, I've reconsidered the uses I had created for plastic bags and found that they weren't needed after all. Life's simpler.

They come in handy for houses like mine that have two dogs :-)