[Stratford, Ct. Resident]

On 3/19, Westport will become the 1st town in CT to ban the use of plastic bags in retail outlets. Do you think that this will catch on in other towns in CT? I'm undecided as to what is truly better for the environment. Plastic bags don't biodegrade well, but Paper bags do require trees to be chopped down to make them.

[brasscitybluenwhite]

You can always buy reusable bags

[Stratford, Ct. Resident]

Originally Posted by brasscitybluenwhite

You can always buy reusable bags

Absolutely. That is the most eco-friendly option. I'm just perplexed as to whether or not the ban on plastic, in favor of the use of paper, is really of any true advantage to the environment.

[HeadedWest]

Originally Posted by Stratford, Ct. Resident

Absolutely. That is the most eco-friendly option. I'm just perplexed as to whether or not the ban on plastic, in favor of the use of paper, is really of any true advantage to the environment.

What does it matter? It FEELS good, and that's all that counts.

[brattpowered]

Originally Posted by Stratford, Ct. Resident

Absolutely. That is the most eco-friendly option. I'm just perplexed as to whether or not the ban on plastic, in favor of the use of paper, is really of any true advantage to the environment.

I would imagine not contributing to something like this (Sea of Trash) is of benefit to the environment.

[wanderintonc]

I don't live in Westport (thankfully...) but I absolutely reuse those plastic bags. I use them to line all the small garbage cans in the house, I carry stuff around in them, I used them to pad items when we packed and moved recently, I even keep a few in my car and bring them in the store if I'm buying a couple things. I also reuse the heavy plastic bags you buy at u-pack grocery stores like Aldi's.

So if they ban these, what will I use? I'd have to buy little garbage bags-instead of recycling the bags I do now. Isn't that counterproductive?

[JViello]

Bored, rich, ex-hippies.

Period.

[andthentherewere3]

It's true that both paper and plastic bags are harmful to the environment. The bags are harmful to animals and sea life, in addition to adding trash to the environment. Although, according to the link below, we ultimately lose either way, no matter whether we choose paper or plastic. For instance, it takes a gallon of water just to make one paper bag. I do recycle both our paper and plastic bags, but I did notice last week that the Big Y's recycling bin for plastic bags was gone. So now I need to re-think what I use. I previously wasn't interested in cotton bags from the store because they had their name written in huge letters across the side, but this discussion has prompted me to try and find some affordable plain bags.

http://blog.greenfeet.com/index.php/...-footprint/121

[wanderintonc]

I saw some cute resuable bags at Aldi's for 99 cents, with just a picture of an apple on them.

[hektic]

Just buy some of the reusable ones, they are only 99 cents each.