What will they ban next? (Austin, Cedar Park: to buy, live, restaurants)

[austinrebel]

What would the penalty be if someone is caught smoking while holding a paper bag in an Austin park?

Austin may ban most plastic, paper bags

[CptnRn]

Originally Posted by austinrebel

What would the penalty be if someone is caught smoking while holding a paper bag in an Austin park?

Austin may ban most plastic, paper bags

Attempted arson?

[CptnRn]

I am annoyed by this we reuse every plastic bag we get cleaning up after our pets. Now we will have to buy small plastic trash bags for that purpose.

[Nighthawks11]

I think it depends on what he is smoking and whats in the bag.

[mark311]

This is one of those things that will take forever to pass, and even if it does, there will be exceptions like the ones stated below.

"Exempt from the ban would be restaurant carryout bags, bags for wine and beer, dry cleaning bags, newspaper delivery bags and bags that hold meat, fish, produce, bulk foods or pharmaceuticals."

I can get by at Costco without any bags at all and using recycled bags at HEB or Target. It's not ideal for everything, but a lot of us won't have to worry about it for even longer if we're outside of the city of Austin. There will be a ton of push-back from national chains like Chick-fil-A. Maybe you'll get your food in the drive-through in a paper box? Actually, restaurant carryout bags are exempt after reading the exceptions again. So, honestly, this would barely have any effect on me at all. It might affect my wife at the mall, but I think Lakeline has a Cedar Park address.

[MtnLion512]

Originally Posted by CptnRn

I am annoyed by this we reuse every plastic bag we get cleaning up after our pets. Now we will have to buy small plastic trash bags for that purpose.

That's not really helping, you're still throwing out the plastic bags. Just spring the few bucks for a plastic pooper scooper, problem solved.

[senormatt]

Originally Posted by CptnRn

I am annoyed by this we reuse every plastic bag we get cleaning up after our pets. Now we will have to buy small plastic trash bags for that purpose.

yup.. we reuse ours to scoop up and throw away cat litter, and one for small trash.

[G Grasshopper]

Personally, I don't think paper bags should be included in the ban. We use them for trash can liners, and they are biodegradable, which plastic bags are not. We do mostly use reusable bags, though. I think it's a good thing to decrease our use of plastic bags, though there are so many exceptions to this that it will not ban them. But I think just as important would be to ban styrofoam food containers. That is in the environment for ever, and Austin seems to be very slow in changing over to biodegradable/recyclable alternatives. If restaurants would do this voluntarily, as they have in many places, there would be no reason for a ban.

[Zembonez]

Paper bags should not be included in this ban. Paper is a perfectly sustainable resource. Plastic needs to go. Ever walked down any major street and seen all of the plastic waste in the grass nearby? People are disgusting.

We use the cloth reusable bags when shopping. We just keep them in the car. Simple.

[MtnLion512]

There is evidence that paper bags really aren't as sustainable as often assumed. Here's a little breakdown on the impact of both paper & plastic from a grocery store I used to go to in CO, Natural Grocers. They voluntarily do not carry paper or plastic bags; gotta bring your own.

Paper or Plastic? Frequently asked questions about recycling and reusable bags | Natural Grocers

EDIT: I assumed they didn't have this place in Austin; looks like there are several.