This plastic bag "ban" needs to be repealed. (Los Angeles: to buy, live)

[sarah1222]

We're supposed to reuse bags, which is obviously pretty unhygienic-just imagine how many times those chicken/meat juices have seeped into your reusable bag. But just wash them right?


So by washing them people will use more energy and water.
In the middle of a drought.
Is this really the best outcome?


This is actually completely counterintuitive. It's been found that reusable bags create much more waste than extremely thin disposable grocery store bags. Not to mention that people "reuse" grocery bags for all kinds of things. I keep mine and use them as garbage bags.
A Survey on the Economic Effects of Los Angeles County




I remember when they banned paper bags and introduced plastic in the 90's to "save the environment"...do people actually think this is all for the environment? It's a scam. If you want to save the government, get corporations to stop dumping chemicals into our bay.

[TristramShandy]

It reminds me of the ethanol gas craze of about a decade ago. Lets use corn to motor our cars - - we won't be using oil anymore!

Except the tractors that were going to harvest the insane amount of corn that was going to have to be grown to fuel all those cars were going to have to use oil. Nothing was to be gained.

I asked a cashier at PetSmart if they were going to be held under the new plastic bag laws. She said that they had been told in the past that they wouldn't be since their plastic bags were biodegradable, but she hadn't heard anything recently.

If the bags can be made to biodegrade, why not just force that to be the law rather than getting rid of plastic bags all together (or continuing to make them but forcing customers to buy them)?

[movinon]

Originally Posted by TristramShandy

If the bags can be made to biodegrade, why not just force that to be the law rather than getting rid of plastic bags all together (or continuing to make them but forcing customers to buy them)?

Yes! That's what I've been saying to anyone who will listen. Unfortunately, none of those people have any influence but it makes me feel better!

When I was grocery shopping this week, I asked if the plastic produce bags were included in the plastic bag ban and the response was that they were not. So if they're OK, are they made of a different composition or is it that there aren't as many of them being used? At least I can put my possibly leaky meat packages into those when I shop and hopefully keep any juices from soiling my reusable bags. At least that's my plan for now.

[TristramShandy]

Originally Posted by movinon

When I was grocery shopping this week, I asked if the plastic produce bags were included in the plastic bag ban and the response was that they were not. So if they're OK, are they made of a different composition or is it that there aren't as many of them being used?

It's a good question. They probably aren't which is why the law is so questionable to me. I don't know anybody who uses the produce bags over again, but I know plenty who reuse the ones to that are used at checkout. Maybe the ban of the checkout bags is because the checkout bags are the ones more likely to be disposed of outside and thus caught in trees (which makes for a great photo op).

If they don't already exist, somebody out there has to know how to make a better (i.e. completely recyclable) plastic bag.

[LoriBee62]

I abhor this ban. And I'm one of those commie liberals that usually gets blamed for pushing this type of thing. We also reused plastic bags. And I've read that the paper bags actually leave a larger carbon footprint than the plastic ones did. But the worst is that the kids at the grocery store don't know how to bag groceries in reusable bags. Heaven forbid you have a couple bags that are on the big side. They pack them to the top with 35 lbs of groceries. Tell them you don't want them packed too heavy and they put one item per bag, practically. I've actually started insisting on bagging my own groceries because I'm sick of it. The whole thing is done.

Okay, vent over. Thank you for listening.

[Ceece]

It was just something that could be done to make people feel like something was being done. It's silly.

However, we don't need plastic bags. And people have been using their own bags forever without being harmed by "chicken juice". I remember a time before plastic bags so maybe I'm just more adaptable.

[Fiona8484]

Amen! I do reuse my plastic bags as trash can liners in the bathroom or for picking up dog droppings.

[Tulemutt]

Originally Posted by Ceece

I remember a time before plastic bags so maybe I'm just more adaptable.

No. Just old.

Like me.
Well, probably not THAT old (as me).

[krudmonk]

People have run out of reasons to cry, so we move back to PLASTIC BAG RIGHTS.

[Ceece]

Originally Posted by Tulemutt

No. Just old.

Like me.
Well, probably not THAT old (as me).

Don't underestimate old! Just think of all the new things we have HAD to adapt to in our lives. That had to give us an edge over people who have ALWAYS HAD something and suddenly don't! While we see it as just another change, they see it as a horrible takeaway of their basic human rights.