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I think a lot of people may change their mind about this issue if they experience the problems with plastic bags first hand. Try being on a team pulling them off of birds necks or out of the belly of a sea turtle and tell me that your laziness is worth it. If the masses can't behave when given something, there have to be rules put in place to try to put them on a better behaved path. Can't drive safely? Traffic laws. Can't drink without acting like a crazy person? Alcohol laws. Can't use plastic bags without littering them and never recylcling? Plastic bag laws. It's really no different from anyone else. If the majority can't be responsible, we have to encourage them to do so by making laws.
Just read that some other town/state will require that all re-useable bags be rinsed out between uses. What's worse (here), that extra water use or disposable bags?
What are reusable bags made from? Mine seem to be plastic. How many disposable bags worth of plastic goes into a reusable plastic bag? And, how long do they last on average? Can they be recycled?
I primarily get plastic bags to pick up dog poop. The New Mexican suggests I use their paper. Sorry, but I doubt whether many would see that as a viable substitute. My guess is that most will just leave the poop. What is the environmental impact of the incremental poop left in the watershed? Plus, the environmental impact of newsprint production vs reading only the digital version of their paper?
Just read that some other town/state will require that all re-useable bags be rinsed out between uses. What's worse (here), that extra water use or disposable bags?
What are reusable bags made from? Mine seem to be plastic. How many disposable bags worth of plastic goes into a reusable plastic bag? And, how long do they last on average? Can they be recycled?
I primarily get plastic bags to pick up dog poop. The New Mexican suggests I use their paper. Sorry, but I doubt whether many would see that as a viable substitute. My guess is that most will just leave the poop. What is the environmental impact of the incremental poop left in the watershed? Plus, the environmental impact of newsprint production vs reading only the digital version of their paper?
And what's their excuse now? I see/smell dog poop whenever I walk or hike. Responsible dog owners will find a way to pick up their poop just as they do now even if it means buying special bags to do it--look on it as part of the expense of owning a dog. IMO not a very good argument for keeping plastic bags.
No plastic and they're making stores charge .10 for paper! Outrageous!
If Smith's wants to give me a free paper bag for shopping in their store that is between me a Smith's.
Looks like I'm getting out of here just in time! Encouraging / recommending that people do something is one thing. Forcing them to do it is something else! Moderator cut: We don't need the obscenities, bashing and name calling
Last edited by Poncho_NM; 08-29-2013 at 12:46 PM..
Meh, Austin and Portland are doing this and we were fine with it. Somebody mentioned the litter factor. IMHO, that alone should be enough reason for one to burn the calories it takes to carry their own bags into the store.
No plastic and they're making stores charge .10 for paper! Outrageous!
If Smith's wants to give me a free paper bag for shopping in their store that is between me a Smith's.
Looks like I'm getting out of here just in time! Encouraging / recommending that people do something is one thing. Forcing them to do it is something else! Moderator cut: We don't need the obscenities, bashing and name calling
How often do you shop at Smith's in Santa Fe being that you live in Abq?
And why shouldn't the store charge you for a paper bag? They pay for them, don't they? That's just passing on a cost of doing business.
They pay for them, but the cost of those bags is factored into the cost of the groceries.
I think this will hurt business in the way that stores that are crappy about having carts/baskets readily available throughout the store lose business. I.e., people will be able to carry less, therefore they'll buy less.
So here I am in the French countryside for a couple of weeks and guess what? No plastic or paper bags in the supermarkets (yes, despite village farmers' markets there are some staples you go to a super market for) and guess what? No one complains. They bring their re-usable sacks with them. Now isn't that clever!
Seriously, our society should re-think its throw-away/disposable mentality.
You have to pay for plastic or paper bags here in Montgomery County Maryland. People seem to have gotten used to it rather quickly - you just get in the habit of keeping reusable bags in the car. It's really much better for the environment.
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