Ban plastic shopping bags?

[Ibanez]

I've been seeing more and more stories of countries around the world doing this. Seems like something we should get behind as well.

Apparently there was a story on Fox 23 last night, I missed it because I wasin the back yard playing soccer with the dog, that California is looking to impose a tax on plastic shopping bags. I suppose that would work as well, but I would rather see a total ban of the damn things.

[sgrizzle]

I went to home depot yesterday because they were giving away "eco friendly tote bags" to carry your purchases home in and had a good price on compact fluorescents. I rang up only to find that home depot had only sent a handful of bags and ended up on the way home with a plastic bag anyway.

A tax would provide some motivation and maybe keep the cheerleaders from using a new bag for every second or third item. I don't know how you could track it or enforce it, however. Stores could be more conscious, however, and charge customers per bag or give discounts for self-bagging. Stores could also offer paper bags as an alternative.

[Ibanez]

From what my wife said the story on the news last night seemed to indicate that the stores would be responsible for collecting the tax on the bags. 15 cents per bag is what I believe she said the charge would be.

I would honestly like to seem then banned entirely.

[joiei]

Wal-mart will sell you one for a buck.

[TulsaSooner]

Tax 'em and use the money to fund litter pickup on our roadways.  Those things are EVERYWHERE.

The segment on the news indicated that there weren't many great alternatives as the paper bags are more expensive and use more energy to produce.

[sgrizzle]

quote:Originally posted by TulsaSooner

Tax 'em and use the money to fund litter pickup on our roadways.  Those things are EVERYWHERE.

The segment on the news indicated that there weren't many great alternatives as the paper bags are more expensive and use more energy to produce.

Self bagging is good. Also, the current newsweek allows you to turn the cover into a shipping envelope, stuff it full of target plastic bags and mail it to them, they will send you a coupon for a tote bag made of target sacks.

[Cubs]

oh yeah more taxes..... exactely what the poor people need ....
honestly, when are you people going to learn that you don't solve problems with taxes!

[sgrizzle]

quote:Originally posted by Cubs

oh yeah more taxes..... exactely what the poor people need ....
honestly, when are you people going to learn that you don't solve problems with taxes!

We all know the poor can't feed their children without plastic shopping bags..

Seriously,pancakes?

[RecycleMichael]

I think a plastic bag stuck on a barb wire fence is the new Oklahoma state flag.

[TURobY]

At least with the plastic bags, I may get a tear occassionally, but it is almost always guaranteed with the paper...

Seriously, it doesn't matter which store I'm at, the paper sacks always rip apart on my way from the store to my car, or from my car to my house.

[sgrizzle]

quote:Originally posted by TURobY

At least with the plastic bags, I may get a tear occassionally, but it is almost always guaranteed with the paper...

Seriously, it doesn't matter which store I'm at, the paper sacks always rip apart on my way from the store to my car, or from my car to my house.

I have the opposite problem.

You should quit buying so much barbed wire.

[Gaspar]

I would analyze it from a use standpoint.  The amount of material in a plastic shopping bag is minimal. A few grams of polyethylene resin yields hundreds of individual bags.

Some are made of polylactic acid that breaks down to nothing in a landfill, and once again, one gram yields hundreds of bags.  

Additionally they take less energy to produce than paper bags.  They are lighter and less bulky which makes them cheeper to transport, ship and recycle.

Wouldn't it make more sense to promote the recycling of plastic shopping bags, or the use of biodegradable plastics?

Paper bags represent a significant decrease in efficiency that has more environmental impact than is being considered.

I did the research:  
The manufacturer (ULINE) rates 500 paper bags at 58lbs.  
v.s 1,000 plastic grocery bags at only 5lbs.

So. . . it would require 2,320% more fuel to transport the same number of paper bags to Walmart as it does to transport plastic. That's not even accounting for mass witch would probably increase that statistic significantly!  

[joiei]

quote:Originally posted by sgrizzle

quote:Originally posted by TURobY

At least with the plastic bags, I may get a tear occassionally, but it is almost always guaranteed with the paper...

Seriously, it doesn't matter which store I'm at, the paper sacks always rip apart on my way from the store to my car, or from my car to my house.

I have the opposite problem.

You should quit buying so much barbed wire.

I never have a problem with the paper sacks either.  I keep them and then recycle them to a second hand store that is charity run.  Helps with their over head expenses.

[joiei]

quote:Originally posted by Gaspar

I would analyze it from a use standpoint.  The amount of material in a plastic shopping bag is minimal. A few grams of polyethylene resin yields hundreds of individual bags.

Some are made of polylactic acid that breaks down to nothing in a landfill, and once again, one gram yields hundreds of bags.  

Additionally they take less energy to produce than paper bags.  They are lighter and less bulky which makes them cheeper to transport, ship and recycle.

Wouldn't it make more sense to promote the recycling of plastic shopping bags, or the use of biodegradable plastics?

Paper bags represent a significant decrease in efficiency that has more environmental impact than is being considered.

I did the research:  
The manufacturer (ULINE) rates 500 paper bags at 58lbs.  
v.s 1,000 plastic grocery bags at only 5lbs.

So. . . it would require 2,320% more fuel to transport the same number of paper bags to Walmart as it does to transport plastic. That's not even accounting for mass witch would probably increase that statistic significantly!  

Did you figure in the cost to compost the paper bag which can be returned to the earth vs the cost to continue to fill land fills and will not compost to earth in our lifetime?  Looking at nothing but the bottom line is one of the reasons the environment is in the shape it is today.

[joiei]

quote:Originally posted by sgrizzle

quote:Originally posted by TulsaSooner

Tax 'em and use the money to fund litter pickup on our roadways.  Those things are EVERYWHERE.

The segment on the news indicated that there weren't many great alternatives as the paper bags are more expensive and use more energy to produce.

Self bagging is good. Also, the current newsweek allows you to turn the cover into a shipping envelope, stuff it full of target plastic bags and mail it to them, they will send you a coupon for a tote bag made of target sacks.

I will do this.  And the Newsweek magazine will be recycled to a nursing home for the residents.