CA Ban on Plastic Bags Passes Major Hurdle at State Capitol

[Jamaal510]

&list=UU-BSVXejMFhhml4V_VyoGxg

I'm not on board with plastic bag bans. However, because Sacramento is trying to make this plastic bag ban go state-wide, they should at least arrange it to where either all reusable bags are free or paper bags are free and available in every store to put groceries in.

[Tikki]

1. Hi Jamaal510....I am all in on the ban and for multiple reasons..

It will get easier and psa's will remind shoppers often.


Tikki

[JDPriestly]

2. Plastic bags have been banned in LA since January, and it is no problem.

Everybody puts reusable bags in the trunk of the car. There are bags that have little pockets attached and that you can put in your pocket. It gets to be a habit. And if you forget your bags, you can usually buy a reusable plastic bag at the checkout. No problem at all.

[yuiyoshida]

3. I wonder about TRASH BAGS...

WILL those be next? We already recycle some things.. but there is still GARBAGE and paper bags don't cut it for liquid, greasy garbage. I use my paper bags for trash but ultimately have to transfer them to large garbage bags. I seriously doubt the garbage companies would take pure raw garbage..and those cans they supply would stink to high heaven, plus attracting disease, rats, mice, bugs..etc.

[JI7]

4. i'm guessing it's mostly store bags because those usually are thrown away

with garbage bags you are actually using it for a good reason . although there were many who saved plastic bags and would use it for things like dog poop , as trash bags etc.

[Gormy Cuss]

5. Before plastic trash bags were common, people put trash in unlined trash cans.

And yes, they would stink if not rinsed out regularly, same as the recyclables bins do these days. So long as the cans have lids the vermin risk is negligible. Insects are a bigger issue but can be handled with bug spray and an occasional cleaning. Also, if garbage (food waste) is segregated from other trash, the trash cans just don't get that dirty. Many cities are encouraging this separation because garbage breaks down quickly as compost when segregated this way rather than heading to the landfill with the rest of the trash.

There isn't a movement to ban plastic trash bags yet, just as there isn't a call to ban plastic produce bags.


I don't mind bans on plastic grocery bags IF paper bags are still available without fee. I do object to legislating fees for paper bags when the purported reason for the ban is reducing plastic litter.

[TreasonousBastard]

6. What drives me nuts about plastic bag bans is...

how many think paper is better.

We have plastic bags because we kill trees and use billions of gallons of water and many chemicals to make paper bags. And they take up 10-20 times as much space in landfills without breaking down.

No bags is OK, and we will eventually learn to live with it. Nobody goes to Costco or BJ's and expects bags.

[PotatoChip]

7. I didn't know that about paper bags.

That they take a long time to break down in landfills, I mean... Makes sense though, I suppose.

Funny, the random things I learn here on DU!

[TreasonousBastard]

8. Most people don't. One big time...

environmentalist around here refuses to believe plastic has anything good about it and has been pushing the bag ban.

I do understand the enormous problem of birds and marine life eating the bags, but it's doubtful that a local bag ban would solve the problem, and if it leads to paper bags we could be in worse trrouble.

Anyway, here's a link to a biased industry source that just happens to have a lot of good information. For landfill info, search for Rathje and his garbology work-- it's fascinating.

http://www.plasticsindustry.org/files/about/fbf/myths%2Bfacts_grocerybags.pdf

[Jamaal510]

9. .

[CreekDog]

10. why not ban plastic bags? they pollute our waterways

if not ban them, make them require a refundable deposit to support adding them to curbside recycling programs.

as for reusable bags being free -they aren't free to make.

[Retrograde]

11. I seem to have acquired more than a dozen reusable bags at no cost

Promos, mostly, or premiums of some sort, so they were free to me. I also have several guides on how to make bags from yarn, fabric - even disposable plastic bags! And while they may not be entirely free, the cost can be amortized over many uses (the promo bag Trader Joe's gave out when it opened its store near me has been used weekly for over a year now).

In addition to polluting waterways, the plastic bags get caught in trees and fences. In my climate they end up in shreds after awhile, but still hanging on tenatiously.