Getting Ready for the Plastic Bag Ban

Jennifer December 5, 2012 at 03:57 pm

Yes,Tim. We know. It's all about YOU. If you use your brain for something other than complaining, you could learn about the damaging effects plastic bags have on our environment, which ends up affecting everyone. Bringing reusuable bags is really a very simple and effective solution to the problem, not "government tyranny".

Tim December 5, 2012 at 04:08 pm

No Jennifer, it's about freedom. Despite our local governments iron fisted dictates, I will continue to purchase plastic bags by the box when I am places that still respect freedom (yes there are a few left).
These are NOT "single use" bags. I use them for garbage, in lieu of purchasing larger, thicker plastic bags that are more damaging to the environment (perhaps you should just give me your address and I'll dump my trash on your lawn instead). I also use these to clean the cat's litter box. I also use paper bags from Trader Joes for this when I have them but that creates more waste because they are larger and thicker. Again not that any of this is your business. I find it ironic that you liberals want government out of the way when it comes to abortion, yet it's alright for them to tell us what kind of light bulbs we can have or what kind of toilet we can have, and now ban bags. I'm sorry that you are too stupid to properly dispose of your plastic bags. Most people are smart enough to either find a secondary use for them or to recycle them back at the stores they got them. And the ones that do litter them should be cited by law enforcement. What ever happened to INDIVIDUAL responsibility? Nope, what's next? Banning sodas over 16 ounces? Oh wait, that already happened.

John December 5, 2012 at 04:24 pm

Tim,
I decided to leave the lunacy of this county as its obvious that most people here don't seem to understand "liberty" and "freedom from intrusion of government" -- it will be a matter of time when they realize people using those nylon bag will be spewed across lakes and ponds and doing worse than plastic bags...also food contaminates a bag and will have people getting sick because juices from like chicken end up in a bag that is reused.

John December 5, 2012 at 04:26 pm

^^ spam advertising pretending to be serving community

Carly December 5, 2012 at 04:35 pm

Tim is right about this being government intrution, I mean really, bags?? I like using my own bags and baskets and have for years but a law? Really? And, as for Jennifer's comment.... I have noticed it is very common for women to bang the environmental drum but stll use all those toxic for the environment body products and cleaning products. How much nail polish and remover are being dumped out there?? Wash your hair with baking soda and vinegar, plain nails, no hairspray, no dryer sheets....... then one can bang the environmental drum.

Tim December 5, 2012 at 04:42 pm

Yes, I have some of these reusable bags but I've thrown many away because they get gross. They can be washed, but that uses lots of water and detergent and people will want to wash them separately from other laundry. This also impacts the environment.
Anyway, I guess I shouldn't give a shit because personally, I now have enough plastic bags for the next several years. They come in boxes of 1000 and if you can find a local supermarket willing, they can order you a box at their cost (which is about $20 per box of 1000). It beats buying/carrying around these so-called "reusable" bags or paying the Politburo 10 cents per paper bag.

Sarah Blunt December 5, 2012 at 04:47 pm

I'm with Tim, RIDICULOUS!... They (whoever they are) made us drop the Paper Bags because the plastic bags were the next best thing and if you did NOT use them, you were single handedly destroying the environment... now some hall monitors who like to tote around there groceries in bacteria ridden germ totes made from hemp are again dictating the rest of us how we are to get our goods home! Guess what, the rest of us will just suck it up and buy our own bags or pay the 10cents and be on our way. We all have more important things to do then monitor and approve of or disapprove of the way other folks manage their footprints on the planet.

Tim December 5, 2012 at 04:56 pm

Just an FYI, the 10 cents/bag fee collected by the stores goes to the government. The stores are being FORCED to charge this fee, it's not a free market choice. The stores don't keep this money, it's passed on to Big Brother. This is why i purchased my own bags. I'm not going to give these thugs even one dime.

Carly December 5, 2012 at 05:07 pm

TIM for President 2016!!!!!

S T December 5, 2012 at 05:45 pm

I don't think they really care about environment.
This is just an additional $0.1 tax per bag. Even if store decides to provide bags for free, they cannot do this anymore. They HAVE to charge you $0.1 per bag no matter what. I'm curious what will happen to self-checkout lanes. Also, I'm using plastic bags for collecting garbage. This way, I don't have to buy some other plastic bags. This is called "reusing", if this was really initiated by environment-caring people, they would know that reusing is better than recycling. What should I do after Jan 1? Right, I'll go buy bags. This means, no more "bad" plastic is used to collect trash. Only "good" one.

Jennifer December 5, 2012 at 06:11 pm

Tim, there wouldn't need to be a law if people were responsible as you suggest. This may not be a perfect solution, but there is a real problem that needs to be addressed. Offer a better solution?

Tim December 5, 2012 at 06:29 pm

There is no perfect solution, I agree. We just have to enforce littering laws that are already on the books. It's illegal to drive over the posted speed limit but people do it and people and animals are killed by irresponsible motorists everyday. Is your solution to ban cars? No, we enforce the laws we have an punish individuals who break them.

Martha E December 5, 2012 at 07:43 pm

We used to use paper bags in the past - now we have to pay for them?????

Mona Taplin December 5, 2012 at 09:18 pm

Paper bags were discouraged because of the number of trees being cut down. Plastic bags are not biodegradable. Cloth bags can be washed and reused,- just like dish clothes, towels, clothing, etc. If you choose a light colored bag the colors aren't apt to run. We use cloth bags frequently with no problem, and we like the ban on plastic bags. They still will be available for fresh produce. Now I'll make everyone mad by saying I think one of the worse things created to destroy our enviornment is disposable diapers.

James Nelson December 5, 2012 at 09:27 pm

The Ban on Plastic will no doubt increase Muggings. If a Thief can't see what you got in the bag, your going to get a beat down over nothing. LOL

Tim December 5, 2012 at 09:31 pm

Mona, it's a trade off. Surely you aren't arguing that the increased wastewater generated from people washing their "reusable" bags is good for the environment, are you? In addition to the increased use of fresh water, the wastewater has to be treated. It also contains detergents which are harmful as well. Wouldn't it be better to use plastic bags and then reuse them for another purpose or recycle them?

Araxus December 6, 2012 at 02:24 am

How does this affect the poor who can't afford to buy a reusable bag, or wash them, or have extra space in them beyond toting around their meager belongings? Does this effectively constitute a new tax on the poor at ten cents a bag rather than food?

Mona Taplin December 6, 2012 at 02:41 am

And let's make him the first President who also is Vice President!

Tim December 6, 2012 at 03:05 am

I'm sure there will be some government giveaway to those who qualify... similar to what is done with food. I love it when I see someone on their smartphone at the checkout stand while they are paying with EBT.

Mona Taplin December 6, 2012 at 03:24 am

Tim, most of those bags can be washed along with regular laundry, and detergents can be purchased that do not polute. I love the recycled plastic bag my niece gave me and use it often. It says on the front "I used to be a soda bottle". It washes easily and is very durable.. It's a little bigger than a standard paper bag, and shaped exactly like paper bags. Also it is possible to keep your rinse water to wash your next load of clothes in. Saves water, but was so inconvenient for people used to more modern methods that it's rarely used anymore. I do still use some plastic bags and will continue to do so because they still will be available for produce and I wouldn't be surprised to see them on meat counters about the time they are banned at checkout stands. Now then, how many of you remember the loud cries when the switch from all paper to plastic bags was made? We hated them! Groceries used to be packed in the boxes that goods were delivered to the store in. You rarely see that anymore. Those boxes are cut up and recycled. Why not pack groceries in them for customers, and let the customers recycle them on collection day? It's no harder to wheel a box or two to your car than a half dozen or more plastic bags. Stores like Costco use very few plastic or paper bags. You bring your own or maybe they have a box to spare for you, Garbage can be wrapped in newspapers like was done in the "good old days."

Mona Taplin December 6, 2012 at 03:33 am

Are you referring to homeless people who tote their meager belongings around in grocery carts that they take from grocery stores????? I heard that some charities will be making and donating fabric bags to the poor to save them that dime.

Don December 6, 2012 at 04:09 am

Do I have this right?
Nearly all of us used paper bags and all was well. Then some one decided we must use plastic bags and we adjusted. Now they tell us we can go back to paper bags, for only 10 cents each. Really?

Don December 6, 2012 at 04:19 am

Newspaper? Who gets news papers any more? Too distructive of the environment and a major cause of Global Dimming.

Tim December 6, 2012 at 05:49 am

With all due respect, who the hell do you think you are? Why do you feel you have the right to tell me how to run my life? I don't litter plastic bags or anything else. I reuse these bags for trash in lieu of purchasing, larger, thicker plastic bags which I'll never fill because I do recycle much of my trash. And, if I do have extras I bring them back and reuse them at the store, or recycle them.
The problem isn't the bags, the problem is the few imbeciles that litter them. We don't need a government nanny state to run our lives. We need to hold individuals responsible for breaking the law, in this case littering. I don't need the EPA to tell me what kind of light bulb to use, or what king of toilet to have. I don't need mayor Bloomturd to tell me how many ounces of soda I can have. When the hell is it enough? Always more government intrusion, more tyranny... how about LIBERTY for a change. Leave me the hell alone dammit.

Barney Google December 6, 2012 at 11:51 am

I have never tossed plastic bags into the streets and most people don't . There should be stiffer fines for littering. Also the Overpaid Lazy Garbage collectors should be more aware when stuff flies out of their control.
I didn't vote to ban plastic bags.

JoAnne Spear December 6, 2012 at 01:59 pm

Well thank you very little to the government who thinks they can lead my life better than I can. I currently take care of my elderly parents and raise 3 teenagers. I go to the grocery store twice a month and the farmers market every week for fresh fruit and vegetables. I reuse my plastic bags for garbage and to clean up after my dog. Now thanks to this ban I will have to go shopping more often or buy like 30 -40 reusable bags that will have to be replaced due to wear and just plain hygeine. I will also have to buy plastic bags for garbage and picking up after my dog. So in total not one little bit of plastic will be saved, more gas will be burned to go to the store more often, and free time I don't have will be wasted, but I guess the government thinks it knows best.

Jennifer December 6, 2012 at 02:57 pm

You seem to be missing the point. There IS a big problem with plastic bags (that also don't degrade in our landfills even if you reuse them) being blown long distances. You will find them blown against bushes, fences, into streams and also in the floating trash piles found in our oceans. This probably has more to do with how light they are than someone purposefully tossing one away. Mona exdplained the issue with paper bags. We have to start somewhere to correct this problem. There are also biodegradeable "plastic" garbage bags being made. And, as Mona also stated, there still are the plastic bags for produce and meats that, when used, will keep your reusable bags clean for a very long time and can be used for dog poop.

JoAnne Spear December 6, 2012 at 03:12 pm

No actually I think you miss the point, the government should not be making decisions for the people. Everyone needs to be responsible for their own decisions and be ready to live with the consequences, whether they are good or bad. I have already tried to reduce my carbon footprint by only driving to the grocery store 2 times a month (less gas), reusing the plastic bags (saves plastic garbage bags and small disposable plastic bags for cleaning up after my dog), walking to the farmer's market (saves gas and supports local farmers). Yet the government thinks it knows best so all that is for naught. I am amazed how as children we can't wait to be out from under our parent's thumb and be an adult on our own, then we just let the government dictate everything we can and can't do.

Jennifer December 6, 2012 at 06:24 pm

I applaud you for all your efforts to conserve. I think it is the product that is the problem, not the use of it.

D Jardo December 7, 2012 at 04:30 pm

I use those plastic bags at home for garbage bags ... !!! No way Im paying for bags to put garbage in!!!