California becomes first state to ban plastic bags

 

Under SB270, plastic bags will be phased out of large grocery stores starting next summer and convenience stores and pharmacies in 2016. The law allows grocers to charge a fee of at least 10 cents for using paper bags.

 

Plastic Bags are already banned in LA and San Francisco.

 

Is this a case of responsible Government or over reaching Big Brother/Nanny-State Government?

I'd lean on the side of being responsible. But if it was I who was in charge, first I would have heavily tax the people who do not separate their recyclables. It's beyond ridiculous how much can be recycled but isn't.

Maybe the fact that California is fourth in paper production in the US to the tune of over $8 Billion a year has something to do with it also.

 

Could California also ban paper bags that are not manufactured in California?

Would you like paper or paper?

Plastic...too many ripped paper bags to ever want to go back to them...plus we use left over plastic grocery bags for something almost daily.

I always feel a bit like a soccer mom rolling into the store with my reusable grocery bags... but such is the way of things.

There are several countries that have banned them outright. Most European countries have laws that require merchants to charge a tax for the bags.

 

The fact is, America overuses them....to the tune of 100 billion a year, and they estimate that somewhere between 1/2% and 3% of them were recycled. China uses an estimated 3 billion a day. There are over 3.5 million TONS of plastic bags that end up in landfills each year. Just think of how many plastic bags it takes to come up with a pound of them...much less a ton. Normal plastic bags take up to 1,000 years to photodegrade back into microscopic toxins, and then they're still considered toxic.

There are several countries that have banned them outright. Most European countries have laws that require merchants to charge a tax for the bags.

 

The fact is, America overuses them....to the tune of 100 billion a year, and they estimate that somewhere between 1/2% and 3% of them were recycled. China uses an estimated 3 billion a day. There are over 3.5 million TONS of plastic bags that end up in landfills each year. Just think of how many plastic bags it takes to come up with a pound of them...much less a ton. Normal plastic bags take up to 1,000 years to photodegrade back into microscopic toxins, and then they're still considered toxic.

 

I need to call the folks over at Maxey Flats.

FWIW it takes more energy to produce paper bags than plastic bags and 10 times the fuel to deliver them due to the extra weight involved with paper bags.

 

Plastic bags are mostly produced overseas and the controls in place to prevent pollution from their production isn't monitored or controlled very closely.

I always feel a bit like a soccer mom rolling into the store with my reusable grocery bags... but such is the way of things.

I've always thought of you as a Soccer Mom!

FWIW it takes more energy to produce paper bags than plastic bags and 10 times the fuel to deliver them due to the extra weight involved with paper bags.

 

Plastic bags are mostly produced overseas and the controls in place to prevent pollution from their production isn't monitored or controlled very closely.

 

That's what makes canvas bags such a great option.

 

A couple of Christmases ago, I organized to have some of these printed up custom for my company and given out to clients and subcontractors that we worked with. Each reusable bag is made from 3 recycled plastic bottles.

 

Recycled PET Grocery Bags | Laminated Recycled Shopper | Bulletin Bag.com

My wife takes old recycled plastic grocery bags and creates sleeping mats for the homeless in the area. The mats are waterproof, comfortable, and easily rolled up. One mat keeps a couple hundred plastic bags or so out of the landfill.

I take old plastic bags and melt them at 266 degrees and mold them into various artifacts, decorations and religious shapes that I then take to the flea market and sell and donate all the proceeds to the church and worthwhile charities.

 

Ok...maybe I don't. :no:

 

I DID pick up about 20 of the recyclable grocery bags which we are using at the grocery, and they work very well. However, I miss being able to grab the plastic bags we always saved to carry or store something in.

Outlaw plastic bags...and only outlaws will have them.:no: Only a good guy with a plastic bag can stop a bad guy with a plastic bag.

Outlaw plastic bags...and only outlaws will have them.:no: Only a good guy with a plastic bag can stop a bad guy with a plastic bag.

 

I don't care what side of the aisle you're on. That's pretty funny right there.