Plastic shopping bags

[Middle Earther]

I live in BC, Canada and there's a bit of a debate about whether or not to ban plastic shopping bags. Then there's a new study that says the reusable bags can carry harmful bacteria, etc. if not washed.

I'm not sure if plastic bags are all that bad, considering everything else we do, i.e, cars and unnecessary packaging in other places.

I wonder if there's any other places having this debate and your take on it. Is it a step in the right direction? Or is it so minor its not worth it?

 

[Rii]

South Australia has banned plastic shopping bags as of last week. Retailers can now be fined for providing them. Incandescent globes will be gone shortly too, imports are currently banned with sales to follow later this year.

 

[tharpdevenport]

Bags are cheaper to make and buy that paper ones. A better solution might be what stores like Wal-Mart and Publix offer -- purse like bags made out of material; you buy them and bring them back each time you shop. If they get dirty, you wash them. But then the consumer has to plunk down more money.

I can't think of a solution for this.

 

[PKTrekGirl]

In the U.S. we have certain stores that do the reusable bag thing. Trader Joe's is one example - I just keep my bag for them in my jeep so I always have it.

Other stores offer paper or plastic.

But it's still very much optional here in America, and up to the individual. Which probably shouldn't surprise anyone.

 

[ThankQ]

They also create a ton of waste, and, ironically, while they tear easily, the last forever.

Reusable bags are by far the best option.

Disposable bags cost money, too. Why not stop them, use whatever that budget was to offer free reusable bags at the beginning of each month?

That way, the company spends the same amount of money, and the people who really have a huge problem with paying $1 for a reusable bag can plan it so they don't have to.

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

Our store does sell reusable bags, and a lot of customers use them. But most still use plastic. (Our paper bags don't have handles - some people don't like that.)

 

[Canadave]

They're not banned here, but Ontario now charges a five-cent fee for every plastic bag you use. It's not that much on an individual basis, but it's certainly worth it to plunk down a dollar for a few re-useable bags to use instead.

Personally, I'd already been trying to use reusable bags wherever possible.

 

[Marc]

I live in BC, Canada and there's a bit of a debate about whether or not to ban plastic shopping bags. Then there's a new study that says the reusable bags can carry harmful bacteria, etc. if not washed.

Yeah the line did the rounds.

As Rii mentioned South Australia as May 5th banned the sale of plastic bags and one of the last ditch claims was the line about the bacteria.

It's only an issue with bags that people have carried meat in. If people carried meat in just or two of their bags and washed them after each shop it wouldn't be an issue.

People don't seem to comprehend that number of plastic bags that are gone through each year.

Australia has a population around 22 - 23mil and each year goes through several billion shopping bags.

Apart from the fact that it's a lot of pollution, there's also a a hell of a lot of oil that goes into producing them (the same goes for plastic drink bottles which require 8 litres of oil to make 1 500ml bottle).

Another line is people using the shopping bags in the rubbish bins. They could simply buy the proper bin liner bags (buy a roll, use as needed, don't accumulate) but more importantly are made such that they quickly break down.

I don't know if it's Canada wide but in Ontario at least shops will shortly start charging for each shopping bag but whether people will really notice anything difference, only time will tell.

 

[Trippy]

They're not banned here, but Ontario now charges a five-cent fee for every plastic bag you use. It's not that much on an individual basis, but it's certainly worth it to plunk down a dollar for a few re-useable bags to use instead.

Personally, I'd already been trying to use reusable bags wherever possible.

I started using the re-usable bags before they started charging for them for environmental reasons.

I wash the cloth ones and wipe down the heavy plastic ones.

 

[tharpdevenport]

What we need are Futurama-like airtube leading from the grocery store to each person's house.

Joe SixPack: "Ah, can of soup please."
wwwwwWWWWWHHHHHEEEEEE-FAPOON

 

[Mallory]

I always choose paper bags when I shop. But then I come from one of those "tree states".

 

[Aragorn]

Plastic bags make for nice liners for the little trash cans.

 

[TheLonelySquire]

I have no problem with them and actually have a case of them at home to use for small trash.

 

[Marc]

I always choose paper bags when I shop. But then I come from one of those "tree states".

Which leads to the question? When did paper bags go out the window for shopping? I can vaguely remember my mum bringing home the shopping in them but that's the better part of 25 - 30 years ago.

Guess the only problem was you had to hold them at the bottom (not as easy as plastic bag handles) but then at least the things wouldn't rip (unless wet).

Another anti-reusable bag claim was they could carry lots and so might be overfilled. The big brown paper bags could also hold a fair bit as well (could pack them well).

No doubt the really mad green freaks would spitz but they would be a good alternative. Use plantation wood (so grow the trees again leaving old growth/forests etc etc along), brown is okay so you don't need to bleach the paper (so no chlorine etc in the process), easy to recycle and if you don't recycle they at least break down quickly.

 

[Marc]

Plastic bags make for nice liners for the little trash cans.

Buy the dedicated plastic bin bags - as I said they break down quicker and they don't accumulate. unless you're frequently empting the bags it's seldom that if you shop for a family that your re-use of the plastic bags would exceed the initial collection i.e they will accumulate.

 

[Gertch]

Banning plastic bags is so silly. I reuse them to carry my lunch to work so at least I get another use out of them.

Recently the city changed it's waste hauler and the new one wont take any plastic bags or pizza boxes in the recycled stuff. I've always been a zealous recycler and find that crazy. What am I going to do with my pellet bags now???

 

[Marc]

Banning plastic bags is so silly. I reuse them to carry my lunch to work so at least I get another use out of them.

Recently the city changed it's waste hauler and the new one wont take any plastic bags or pizza boxes in the recycled stuff. I've always been a zealous recycler and find that crazy. What am I going to do with my pellet bags now???

Back home the request was the people didn't put pizza boxes in the recycle either not sure what the reason was. Supposed it was a rottnig foot issue but lets face often people don't really clean the stuff out so I don't know what difference it makes.

As for plastic bags, not all of them can be recycled (those that do have a logo on it). Guess they don't have the time to wade through and sort them out.

It's probably a cost control measure in the long run. If the company that does the recycling has to dump all the stuff it can't recycle it eats into their profits (the same for charities when people dump useless shit in their collection bins). Instead they say you or I don't stick non-recyclables into the regular bin who's collection is usually paid for as part of council rates.

 

[Gertch]

I could see not wanting the round cardboard that the pizza sits on but the rest of the box should be okay.

The old company took the plastic bags. Maybe they threw them out or sold them as inert material for something.

 

[tharpdevenport]

I remember like ten years ago this grocery store was selling this plastic bag holder. You take a platic bag from shopping, and put the hamdles over both edges and use it as a trash can. "Bag Saver" or some fancy name. The product just sat there and sat there. The reason was that "Bag Saver" was charging about $14 bucks for it. $14 SMACKAROOS! Well, suffice to say the price kept dropping & dropping until I got one for like $1.99 (the thrifty shopper I was).

I still have the little plastic bastard too.

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

The problem with the plastic bags at our store is that they tend to get left laying around all over the place, mostly through customers tossing them away (if they don't like how their order was sacked) or by dumbass sackers who just throw them around.