Posted on 10/01/2014 2:04:12 PM PDT by dignitasnews
The high cost of living in California just got a bit higher as Governor Jerry Brown heeded the call of environmental activists and Democratic Party leadership in signing a statewide anti-consumer plastic bag ban. The law forbids retailers from providing free plastic bag packaging to shoppers, forcing the consumer to pay for either paper or (yes) plastic bags or providing their own means of transport for groceries, sundries or other items purchased throughout the state.
While environmental groups and the grocery industry hailed the decision, the law has been criticized by consumer groups and manufactures who expressed concerns on the added spending costs to already-struggling California citizens and its effect on employment. The American Progressive Bag Alliance argued that the plastic bag ban threatens as many as 30,000 jobs throughout the state.
This was quite the opposite of the view of grocers, thrilled at the prospect for added revenue for retailers, who will sell bags to consumers as a result of the law. "History was made today," exclaimed Ronald Fong of the California Grocers Association, "our environment and our economy will be better off for it." Time will tell what the impact of the ban will have on both, but certainly will provide grocery retailers with additional millions in sales. While supporters argue that the cost of paper or plastic bags will be benign for consumers, with wages stagnant and grocery prices increasing,
Critics argue that some environmentalists view on the debate is short-sighted and ignores the consequences on other fronts. Environmental groups opposed to the ban cited studies conducted as a result of San Francisco's city-wide plastic bag ban, which showed a 70 percent increase of paper bag production generated a 50 percent increase in greenhouse gas emissions and produced 80 percent more waste than before the ban was instituted. The city conducted a litter audit one year after the ban and found that the ban did not result in a desired reduction in garbage.
Outrageous Hypocrisy of Plastic Bag Bans_AFPCalifornia (via YouTube)
Shannon Aaronson, a Los Angeles environmental activist involved with the effort to stop the ban noted, "Yes, some people are careless and contribute to the blight of plastic bags littering up the streets, but I believe most people are conscientious and often re-use these bags for other household purposes," adding, "I myself use them for my small waste baskets in my bathroom and for disposing of my cat's litter box. Now, I have to buy additional plastic bags, so whats the point?"
Shari Jackson of the American Chemistry Council worries of the effect such bans will have on recycling efforts. Noting a similar ban in Brownsville, TX discourages recycling by eliminating awareness and visibility, "These decisions threatens to eliminate recycling opportunities not only for bags, but for all other plastic wraps that can be recycled with bags." She worries that now that plastic bags have turned into a source of income for retailers, they will stop providing recycling bins inside of stores so that shoppers can dispose of shopping bags, dry cleaning bags and other similar items.
While much of the debate on plastic bag bans has focused on the environmental aspect, many Californians opposed to the ban react to the anti-consumer nature, shifting the cost of packaging from the retailers to the consumer. Richard Gutierrez was more blunt, complaining that, "Nearly everything I buy at the grocery has plastic in it. The fish is wrapped in plastic, I put my fruits and vegetables in plastic, our coffee comes in a big plastic container, yet somehow adding another 50 cents to my total is going to save the world?" He then turned and walked away in disgust, "Sounds like just another scam to get more of my money."
Commentary by Paul M Winters Editor in Chief, Dignitas News Service
Sources:
CNNMoney SanJoseMercuryNews PlasticBagBanReport StateOfConnecticut AFPCalifornia (via YouTube)
[ The bags are reusable. I have two large dogs who have two outings daily. Thatsa lotta poop. ]
SOOOOOO now you gotta BUY seprate BAG for dog poop and pay 10cents for each paper bag.....
Gee that will save the earth...
Dear Liberals,
I’m not a pig, and I don’t throw my plastic bags on the ground. So I’m going to keep using them...ok.
If I lived in Kalifornia I would buy a “plastuic bagging rig” and plastic bags and carry the whole damn thing on my back and when I got the cvash register I would have them bag my groceries in it..
I have 273 of the old style bulbs stock up. I am good for the rest of my life most likely. I just did an inventory this past weekend.
eBay has 1000 of them for around $20. I’ll take the box to the grocery store and the bagger can pack my groceries in them ... then I’ll use the soiled ones for trash bags. That ought to last me for a while. Effem.
Sigh...
I'll just find the source of my supermarket plastic bag supplier and buy a year supply.
I'll bring my own freakin' plastic bags.
Every single one always gets recycled, too.
Save myself a dime each for the paper bags and save a few trees too.
A month ago I couldn't spel envirenmantaliss...
And now I are one.
I wondered the same thing every time this debate arose. Millions to be made.
It’s not about saving the environment.
This kind of crap always boils down to lining someone’s wallet.
Who’s creating that socially conscious and environmentally responsible shopping bag business?
Bags made from organic cotton picked by the indigenous peoples of opressed third world nations and processed and assembled in solar textile mills and factories built with renewable green resources?
Our environment will probably be dirtier uglier and unhealthier than before
They might not stop at grocery bags.
It could be a sanitation nightmare
"They will sell us the rope we use to hang them."
City of Boulder did this couple of years ago. Self check-out stands ask how many bags do I “wish” to buy. I always type in that I “wish” to buy none and then fill as many as I need. Fuch ‘em. Would love to have someone take me to court for stealing bags worth 1/100 cent each. Of course, I’d argue that I was simply stating my “wish” per the cash-register language.
Then ask kindly for the cashier to pack your groceries in them!
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Lady... I like your style and sass! Great idea!
What's your problem, bub?
bub
noun, Slang. 1. (used as an often insolent term of address) brother; buddy.
I appreciate your consistency. Makes my position that much stronger.
sanctimonious
[saNG(k)təˈmōnēəs], adjective - making a show of being morally superior to other people.
Enjoy your "position".
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