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)
Kind of makes me wonder if the Hefty and the Glad trash bag empires are behind this, somehow.
I mean, now people have to BUY trashcan liners, when most of us just recycle and re-use our plastic bags from the grocer.
*SHRUG*
MoonBeam Part DeuX
Remember his first fiasco of a term?
Here we are again?
Liberal madness.
Masquerading as enlightened thought.
I think this is great, All California Residents should embrace this new law wholeheartedly, and in doing so DEMAND that our Political Leaders go one step further and BAN ALL PLASTIC BAGS From EVERY Government Facility, Bring a plastic bag and YOUR FIRED, USE a Plastic Bag as a Public Servant or Public Employee and You are GUILTY of a FELONY. Come On Legislature show us you really mean it.
Bwaahaahaahaaa! Liberal moron finally figured it out. Of course he'll never make the connection...
Wait until the day when even possessing a non-biodegradeable plastic bag will get ya 90 days.
Dog, cat and other owners of messy kids and neighbors beware!
Just like the CFL bulbs with Mercury, cleanup and containment
Have been kicked to the curb
Becuz it sounds so cool.
Save the Earth!
Bury a liebral in your backyard.. Fertilize the world!
But check your local ordinances first. :-)
Bttt.
These laws are always a combination of “do-gooders” and some business that’s going to make money off of it. The do-gooders provide the propaganda, and the profiteers give donations to the legislators. Now I know who the latter were.
The bags are reusable. I have two large dogs who have two outings daily. Thatsa lotta poop.
More insanity brought to you by the same retarded liberals that FORCED the use of plastic bags when they BANNED paper bags to, yet again, “save the environment.”
I also find it interesting that liberals pollute more than anyone. They just throw their trash anywhere they want. They litter like crazy. CA must be spending millions and millions on cleaning up all the litter liberals create.
Walk the beaches in southern CA. Covered in junk, trash and dog poo (even though there are signs everywhere posting “No Dogs Allowed on the Beach”).
Wasn’t there a story on those reusable bags, the type CA wants people to use? Something about harmful bacteria causing problems ...
Bwaahaahaahaaa! Liberal moron finally figured it out. Of course he'll never make the connection...
Are you a friend of this "Liberal moron", or did you just figure that out on your own? Perhaps it takes one to know one, and you can ferret them out without any supporting information, other than perhaps they live in CA?
If I lived in Kalifornia (I did), I would move out (again, I did). If I were a grocery store owner, I would be thinking about selling the bags for one penny or a dollar for up to 100 bags.
stores will immediately build in ther price of paper bags to their merchandise...you will be charged, indirectly, for the governors idiocy....who the hell voted for this imbiscille anyway?????...he has been a wierdo for years!!!
Do you realize how many innocent trees will have to die to fulfill the environmental idiots crybaby actions???
Indeed. Its mentioned in the video by AFP California. San Francisco saw a huge increase in treating patients for food poisoning as a result of bacteria build up in those. Not to mention the increase in greenhouse gasses as a result of the increased paper bag production and that, because they are heavier and bulkier than the plastics, needed more trucks to transport them. But to the intellectually lazy left...you need only say “its good for the environment” and they swoon.
And the children - you forgot it’s for the children (their mantra)
Re: EnviroWackos.
I’m pretty sure this is illegal, but I’m having my family do this for me when the time comes:
Post Humus
by Patti Tana
Scatter my ashes in my garden
so I can be near my loves.
Say a few honest words,
sing a gentle song,
join hands in a circle of flesh.
Please tell some stories
about me making you laugh.
I love to make you laugh.
When I’ve had time to settle
and green gathers into buds,
remember I love blossoms
bursting in spring.
As the season ripens
remember my persistent passion.
And if you come in my garden
on an August afternoon,
pluck a bright red globe,
let juice run down your chin
and the seeds stick to your cheek.
When I’m dead I want folks to smile
and say, “That Patti, she sure is
some tomato!”
Buy these while shopping:
Then ask kindly for the cashier to pack your groceries in them!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.
