Posted on 01/23/2014 8:57:25 PM PST by BenLurkin
Key California legislators have reached an agreement that could lead to a statewide ban on carry-out plastic bags at supermarkets, liquor stores and pharmacies by 2016, officials said Thursday.
(Excerpt) Read more at losangeles.cbslocal.com ...
Well, reusable bags are prone to bacterial growth making this decision an unhealthy one.
Also, I hate this “single use” terminology—many people reuse plastic bags as described in the posts above already. Like for picking up dog poop. Or for packing school lunches for teen boys (brown paper bags aren’t big enough for the quantity of food they eat).
Yeah, about that....
What’s in your shopping bag? Bacteria
Consider: “Reusable” doesn’t mean “self-cleaning.”
Researchers at the University of Arizona and Loma Linda University queried shoppers headed into grocery stores in California and Arizona, asking them if they wash those reusable bags.
The researchers were likely met with a lot of blank looks. Most shoppers — 97%, in fact — reported that they do not regularly, if ever, wash the bags.
Further, three-fourths acknowledged that they don’t use separate bags for meats and for vegetables, and about a third said they used the bags for, well, all sorts of things (storing snacks, toting books). You can see where this is going.
The researchers tested 84 of the bags for bacteria. They found whopping amounts in all but one bag, and coliform bacteria (suggesting raw-meat or uncooked-food contamination) in half. And yes, the much-feared E. coli was among them — in 12% of the bags.
Here’s the full report, (yes it’s a long title)Assessment of the Potential for Cross Contamination of Food Products by Reusable Shopping Bags.
For more on food-borne illness check out the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
With plastic bags prohibited, stores could sell recycled-paper or reusable bags for at least 10 cents each!!!
Those people are stark raving mad and power hungry!
They are not allowed to sell bags for profit. The money goes to some charitable fund.
I bought about $40 worth of bags which are almost always at home or in the trunk when I shop.
Bags are packed poorly. Paper bags are good explosion devices. Any large bag is over filled so that I cannot lift it.
Grrr
Why must I walk around everywhere dragging several unwashed canvas bags behind me?
ahahaha I WANT ONE! at least one!
Some stores are now “encouraging” the use of your own totes by loading your purchases in flimsy plastic bags whose seams rip before you exit the store. There’s one store I go to that charges you if you bring no bag from home but if you buy more merchandise than will fit in the bag(s) you’ve brought, they won’t charge for supplying the additional sacks.
This is crazy.
CA is terribly over-regulated.
I go to aldis and carry a denim bag with me. Be creative...make your own...”
Lady in front of me at the store had several rolls of plastic wrap and two sets of plastic storage dishes in addition to a box of plastic sandwich bags and several boxes of food sealed in plastic. I don’t buy plastic wrap and still have some of my mom’s old Tupperware dishes which get a lot of use for storage. The logic of all of this somehow escapes me.
there will still be plastic bags for vegetables.
the shopping bag is the only plastic bag being banned
we USE far more plastic when we use those fruit and vegetable bags
this law is simply utter nonsense and doesnt even address the so called issue forthrightly.
Target will take 5 cents off your purchase for every bag you bring for your purchase.
Those bags gotta go. They create a real mess. There is a lot of paper and other plastic trash but nothing stands out or is harder to clean up than those plastic bags.
Tough.
Probably should wash our shoes before we enter our front door....and the interior of our car...and......
Thanks for the idea. How do Amazon Prime prices compare to the local Safeway or even wallmart?
I will never use those disgusting reusable grocery bags.
It’s my feeling that they want to make us feel poor before they actually make us poor.
Your point is well-taken. Legislative action....even down to the state level....is now almost a full-time job. Some states are fortunate....they have a defined session which lasts X number of days. Only the governor can call them back, and he’s got a limit on how many and for what reason.
Generally....I’m feeling like every state ought to define it’s legislative process and give them two periods a year (sixty days each). There’s only so much you can accomplish, and it’ll be a more reasonable and productive session. I’d even suggest this for the US House folks sitting in DC. There’s no reason their job should be full-time.
In our household, “throw away” grocery bags have dozens of uses. If we didn’t get them at the stores, we’d probably be buying them in bulk, periodically. If we accumulate too many, I use them as packing material — preferably for people in bag ban areas.
Now, if you want to increase penalties for littering, that’s fine with me. Maybe I’ll need fewer grocery bags for my excursions along the road along our property to pick up all the trash people toss out there...
Originally plastic was to replace paper to save the trees...
Liberal busybodies will eventually have to be rounded up.
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