Posted on 08/08/2024 9:37:40 AM PDT by Red Badger
A Los Angeles Times editorial is asking for a "do over" in the plastic bag ban that actually led to more plastic waste, according to a recent report.
After California became the first state in 2016 to ban single-use plastic grocery bags, the thicker convenience totes that took their place as a reusable and recyclable alternative weren't reused and actually aren't recyclable. In fact, the study finds, the total amount of trash from plastic bags that California sends to landfills has never been higher.
In February, the LA Times reported on the study, which looked at the impact of the plastic bag ban implemented ten years ago as an effort to reduce the amount of plastic waste and encourage the public to use reusable bags. A "loophole" allowed businesses to offer thicker "reusable" plastic bags at checkout for a small fee, but many consumers threw those out after a single use as well.
But, the editorial board now claims: "No one is to blame for this bad situation. No loopholes were exploited, there were no shady moves."
"Retailers handed them out like candy, and consumers couldn’t have recycled them even if they wanted to. No recycling facility in the state accepts these bags," the editorial read.
In 2014, California tossed about 157,385 tons of plastic bag waste into the trash. But in 2022, plastic bags accounted for about 231,072 tons of trash, which is almost a 50% increase, according to data from CalRecycle, CALPIRG, the consumer advocacy group.
"This can’t go on," the editorial board wrote. "We need a do-over — a second plastic bag ban that fulfills the promise that lawmakers made in 2014 by passing Senate Bill 270, and that voters embraced two years later when they rejected an industry-led ballot measure to overturn it."
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
Now tell Joe Biden. Leave plastic straws, forks, spoons and knives alone.
Next up: A ban on groceries.
Wait till California bans all ICE cars.
Will they be able to deal with the toxic wastes by EV cars that don’t last 100,000 miles?
“A very distinct pattern has emerged repeatedly when policies favored by the anointed turn out to fail. This pattern typically has four stages:
STAGE 1. THE “CRISIS”: Some situation exists, whose negative aspects the anointed propose to eliminate. Such a situation is routinely characterized as a “crisis,” even though all human situations have negative aspects, and even though evidence is seldom asked or given to show how the situation at hand is either uniquely bad or threatening to get worse. Sometimes the situation described as a “crisis” has in fact already been getting better for years.
STAGE 2. THE “SOLUTION”: Policies to end the “crisis” are advocated by the anointed, who say that these policies will lead to beneficial result A. Critics say that these policies will lead to detrimental result Z. The anointed dismiss these latter claims as absurd and “simplistic,” if not dishonest.
STAGE 3. THE RESULTS: The policies are instituted and lead to detrimental result Z.
STAGE 4. THE RESPONSE: Those who attribute detrimental result Z to the policies instituted are dismissed as “simplistic” for ignoring the “complexities” involved, as “many factors” went into determining the outcome. The burden of proof is put on the critics to demonstrate to a certainty that these policies alone were the only possible cause of the worsening that occurred. No burden of proof whatever is put on those who had so confidently predicted improvement. Indeed, it is often asserted that things would have been even worse, were it not for the wonderful programs that mitigated the inevitable damage from other factors.”
― Thomas Sowell, The Thomas Sowell Reader
Doesn’t matter to stupid Americans... they had good intentions!
I recall the meme where the Pulitzer prize didn’t go to the female scientist that invented decomposable plastics, but instead went to Greta Thunberg
I would bet SNAP could be used to purchase the bags so SNAP users did not care about the bags extra costs.
It’s not really about making anything better.
It’s not really about making anything worse.
It’s about control — they’ve set up new hoops: will you jump thru them? Of course you will.
A real ‘do over’ would be to stop listening to Dems. Why not give Republicans a try? Listen to actual reason...
Translation: "we couldn't find a way to blame this on Republicans..."
This article makes me want to wad up some unused Saran wrap and throw it away. I’m beyond sick of these eco-freakos.
EVERY Liberal feel good idea has the opposite results of what is intended
Those disposable grocery bags make good liners for small waste baskets. When full, just tie the handles and toss into the trash can.
Interesting. I spent a few weeks in the LA area house sitting for a relative pre Covid. I went grocery shopping a few times and couldn’t believe the durability of the plastic bags at the checkout lines. Back in the midwest I still have to double bag everything unless it is a loaf of bread...
No Stuff Sherlock.
now not only is there more plastic waste, I have to pay for cat litter bags.
So Stupid
It’s about graft and the coffers.
A grocery tax.
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