Comments on: If We Ban Plastic Bags, Won’t We Just Use More Paper?

By: Adolf

Adolf — Sun, 19 Sep 2010 21:30:17 +0000

Interesting. I was just working in Fort MacMurray, Alberta, Canada. The center of “dirty oil, the worst enviromental threat to the planet ever, etc, etc”. The city has also banned single use plastic bags of any kind within city limits. As far as I know, this is the only city in Canada to do so.

By: Selwa Babaa

Selwa Babaa — Wed, 26 May 2010 19:52:28 +0000

The title of this post is similar to the question: if bottled water is banned won’t people just turn to other, less healthy alternatives that are also packaged in plastic bottles (i.e. soda)? And some say that people will go for the alternative, which is just as bad, while others say the opposite. What do you think?

I wrote an article on the bottled water ban recently that addresses this idea. Feel free to read it and comment here: http://www.filtersfast.com/blog/index.php/2010/05/should-your-school-ban-bottled-water/. We’d love for you to take part in the debate and help spread awareness! I think buying reusable containers is a great idea.

By: Ron

Ron — Mon, 24 May 2010 13:43:39 +0000

I live in a place that considers it un-American to ban plastic bags. The other day I saw a man buy a jug of bleach – with a handle – and box a pizza and have each put in its own plastic bag. On the plus side, though, I was at Walgreens and the girl at the register asked me if I wanted a bag before mindlessly stuffing my single small box into one. When I thanked her, she said that they have been told to ask before bagging. A small step, but at least it’s a step.

By: Debra

Debra — Sun, 23 May 2010 15:34:22 +0000

Just to clarify, the “across-the-board” ban of plastic bags in San Francisco applies to the large grocery and pharmacy retailers ONLY. Walk into most small mom-and-pop retailers or food establishments, and chances are that your purchase will be swept into a plastic bag. The cashiers have it down. No thinking or pause required.

It is only with practice and by making conscious decisions that we can change our individual habits…and hopefully impact those of others.

By: T. Caine

T. Caine — Sun, 23 May 2010 14:15:50 +0000

I have to join the chorus of the other comments. I think getting rid of plastic bags are a no-brainer. If offices in our country recycled most of their paper it would provide more than enough recycled content to perpetually fund a supply of paper bags–which can also be recycled. The negative effects of plastic bags far outweigh any of their benefits.

Of course, the true migration is a societal shift to just carrying reusable bags. It may take some time, but people will hopefully get there.

By: TheRealTabby

TheRealTabby — Sun, 23 May 2010 13:53:52 +0000

I support the discontinued use of plastic completely. Grant you – glass ketchup bottles are heavy. Glass anything is heavy. So, be smart. Get your own shopping bags, stop using plastic produce bags (they’re pointless anyways), avoid overpackaged products. If you do require something that only comes in plastic, make sure you can re-use the container. Example, peanut butter. Very few make their own. So, if it comes down to a choice of peanut butter in an opaque jar, or peanut butter in a clear jar, buy the clear one. At least you’ll be able to re-use the clear one around the house. Nuts, bolts, screws, perfect storage for little bits and pieces. It’s all a matter of choice.

By: janflora

janflora — Sun, 23 May 2010 13:43:33 +0000

No question for me that plastic bans need to be widespread. I use my own bags mostly, but dont *really* mind papper bags or cardboard boxes. Paper biodegrades (at least most types)and trees can grow back (eventually). I am not saying that deforestation does not occur, I see a lot of destruction from nearby paper mills and in the Nat’l Forests, but maybe if there were fewer plastic factories, etc there would be more room to replant trees. Plastic is here to stay, as that pic and the gyres show us. I think it is ridiculous that if so many other countries and cities have made the change, see the problem w/ plastic bags, we can even question it.