Aplastic Bags

Please tell me I’m not the only one who thinks this whole “Ban the Plastic Bag” movement is a bit pretentious and drastic. Banning plastic bags or taxing them at supermarkets and drugstores where they used to be free, seems like an extreme jump, although most likely in the right direction. We do need to use less plastic, but banning plastic retail bags altogether will do more harm than good. First of all, plastic bags are mostly made in America. Stopping the production of plastic bags in the United States would result in the loss of over 4,000 jobs! Sure, there are alternatives. The reusable cloth bags, which cost anywhere from 99 cents to 7 dollars and are made in China, or paper bags, which are even worse than plastic when it comes to the cost and energy use it takes to manufacture, transport, and eventually dispose of them. I vote for an even smarter way to reduce the use of plastic, without charging citizens or inconveniencing their day to day activities.

Companies like Tesco, one of Britain’s largest retailers, are using other methods to discourage plastic bag use without complying with government and green campaigners’ demands. In light of higher food and gas costs, consumers don’t need to face another fee simply for buying the week’s groceries. Shoppers still have the choice of receiving free disposable plastic shopping bags for carrying purchased items. However, by offering customers loyalty card points for bringing in their own bags, they have managed to reduce the number of bags handed out by around 23 percent since September. Other stores in the U.S. are using similar tactics; less threatening, more rewarding. For instance, the Berkley Bowl in Berkley, California which offers a 5 cent credit for each reusable bag customers bring in to use, still maintains the customer’s right to a free paper or plastic bag. On the same note, Starbucks offers discounts on coffee if customers bring in their clean, used plastic cups or reusable cups and mugs. Furthermore, various curbside recycling programs all over the U.S. offer incentives for bringing in plastics to recycle, from coupons to monetary rewards. I think this is the smarter and easier way to handle the “evil plastic bag” problem. Promote reuse and recycling of plastic bags, rather than forcing customers to comply.

   Disclaimer: This blog or article is for information purpose only, and should not be treated a professional advise or price protection guarantee. This blog is mainly used for search engine optimization and other commercial purposes and it is advised that readers seek professional consultation in the field of interest for more information.