Is your community planning to ban non-biodegradable plastic bags?

Question

Living in Connecticut, some towns are planning on doing this. Only plastic bags that are biodegradable will be used.
Do you think it is a good idea?
I think it is.

Answer 1

I haven't heard of anything like that in Texas, but I think it's a great idea. I see so much litter on the roads...it's heartbreaking. People should be more responsible when it comes to recycling, but the idea of biodegradeable materials sure makes it easier on the environment when people just don't take the time to throw things away in the proper fashion.

Answer 2

Yes, this is a very good idea. In California a law just went into effect where all businesses need to have a plastic bag recycle (or more accurately, reuse) bin. They can't be recycled, but plastic bags can be reused for other applications. I'd like to see more biodegradeable bags used too.

Answer 3

No in the UK it is more likely we will be taxed, as the Irish are.
France is banning plastic bags 2007 others are moving towards it. The most effective way is taxing plastic bag use.
In New Zealand Cloth bags are already promoted and sold in supermarkets. However this is not stopping plastic bag useage.

In UK instead of stopping supplying plastic bags you get rewards for bringing your own. Money back, green points. Even with supermarket home delivery See Tesco.

If we do not take action we will be taxed as the Irish are for using plastic bags. Effective as a decrease of 90% plastic bag use in Ireland.

Use hemp or cotton bags, use canvas rucksacks, shopping trolleys or not to use bags at all.

Think about where you shop (use local farmers' markets instead of supermarkets) Think about what you are buying, and how it is packed before you buy it. Think about how you will dispose of wrappings. Chose recyclable packing and recycle/compost it.

WHY?

Plastic Bags: There are a lot of reasons given why people 'like' plastic bags. However, they still never decompose no matter how many times you use them. This is compounded when people tie their rubbish into plastic bags. If you insist on using plastic bags you will be charged high taxes for doing so. So re-use as many times as possible then take them supermarket to be recycled.

Biodegradeable Bags/Bioplastics: Polylactic acid (PLA) a biodegradable polymer derived from lactic acid. These vegetable based bioplastics biodegrades quickly under composting conditions and does not leave toxic residue. However, bioplastic have own environmental impacts caused by manufacturing and disposal of end product. Again you will be charged for these impacts and taxed
but on the plus side biodegradable bags (from potato and corn starches) are a new thriving industry

Paper Bags. Great if singly composted. In land fill can take years for layers to decompose. Still an organic material. But there is cost of production, costs to environment of pulp trees (monocultures, loss of habitat, etc) costs of recycling/disposal. Again you will have to pay for these production costs and disposal costs and taxed.

Answer 4

It's a step in the right direction, but it should go hand in hand with other measures, such as distributing reusable tote bags.

I hope the plan works and other communities follow their lead. Go, Connectitcut!

Answer 5

No, but there is talk of banning bottled water in Austin, Texas. I have always though bottled water was silly myself, but banning it is yet another attack on freedom! Is this America or North Korea?

Answer 6

No ours recycles them and makes bus stop benches out of them.

Answer 7

No, and if they even thing about it I will make it my mission in life to recall every city council member involved.

Answer 8

I haven't heard anything about it yet, but it is a good idea.