Should all cities ban plastic grocery bags?

Question

Why or why not?

Answer 1

Maybe not completely banned, but there could be a small charge per bag if ppl insist on using them or forget to bring their own.
I agree that the bags can be re-used or made into other things, but the vast majority of plastic bags still wind up in landfills or simply tossed onto the roadside.
For years now, I've been bringing my own reusable cloth bags when I shop & it continues to amaze me that some ppl still have a problem with this. While an increasing # of mainstream retailers are happy to use my bags, several still think it's a personal challenge for them to put *my* bags inside their plastic bags while I'm searching fr exact change or otherwise occupied.
If more ppl would try cloth bags, they'd be pleasantly surprised. Not ony is it *much* better for the environment, but they're easy to carry, hold way more stuff, can be personalized however you want-- & don't unexpectedly break while you're walking home from the store!

Answer 2

Well that is a tuff one. Ok if they do ban this ppl would lose jobs, im talking about the people that work in plastic bag making company's . Plastic grocery bags, also have many other usefull uses. Maybe they could lower the use of plastic grocery bags and start useing other type of bags like paper bags or other things like that, but i dont think it should be completely banned.

Answer 3

It's a waste of money, especially if it's cheaper to use plastic bags. I'm not sure, off-hand, which is cheaper to produce, however. Anyway, companies should be able to choose whatever they want to use. If Walmart and Target and retailers are wanting to use plastic bags, then they should be able to. I know a lot of retailers, like Best Buy will ask you if you need a bag or if you would rather just carry it, since most people just buy things in boxes that you can away with by hand anyway. I know that plastic bags are more convenient to use, especially for grocery shopping, so that's why I'd be in favor of plastic. It's also why I'm in favor of plastic packaging, if it helps keep the product inside from breaking.

Answer 4

I think this would be a great idea to encourage (well, force) people to bring their own reusable canvas bags to the store (like I do).
People need a little motivation to do their part to help reduce our harmful effects on the Earth. A lot of grocery stores sell those reusable bags, so I'm surprised not enough people are using them. I don't think it could hurt anyone, so I think it's a good idea.
I'm always picking up those plastic bags (along with the 6 pack rings) I find when I'm walking, because I know what they do to marine wildlife when they end up downstream in the ocean. I really wish people would care more.

Answer 5

If you go to the library and check out books like William McDonough's Cradle to Cradle and another book called Green Clean, you'll notice that the books are actually made of plastic. If we could recycle the grocery bags continuously into plastic to be used for more bags, books, magazines, and newspapers - then you don't have a problem. That's closed loop recycling and it becomes not only a product, but a resource as well. The goal is to close the loop on all recycling. Instead of recycling to downgraded items, the goal is to recycle continuously for infinity, so the idea of waste is eliminated - just like in nature. The waste of one organism is food for another. Quite a simple formula really: "Waste = Food."

Answer 6

I have read a lot of the replies. This is a good question. I don't think they should be banned because they do have a lot of "re"-uses and ppl don't like being told that they aren't allowed to do/use something. I try to bring my own bags. If I forget, I'll tell the bag person to not bag certain items like milk, juice, anything big that doesn't need a bag. NOT sugar though. I said "no bag for the sugar" ONE TIME and the sugar bag broke in my car. I had to vacuum almost the whole container of sugar!!!

Answer 7

Ikea is saving tons of grocery plastic bags because now they charge 5 cents per bag..and no one wants to pay for plastic bags, so you see everyone walking out with stuff in their hands..haha

Answer 8

Seems like having every city council debate this issue and pass ordinances on it would add up to a huge waste of man hours and tax dollars. I dislike plastic bags, but if stores would realize that people bringing their own bags saves the store money, and then rewarded that behavior, we would see a natural and non legal solution to the problem. Plus, alot of people get resentful of government banning things, even if it is for their own good.

Answer 9

Keeping in mind that it takes a hundred years for a grocery plastic bag to decompose then yes! They should be banned!

Answer 10

Yes, it costs way too much money and energy for them to be made, used, and recycled again. What is the harm in using a canvas bag or a true reusable bag? You can fit things in it alot easier because they don't break apart like plastic.