Yep, a ban on plastic bags. Though just like the county or city specific ones it is full of holes.
I will go into details on this ban it do nothing but, kill jobs, and create more problems then it is designed to solve. It appears the over zealous forgot to think about the consequences.
One of the biggest arguments for the bag ban is the fact that the bags take a very, very, very long time to decompose and they are filling up our limited land fill space. They may also talk about the amount of plastic bags found among the trash on the street (more on that later). Some times they will refer to the plastic found in our waterways and oceans. In general the main arguments against the plastic bags seems logical. They seem something we all want. However, how these things get implemented are where things go wrong. This is where the reality gets all messed up with the back door dealing and the poor planning of how to carry things out.
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| trash on street including plastic bags |
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| land fill full of plastic bags. |
Typical scene of bags and other trash in the landfill or on the street.
Take a look at the logic used by Governor Brown as to why he supports the bag ban.
"Mr. Brown had signaled he would likely sign the bill earlier this month, during a debate with his Republican gubernatorial opponent, Neel Kashkari. Mr. Brown then called the ban a good "compromise" that clarifies a patchwork of prohibitions already in place in various jurisdictions across the state." California Is First to Ban Plastic Bags Statewide - Wall Street Journal
You'll soon see how this flawed logic is used through out this bag ban. Especially, since retailers have been able to calculate sales tax that varies all over the place for decades. Just, saying you have to have something better then this to persuade people.
Back in the day there was an argument that the paper bags so common in the stores at the time were in reality killing the environment since they caused to many trees to be cut down. The funny things is the paper bags are biodegradable more so then the plastic but, anyways people moved to the plastic bag. Now they are complaining about them.
So over zealous environmentalist may have been the ones that started the use of the plastic bag. However, it beginnings are not so important in the overall quest to have them banned or to remove the ban. At least in the minds of the people that want to have them banned.(History repeating itself?)
What is most important is to refute the claims of why we need the ban. To see past the bull of how the ban was or is going to be implemented and what some of the consequences can or will be of the ban.
So let us talk about the idea of too many plastic bag in the land fills. There are plenty of pictures that show a load of plastic bags in the land fills. How many of those plastic bags in the picture are of the type you get at the store and more specifically those that are/will be banned?
I know that of those bags in the land fill you will find several types. One type you might get at the store (reusable and recyclable), the typical larger black thick bags one uses for yard waste or to line full sized trash cans, and then the smaller though equal thicker bag for lining kitchen trash cans.
You see there are several types of plastic bags. Some are thicker, some thinner. Some of the bags are recyclable and others it's not so clear. Some are big bags, others smaller. There is not just one type of bag in the land fill. So what type do we need to ban if we are to have any effect?
Basically you'd have to ban them all if you want to solve the so called problem being created by the plastic bag. Why? What good does it do to only restrict one type or a few? If you still have any type of plastic bag heading to the land fill you solve very little. I know the die hard environmentalists will say you have to start somewhere! I agree, though you need to be consistent with what you implement. Hard to claim on type is OK for the environment while another is not.
What do most people do with the bags they get at the store? If they are like our family we use them to line our trash cans. We then tie them up and throw them out to the bigger bins. Some are also used to save a thing or two in the closet. Keeps things from being dusty etc.
As we lose access to these simple bags we will need to find something else to line our trash cans, and store our stuff. What will that likely be? A plastic bag of the less recyclable type that is also thicker and less biodegradable. Does this solve anything? I'll spend more and potentially cause more harm to the environment in the long haul.
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| The bag you will be using now due to the ban |
Now let us talk about the trash on the streets. Some have said that if you have a trash and litter problem in your neighborhood like the picture shown above you have something that is a social issue and not because of the plastic bag. Notice how the trash includes food containers that may be plastic or Styrofoam. Maybe even a milk jug (plastic or cardboard), or food wrapper. The plastic bag is only one of many trash items. I even heard of complaints they get caught up in the wind and end up in trees. Want to solve the trash issue? Do something about deterring the litter problem in the first place. Maybe fines or education. That could be a whole other discussion by itself.
You don't have much problem with plastic bags and litter in the the ritzy neighborhoods. Why? Educated people that don't go through their trash in the street.
Yes some bags do get into the ocean and water ways. I have no doubt about that. There is a floating blob of plastic and other waste in the pacific ocean that definitely needs to be looked into.
We do need to do something to keep all this waste out of the water. Again it goes back to education and other tactics. Banning one of the things found in the ocean waste will not solve the problem all by itself. Things like street sweeping will do more then bag bans ... I'll talk about that more later.
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| trash effecting sea life |
So we see that banning bags is only a potentially partial fix. There are loads of other waste that also needs to be dealt with to solve the problem.
Now let's talk about some of the issues with how the bag ban will be implemented.
First the bag ban only applies to locations that sell food items. So that means your grocery stores, and places like Walmart and Target (that have a major food section). It does not include locations like Kohl's, Home Depot, Michael's, Joanns, TJ Maxx and the like. They don't sell food or at least the kinds or quantities that would fall under this ban. Also the plastic bag you put your produce or meat into, the clear ones, are not covered. So we are extremely selective on the types, and locations associated with the ban.
"But even when the law blankets every store, it will not mean the end of plastic bags. Consumers can still swaddle their fruits and vegetables in plastic or use bags to shield leaky meat." California plastic bag ban signed, setting off sweeping changes - Sacramento Bee
"Under SB270, plastic bags will be phased out of checkout counters at large grocery stores and supermarkets such as Wal-Mart and Target starting next summer, and convenience stores and pharmacies in 2016. The law does not apply to bags used for fruits, vegetables or meats, or to shopping bags used at other retailers. It allows grocers to charge a fee of at least 10 cents for using paper bags." California Becomes First State To Ban Single-Use Plastic Bags - Huffington Post
Yes the grocery stores provide the bulk of the plastic bags in question but, they are not the only ones.
And then on top of that if you don't have your own bag they will be able to charge you a bag tax of 10¢ to acquire something to take your food home in. Many time these are either paper or thicker "reusable" plastic bags. So you have many of the same issues previously mentioned above come into play.
The reason I call it a bag tax is as follows.
1) Previously the bag were given out for free, now the store can charge for the bag.
2) It penalizes people for not bringing there own bags. (so called reeducation)
3) The money is mostly going to be used to cover the cost of the replacement bag. Even if it was used for environmental clean-up it would still be a tax or wealth redistribution.
"Lawmakers of both parties who opposed SB270 said it would penalize lower-income residents by charging them for bags they once received for free. The bill was amended to waive fees for customers who are on public assistance and limit how grocers can spend the proceeds from the fees" California Becomes First State To Ban Single-Use Plastic Bags - Huffington Post
"Opposition came from other quarters. Critics representing paper and plastic bag businesses denounced the minimum 10 cent fee as an unjustified sweetener included to buy the backing of grocery stores."
"You have to follow the money,” Assemblyman Scott Wilk, R-Santa Clarita, said during debate on the Assembly floor. “What I see this becoming is another funding source for the grocery store industry. It’s just another way of taking a shot at the little guy.”
California plastic bag ban signed, setting off sweeping changes - Sacramento Bee
Remember that previously the grocery store had to supply a bag (plastic or paper) free of charge.
Now they charge you for more or less the same thing they gave away before. NO wonder there was little or no opposition from the grocery stores.
So as a a review.
- Not all types of plastic bags are going to be banned.
- Not all locations are required to provide an alternate bag (i.e. some stores will still provide a plastic bag).
- You'll have to pay if you don't bring your own bag.
- The money from the purchase of an alternate bag is not going to environmental clean-up.
- Jobs will likely be lost as bag manufacturers reduce output.
- Plenty of bag will still end up in the environment or landfill; especially more of the less biodegradable type.
And there are a couple of other side effects that are starting to crop up as well.
The reusable bag you bring from home is make in such a way that it may likely absorb meat and/or fruit/vegetable juices. No big deal you say. Might have pesticides, salmonella, or other dangerous bacteria. We definitely don't need to get ourselves sick because we forgot to wash our bag.
And washing that bag properly does not help save the environment if you do it right. I'm not going to wash those bags with my underwear. I don't need the associated hassles.
It's a trade off in the end. Like the plug in vehicles. You get the energy from one location or another.... the question is which is cleaner, better, safer, etc.
Another issue with anecdotal evidence is shoplifting. How the heck does shoplifting have anything to do with the plastic bag ban?
You see as people reject getting a purchased bag at the cashier they simply carry their goods out by hand or place them all back in the cart and head out to the parking lot. Do you begin to see the problem? How will security or other store personnel verify each and every person and the good they bought. It's hard enough for the loss prevention people already so this just creates some potential confusion. You might also find you have to have additional persons out in the parking lot gathering up carts. If everyone begins to reload their cart and head out you will end up with more in the lot. Before if the purchase amounted to just a few items in one or two bags they might leave the cart at the door. Nor they guys takes his loose fruit, cans, and other stuff with him in the cart. Or he might even decide to ask for help out to his car. You just wasted a bunch of man power over a lousy 4¢ plastic bag. Good luck on this one!!!!
So it is easy to see that this thing was not very well thought out. It's more of a head ache then a benefit the way they decided to implement it.
I just wish they would put the same amount of energy in to find a better way to keep the waterways clear..... oh wait that might require a bit of thinking. Something it appears the state of California Legislator and Governor don't want to do to much of.
Buaidh - NO - Bas
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