Proposed legislation calls for all retailers to prohibit plastic bags at checkout and to charge 5 cents for every paper bag. Retailers would keep the money.
While ignoring the actual facts about plastic vs. paper, the Democratic majority in the Oregon legislature is going to keep pushing this insipid policy. Never mind that the truth behind plastic shopping bags includes facts like:
David Laist, a senior policy analyst with the federal Marine Mammal Commission, has stated: “In their eagerness to make their case [against plastic bags], some of the environmental groups make up claims that are not really supportable.”
Or that plastic bags are made of ethane which is a waste product from domestically produced natural gas. If the ethane is not used to make plastic bags, it will have to be burned off, pouring huge amounts of Co2 into the atmosphere. Additionally, plastic bags use up only 0.4% of landfill space, not clogging them as often reported. Read more HERE.
The alternative, reusable shopping bags, have been shown to harbor deadly E-coli and salmonella. Can’t get much greener than that.
The Oregonion reports that
“The legislation, which may not clear the 2011 session, has the backing of a quartet of urban and rural legislators led by state Sen. Mark Hass, D-Beaverton, and Sen. Jason Atkinson, R-Central Point. The two introduced a bill to ban plastic bags during February’s special session, knowing it probably would not clear 90 lawmakers in such a short period.”
These folks want us all to live like many Europeans, who walk to the local grocery daily and only buy enough for a meal or two. Living in high density communities with close in local grocers, this practice is convenient to them. Outside of the inner city this just is not a feasible way for most Americans to live. But that won’t stop these lawmakers from trying to foist a way of life on us that they personally will not adapt themselves.
And remember, plastic bags were introduced to save the trees in the first place.
Mebbe we should be looking at mandates on the size of our refrigerators. And an outright ban on freezers.
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