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So called single-use plastic bag bans

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DrPizza said:
It still boggles my mind that people laych onto those plastic bags as an issue. They're almost the perfect disposable product. They weigh about 5 grams each, yet will hold around 15 pounds of stuff. It takes a fraction of the energy to make one as is needed to make a paper bag. In a landfill, they take up far less volume than a paper bag. You don't waste water and energy washing them, compared to reuseable bags. The average person uses a total of 5 pounds of plastic bags per year. A single gallon of gasoline is 6 pounds. The majority of people reuse them for lunch bags, pet waste, garbage, etc. Replace them with reusable fabric bags, lunch bags, etc, all which need to be cleaned, and while there is probably a bit of a net benefit, it's trivial compared to other ignored ways to save.

Save 2 gallons of gasoline in a year - would have just as much of a net impact. Think of all the consumer products that are designed for a relatively short lifespan... Just one of these products per year would have an even bigger impact. 40 years ago, a family might have a television for a decade or longer. Now, hey, the 50" is on sale, so let's replace the 4 year old 32" television. Tons of products are replaced not because they're broken and can't be fixed, but because bigger and better is available.

Speaking of repairable, our mindset and culture has been changed to perceive that it's too expensive to repair things - it's not in the manufacturers' interests that you can repair their products. Why do individual parts cost 3/4 the cost of a brand new item? Because manufacturers don't want you to fix them - and our culture accepts that. We live in a throwaway culture and of all the things to worry about, people are worried about the plastic bags that all the stuff we're going to throw out was brought home in.
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I don't think plastic bags are the issue, but a byproduct of the lack of ability to generate interest in recycling among the general public.

The city I live in has totes for garbage collection and a small newspaper bin for recycling. A few years ago, they gave every house a much larger tote on wheels for recycling. Initially they saw the amount material being recycled rise, but news recently has shown less is being recycled. They interviewed a few citizens in the community, and a number of them said there isn't enough incentive to recycle. I don't know what is more rewarding than directly contributing toward the preservation of life on this planet for your children, but apparently that isn't enough for them. They need monetary rewards for the amount they recycle, like getting your nickel deposit back for returning an empty soda pop can.
 
Nashemon said:
I don't think plastic bags are the issue, but a byproduct of the lack of ability to generate interest in recycling among the general public.

The city I live in has totes for garbage collection and a small newspaper bin for recycling. A few years ago, they gave every house a much larger tote on wheels for recycling. Initially they saw the amount material being recycled rise, but news recently has shown less is being recycled. They interviewed a few citizens in the community, and a number of them said there isn't enough incentive to recycle. I don't know what is more rewarding than directly contributing toward the preservation of life on this planet for your children, but apparently that isn't enough for them. They need monetary rewards for the amount they recycle, like getting your nickel deposit back for returning an empty soda pop can.
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Around here, they got people in the habit of recycling by threatening fines if they found recyclable items in your trash. Of course I doubt that anyone ever actually checked since I throw out stuff all of the time. If I have an old rancid jar of peanut butter or something, there's no fucking way I'm going to try to clean that out. It goes in the trash. It's not worth the soap and water I would need to waste cleaning it not to mention the time.

However I did get in the habit of recycling most things especially since they don't care if you commingle glass, plastic and metal. So I have 2 big blue bins that I rotate out as they get full. They're tall and don't take up much space. Once you get in the habit and mindset of doing something, it just becomes automatic and you don't really think about it.

Right now, I'm not sure how economical recycling is. Because of the low price of oil, plastic is cheap. The same probably goes for the metals used to make cans. Glass is probably always worth recycling because of the energy requirements. But again, cheap oil.
 
ivwshane said:
What part of "make plastic bags illegal for stores to use" do you not understand?
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As has been pointed out, stores aren't using these bags. They're selling them to you. So if you can't get reusable bags made of any kind of plastic material at a store, where are you supposed to buy reusable bags?

Goddamn, you're fucking stupid.
 
Nashemon said:
I don't think plastic bags are the issue, but a byproduct of the lack of ability to generate interest in recycling among the general public.

The city I live in has totes for garbage collection and a small newspaper bin for recycling. A few years ago, they gave every house a much larger tote on wheels for recycling. Initially they saw the amount material being recycled rise, but news recently has shown less is being recycled. They interviewed a few citizens in the community, and a number of them said there isn't enough incentive to recycle. I don't know what is more rewarding than directly contributing toward the preservation of life on this planet for your children, but apparently that isn't enough for them. They need monetary rewards for the amount they recycle, like getting your nickel deposit back for returning an empty soda pop can.
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yeah i think most people just dont care enough. That is why i wish the trash companies would take it out of peoples hands. Just grab everything and they can sort it at the facility. Create jobs and be 100% recycle compliant all at the same time 🙂
 
BoberFett said:
As has been pointed out, stores aren't using these bags. They're selling them to you. So if you can't get reusable bags made of any kind of plastic material at a store, where are you supposed to buy reusable bags?

Goddamn, you're fucking stupid.
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Good lord you are a fucking idiot! First off there other types of truly reusable bags, have you heard of cloth bags? No? Then maybe you should get the fuck out of your room or try shopping somewhere other than Walmart.
 
Why do plastic bags have to be made illegal to use in the first place? People are reusing them...just not reusing them at the same store after the initial visit. Why complicate the process even more? As others have pointed out, it takes more energy to make paper bags. Paper bags kill trees. Think of the children and the trees. Why do you hate children and trees?
 
Charmonium said:
Around here, they got people in the habit of recycling by threatening fines if they found recyclable items in your trash. Of course I doubt that anyone ever actually checked since I throw out stuff all of the time. If I have an old rancid jar of peanut butter or something, there's no fucking way I'm going to try to clean that out. It goes in the trash. It's not worth the soap and water I would need to waste cleaning it not to mention the time.

However I did get in the habit of recycling most things especially since they don't care if you commingle glass, plastic and metal. So I have 2 big blue bins that I rotate out as they get full. They're tall and don't take up much space. Once you get in the habit and mindset of doing something, it just becomes automatic and you don't really think about it.

Right now, I'm not sure how economical recycling is. Because of the low price of oil, plastic is cheap. The same probably goes for the metals used to make cans. Glass is probably always worth recycling because of the energy requirements. But again, cheap oil.
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I love the multi-use recycling bins. I keep a small bin in my house next to the trash can. All recycling goes in there. When they get full, I take them out to the big bins along with the trash. I have more recycling than regular trash by the end of the week. Makes it easier than having to sort paper, glass, metal.
 
JockoJohnson said:
Why do plastic bags have to be made illegal to use in the first place? People are reusing them...just not reusing them at the same store after the initial visit. Why complicate the process even more? As others have pointed out, it takes more energy to make paper bags. Paper bags kill trees. Think of the children and the trees. Why do you hate children and trees?
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Because authoritarians need a vehicle, any vehicle really to impose increasing amounts of control over your life for your own good. Same reason they feel the need to ban large sodas, or Happy Meal toys, or any other number of things.
 
ivwshane said:
Good lord you are a fucking idiot! First off there other types of truly reusable bags, have you heard of cloth bags? No? Then maybe you should get the fuck out of your room or try shopping somewhere other than Walmart.
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This thread is about plastic bags, moron. Start another thread about cloth bags, you dunce.
 
BoberFett said:
This thread is about plastic bags, moron. Start another thread about cloth bags, you dunce.
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Holy shit are you serious? Lol! This thread is about stores finding a loophole in order to keep using plastic bags. I offered a solution, make it illegal for stores to use plastic bags. Consumers are free to use whatever bag they like that they provide (I even opened up your small world by letting you know that things such as cloth bags exist).

It must be really hard for you, boober, because your rage simply amplifies your stupidity and uselessness on this forum. Cry more bitch.
 
glenn1 said:
Because authoritarians need a vehicle, any vehicle really to impose increasing amounts of control over your life for your own good. Same reason they feel the need to ban large sodas, or Happy Meal toys, or any other number of things.
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Was this done for your own good or was this done for the good of all people? Do you think government should be doing what's best for the country (state/county/etc)? Or is this the straw that broke the camels back for you? Is this the issue your obituary will speak about? Or are you overreacting?
 
BoberFett said:
This thread is about plastic bags, moron. Start another thread about cloth bags, you dunce.
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Not really, it's about control. This is how these things evolve.

Step 1. <excitement> I really like this cloth bag. People with plastic bags don't know what they're missing.
Step 2. <cajoling> "Hey guys, you should really try one of these cloth bags, they're great!"
Step 3. <grumble> No one is using cloth bags like I prefer. Gotta have a public awareness campaign.
Step 4. <annoyed> Stupid people aren't listening to the public awareness campaign, let's pass a law charging for plastic bags then they'll finally see how great cloth bags are.
Step 5. <angry> Idiots are still using plastic bags even when we charge 10 cents each. Ban them!
Step 6. <furious> WTF stores are still allowing plastic bags but thicker ones? Ban all plastic bags!
Step 7. <berzerk> You will comply!

NannyState_BrianFarrington.jpg
 
If by control you mean control of our waste and our environment then yeah you'd be right. However I doubt that's what you mean as you seem to think laws like this were passed because people thought plastic bags were no longer cool and want to push the new cool bag.

Btw, where do you live? I'd like to take a shit on your lawn. If you don't care about my environment then why should anyone care about yours?

glenn1 said:
Not really, it's about control. This is how these things evolve.

Step 1. <excitement> I really like this cloth bag. People with plastic bags don't know what they're missing.
Step 2. <cajoling> "Hey guys, you should really try one of these cloth bags, they're great!"
Step 3. <grumble> No one is using cloth bags like I prefer. Gotta have a public awareness campaign.
Step 4. <annoyed> Stupid people aren't listening to the public awareness campaign, let's pass a law charging for plastic bags then they'll finally see how great cloth bags are.
Step 5. <angry> Idiots are still using plastic bags even when we charge 10 cents each. Ban them!
Step 6. <furious> WTF stores are still allowing plastic bags but thicker ones? Ban all plastic bags!
Step 7. <berzerk> You will comply!

NannyState_BrianFarrington.jpg
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We stopped using plastic shopping bags probably 15 years ago.

Have several reusable cloth bags we've been using awhile, sometimes Publix even has Christmas edition ones etc the wife will get one of.

The ones we get put in the cloth bags these days when wrapping meat or something the wife uses to line the bathroom trash cans or scooping kitty liter these days.
 
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BoberFett said:
OK, good, so they can use plastic bags.

LOL, you shit-for-brains simpleton. Go back to playing with wooden blocks you drooling moron.
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BoberFett is just going back to his usual raging self again it appears.

glenn1 really isn't much different, that elite thing was something given out in the past that doesn't exist these days, more or less.

He really doesn't say anything overly profound, in reality.

Just tends to rant a lot, too.
 
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MongGrel said:
We stopped using plastic shopping bags probably 15 years ago.

Have several reusable cloth bags we've been using awhile, sometimes Publix even has Christmas edition ones etc the wife will get one of.

The ones we get put in the cloth bags these days when wrapping meat or something the wife uses to line the bathroom trash cans or scooping kitty liter these days.
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I like using the cloth bags because they hold so much more you can make fewer trips back to the car, especially in those cases where you buy a basket full of stuff. Plus the insulated ones (zipper top) keep frozen stuff from getting as sweaty in the summer.

My problem is that I either forget to put them back in the car after I've unpacked or I don't remember to bring them into the store and don't feel like abandoning my basket at the checkout line by the time I remember.
 
Those bags are actually pretty nice. They are still cheap enough to where you dont care if you lose it yet strong enough to not worry about them breaking unless they are obviously worn out.
 
They ban pladtic bag but give no good alternative. Do you know how god damn aweful most paper bags are? Thin, no handle and oftemn they pack so mucxh stuff it can easily break apart.
 
glenn1 said:
Not really, it's about control. This is how these things evolve.

Step 1. <excitement> I really like this cloth bag. People with plastic bags don't know what they're missing.
Step 2. <cajoling> "Hey guys, you should really try one of these cloth bags, they're great!"
Step 3. <grumble> No one is using cloth bags like I prefer. Gotta have a public awareness campaign.
Step 4. <annoyed> Stupid people aren't listening to the public awareness campaign, let's pass a law charging for plastic bags then they'll finally see how great cloth bags are.
Step 5. <angry> Idiots are still using plastic bags even when we charge 10 cents each. Ban them!
Step 6. <furious> WTF stores are still allowing plastic bags but thicker ones? Ban all plastic bags!
Step 7. <berzerk> You will comply!
Click to expand...

Perfect example of the construction of a straw man. Truly beautiful.
 
ivwshane said:
If you had an ounce of reading comprehension you would have understood this already.
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OK, so I go to the grocery store, and on the way in I purchase several plastic bags which I'm then "bringing to the store myself". Then I use those bags to haul home my stuff, and throw them away. Exactly what is happening now.

Dipshits like you bitch about loopholes in the law, even when your own "simple solutions" are nothing but massive, gaping loopholes.
 
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