The plastic bag tax keeps rolling along in the legislature. Meredith Turney first noted it for us in March. In April Jon Fleischman offered a commentary on the subject, hi-liting the little matter of “greenwashing,” in which both consumers and policy-makers are hoodwinked into supposedly eco-friendly goals to the benefit and profit of the growing green industry.
Since then, Lloyd Levine’s AB 2058 has passed the Assembly, 44-33, and found its way to Senate Appropriations for a slated hearing this week. In essence, the bill would require proof that a grocery store is recycling a whopping 70 percent of all its plastic carry out bags, or require a charge to the customer of at least 25 cents per bag. The plastic bag police will be the California Integrated Waste Management Board.
A website has been set up in opposition to the bill, with radio ads running in various parts of the state.
**There is more – click the link**
August 4th, 2008 at 12:00 am
Famed environmentalist and author, Edward Abbey, wrote a great book titled “The Monkey Wrench Gang”. In one chapter, the Doctor is driving down a New Mexico Interstate throwing his used beer cans out the window. When asked why he was doing that, he explained that, one, no one asked his permission to build this interstate and second, during the next great depression, his cans will provide income for those in need.
What does the above have to do with Barry’s column? Not much, other than promote Edward Abbey. However, in this changing climate, there are incentives, which Barry mentioned, such as the one that involved Jamba Juice. Stores can charge for the bags. Personally, I prefer to bring my heavier duty bags in that use the store’s cheap plastic bags (Don’t you hate it when they rip???).
I don’t like government imposing new rules and restriction on us. I prefer that business police themselves.
BTW, if you want to start reading Abbey’s books, I suggest starting off with the classic “Desert Solitude”.
August 4th, 2008 at 12:00 am
Rather than using the stick to motivate people to go canvas. One should use the carrot approach. Point out that plasic is a product of oil. Let the consumer come to their own conclusion that by using canvas bags reduces our dependence on oil.
I’d also like to add IMHO coke tastes better in a glass bottle.
August 4th, 2008 at 12:00 am
Plastic bags are outlawed in San Francisco.
A couple of stores have given incentives to bring canvas or reuse paper. Smart & Final charges $.20 for reusable plastic bags and sells canvas. At Trader Joe’s you are entered in to a weekly drawing for free groceries if you bring your own bags.
Other stores simply switch to paper so we can kill more trees.
August 4th, 2008 at 12:00 am
Switching to paper would provide a much needed partial relief to the logging industry in Oregon hit hard by the shortfall in residential construction.
I am rather amused by the democrats pushing themselves as the dynamo’s of change when they have but one play in thier book. Tax.