Spring Break
Fighting pollution one bag at a time or killing trees?
Phoenix Mourning-Star
Issue date: 2/26/09 Section: Opinion
You may have heard about the students at Kent Denver High School here in Colorado who successfully urged state Sen. Jennifer Veiga, D-Denver, to propose a statewide ban on plastic grocery bags. Way to go Denver Kent!
The bill was struck down on Tuesday with much of the opposition citing the cost of plastic bags versus the cost of paper, even though it proposed a six-cent per bag charge to customers.
Colorado wouldn't be setting a precedent, nor would the measure take away a shoppers' freedom of choice -- just bring your own bag. Aren't we paying for the 'free' bags anyway?
The idea of banning plastic bags isn't new -- Los Angeles is en route to fully phasing out the bags. Similar measures are being worked out in Vermont, Hawaii, Missouri and even New York and New Jersey.
The Los Angeles version gives shoppers the choice of bringing their own bags or purchasing a paper or biodegradable bag for 25 cents each.
The Associated Press reports that China, Rwanda, Bangladesh and Ireland have instituted plastic bag bans.
Colorado Sen. Shawn Mitchell, speaking against the ban, argued that we shouldn't follow the example of China, which also bans religious gatherings and having more than one child.
Although representatives at the capitol in opposition to the bill suggested that a more environmentally successful ban would be to focus more attention on groups representing plastic bottles. But, of course, they're likely going to point the finger at someone else, too.
I'm not sure I believe that the cost is really a viable excuse for voting down this bill in Colorado. And, while I thank Sen. Mitchell for speaking for the people of Broomfield, I'm pretty sure that banning plastic bags isn't going to lead us to becoming the United States of Let's-Copy-China-on-Everything.
The real point of contention, in my opinion, is the debate over cutting more trees to make paper bags versus the petroleum and seemingly infinite half-life of plastic bags and their plastic trash counterparts.
The bill was struck down on Tuesday with much of the opposition citing the cost of plastic bags versus the cost of paper, even though it proposed a six-cent per bag charge to customers.
Colorado wouldn't be setting a precedent, nor would the measure take away a shoppers' freedom of choice -- just bring your own bag. Aren't we paying for the 'free' bags anyway?
The idea of banning plastic bags isn't new -- Los Angeles is en route to fully phasing out the bags. Similar measures are being worked out in Vermont, Hawaii, Missouri and even New York and New Jersey.
The Los Angeles version gives shoppers the choice of bringing their own bags or purchasing a paper or biodegradable bag for 25 cents each.
The Associated Press reports that China, Rwanda, Bangladesh and Ireland have instituted plastic bag bans.
Colorado Sen. Shawn Mitchell, speaking against the ban, argued that we shouldn't follow the example of China, which also bans religious gatherings and having more than one child.
Although representatives at the capitol in opposition to the bill suggested that a more environmentally successful ban would be to focus more attention on groups representing plastic bottles. But, of course, they're likely going to point the finger at someone else, too.
I'm not sure I believe that the cost is really a viable excuse for voting down this bill in Colorado. And, while I thank Sen. Mitchell for speaking for the people of Broomfield, I'm pretty sure that banning plastic bags isn't going to lead us to becoming the United States of Let's-Copy-China-on-Everything.
The real point of contention, in my opinion, is the debate over cutting more trees to make paper bags versus the petroleum and seemingly infinite half-life of plastic bags and their plastic trash counterparts.
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jimmy
posted 2/26/09 @ 7:23 AM MST
"..."Trash Vortex" in the South Pacific. The Trash Vortex, said to be about the size of Texas, has been described as being comprised of old toothbrushes, beach toys, used condoms, Styrofoam cups, plastic bottles and, of course, plastic bags is located approximately halfway between the Hawaiian Islands and Southern California. (Continued…)
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