Banning Plastic Bags is ‘Bad’ for the Environment?
A group called “Coalition to Support Plastic Bag Recycling” is taking Oakland City Council to court because it’s actually trying to do the right thing and ban plastic bags. According to the “coalition”, once the ban is in place, people will turn to paper bags - which are often said to be just as bad or worse than plastic bags.
The coalition’s attorney says:
“We believe that plastic-bag recycling is the most environmentally responsible strategy.”
Haven’t they heard of reusable bags? There are plenty of alternatives - we don’t just have to choose between paper and plastic!
Of course recycling plastic bags is better than not recycling them. But, as far as the environment goes, recycling plastic bags isn’t as good as simply reusing a good strong, durable bag that lasts for years.
But of course the coalition would like to keep plastic bags - it consists of plastic bag makers and recyclers.
Source: San Francisco Chronicle
Tags: plastic bag recycling, plastic bags, Sustainability
February 1st, 2008 at 7:49 am
One answer to this very hot topic is to make your own fabric bags, or buy them from non-profit groups who sell them as fund raisers. Old clothes and linens are easy to cut up and make into bags, and further reclaim potential landfill fodder. Easy, free instructions for making bags are available at http://www.morsbags.com (UK-based) and also http://www.rags-to-bags.com in the US.