Should the US ban shopping bags?
I don’t think they should outlaw them, I do think you should pay per shopping bag. That way, you still get them in an emergency shopping situation, but you’re encouraged to bring your own. I also don’t think it should be a $.15 or $.10 charge – at least $.50. It needs to be enough of a charge to actually make people think before they shop and plan to bring their own bag. I have my own bags for shopping and I love it, but unless there is a decent charge on plastic bags most people won’t bother. Still, outlawing them entirely is a bit unreasonable, I think.
IKEA has made the move in its US stores to not ban bags but to charge .10 for them in an effort to prevent people from using them. If people do buy the bags I think they donate the money to some green movement. I know some grocery stores like Trader Joes also encourage you to bring your own bags. Personally I kind of like getting some plastic bags as I reuse them for various things but if they banned them I could find alternatives. It does not matter to me if the ban them. I would like to see some data as to what is saved etc….by banning the bags. Is it really worth the effort or inconvenience? I think too many times we are sort of tricked into doing things for the sake of doing them to make us feel like we are doing something good for the world when in reality it has no impact on anything. I am sort of skeptical but if it makes sense to do it and it does provide a positive impact then go for it.
