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This is anecdotal and all but I am not so sure ban on plastic bags is that effective (though the figures given for Ireland seem substantial): The free, single-
by smackay 10y ago
This is anecdotal and all but I am not so sure ban on plastic bags is that effective (though the figures given for Ireland seem substantial):
The free, single-use plastic bags were perfect for our 20 litre garbage bin. Now I have to buy 30 litre garbage bags (the minimum size available) so, on that alone, the change means we are using 50% more plastic.
We still accumulate reusable bags, though at a lower rate. So much so that I have to start using them as garbage bags, to thin the herd. The takeaway from this is that the 10 cent charge is way too low.
The reusable bags were great for other things also: taking things for recycling, wet clothes from swimming, going to beach, etc. The reusable bags are bulky so other types of plastic bag are pressed into use and hoarded.
So we got at least two uses out of the previous bags: one trip home with groceries and another trip taking out garbage/recycling.
What did make a substantial difference to our household's consumption of plastic bags was that some supermarkets (here in Portugal) offered, free of charge, heavy-duty, hold-all style bags for a short period of time. These are long lived and infinitely preferable to the single-use sort.
- TruthAndDare 10y agoI am confused. You seem to be saying that the law had negative consequences for you and that you therefore think the cost needs to be increased to correct you into the intended behavior.
- smackay 10y agoThe goal of the legislation was reduced use of plastic bags. I am saying that at the rate we accumulate reusable bags, the price of 10 cents is simply too low to force people to remember to carry a reusable bag when visiting the grocery store.
- basicplus2 10y agofor me this is correct.. now me the consumer simply pays more.. once as a supermarket doesn't pay for it and does not lower their prices and twice as I as a consumer now pay for a rubbish bag. no reduction in plastic bags, but usually more plastic waste as as they are bigger. supermarkets, plastics manufacturers, and oil companies get more profits, ordinary consumers pay more, mother nature a slap in the face..
- rrradical 10y agoSo then stop using plastic bags? That's the whole point of the legislation.
- EGreg 10y agoHe is saying that the result is the opposite of the intent of the law. Telling a single individual to stop using the bags shows it doesn't work. It's like yelling at a user during user testing that they should just click the obvious button. Laws should have A/B testing before rolling out to everyone.
- deleted 10y ago[deleted]
- dragonwriter 10y agoIn that plastic bag bans with the same basic parameters were applied in a few cities before spreading, in this particular case there was a kid of A/B testing before they were applied to everyone (actually, still pretty fast from everyone). The argument upthread is that one household's behavior wasn't what the law intended, which is hardly a compelling counterargument.
- rdl 10y agoIn the US Trader Joe's sells reusable $0.99 bags which seem incredibly popular -- I get maybe 50-100 uses out of them, and I see them frequently at other stores. For anyone who drives to the grocery, it's easy to just leave bags in the trunk. Anything smaller than a dedicated trip usually fits in my backpack.
- wcummings 10y agoCambridge implemented a similar ban and just having someone ask before giving me a bag has resulted in less waste. Seems like an easy win to me, the only people I hear complaining are nutjobs.