Chelsea and plastic bags
A recent article in the Ann Arbor News talked about how Ann Arbor's close neighbor, Chelsea is considering banning plastic bags in their grocery stores. My first reaction when I read this was if they really want to do something worthwhile, then ban SUVs. I mean, come on, plastic bags? Who cares?
Well I guess it turns out that many places, including Ireland, Taiwan, South Africa, Australia, and Bangladesh, have come to the same conclusion. A recent article in National Geographic describes the problem better than I can. Basically, plastic shopping bags are what the article calls an environmental nuisance, especially if they get into water ways.
Unfortunately, paper bags aren't any better, as National Geographic describes it:
"Compared to paper grocery bags, plastic grocery bags consume 40 percent less energy, generate 80 percent less solid waste, produce 70 percent fewer atmospheric emissions, and release up to 94 percent fewer waterborne wastes, according to the federation."
Both articles lean toward the BYOB solution. Which sounds great until you consider that then many households will be buying a box of Hefty bags everytime they shop so they have something to put their garbage in. In addition, if you buy anything at all, from Chicken to toilet paper, it comes wrapped in plastic. The national geographic article talks about how Ireland cleaned up their landscape, but what it doesn't talk about is: Did they cleanup their environment?
Stores are full of overpackaged items, many of which don't need packaging at all. How many people even use reusable drink containers? How many coke and coffee cups end up wastbaskets every year. What about water? When I was growing up we used a glass, now everyone has a bottle that they get their water out of and then toss in the garbage (or recycling if you live in Ann Arbor).
I'm not saying that Chelsea shouldn't ban plastic bags or charge for them, I'm saying that if we really want to solve this problem, we're going to have to try a little bit harder. We're going to need to start not with the most obvious items, but those that actually make a real difference.
For Chelsea, I think the SUV is much higher on the list than the grocery bag.
Well I guess it turns out that many places, including Ireland, Taiwan, South Africa, Australia, and Bangladesh, have come to the same conclusion. A recent article in National Geographic describes the problem better than I can. Basically, plastic shopping bags are what the article calls an environmental nuisance, especially if they get into water ways.
Unfortunately, paper bags aren't any better, as National Geographic describes it:
"Compared to paper grocery bags, plastic grocery bags consume 40 percent less energy, generate 80 percent less solid waste, produce 70 percent fewer atmospheric emissions, and release up to 94 percent fewer waterborne wastes, according to the federation."
Both articles lean toward the BYOB solution. Which sounds great until you consider that then many households will be buying a box of Hefty bags everytime they shop so they have something to put their garbage in. In addition, if you buy anything at all, from Chicken to toilet paper, it comes wrapped in plastic. The national geographic article talks about how Ireland cleaned up their landscape, but what it doesn't talk about is: Did they cleanup their environment?
Stores are full of overpackaged items, many of which don't need packaging at all. How many people even use reusable drink containers? How many coke and coffee cups end up wastbaskets every year. What about water? When I was growing up we used a glass, now everyone has a bottle that they get their water out of and then toss in the garbage (or recycling if you live in Ann Arbor).
I'm not saying that Chelsea shouldn't ban plastic bags or charge for them, I'm saying that if we really want to solve this problem, we're going to have to try a little bit harder. We're going to need to start not with the most obvious items, but those that actually make a real difference.
For Chelsea, I think the SUV is much higher on the list than the grocery bag.
posted by Bill Heitzeg at 6:17 AM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home