Wednesday, July 23, 2008 -- 10:55 p.m.

It's amazing what a city that truly cares about the environment will do ...

L.A.'s city council Tuesday voted to ban plastic bags in stores by July of 2010--but only if the state won't charge shoppers 25 cents for the bags, according to the L.A. Times.

So, while their decision doesn't amount to a law right now, it does send a message to California officials that they're serious about getting plastic bags out of  stores--and oceans. And they did say that if the state doesn't go through with their pending legislation, the city will go forward with making their ban an ordinance.

According to the story, "The council also voted to require city agencies to stop purchasing polystyrene food containers starting next year."

L.A. isn't the only city taking a stand. According to the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, a 20-cent grocery-bag fee also is under consideration by Seattle's council.

Why can't we do that? I mean, seriously! Why are people so attached to plastic and paper bags? Are we too scared to clear out the cabinet they're crammed in? Perhaps the thought of carrying three bags instead of 10 is unappealing?  I've even heard that it's too much work to bring them with to the store. People seem to remember to bring things elsewhere pretty easily though ...

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Banning a product is non-sense, in fact banning plastic bags will do more harm than not. If you ban a product such as plastic, the alternative (paper bags) will skyrocket. It is FACT that paper uses more energy, emits more pollution, it harder to recycle and uses more oil than plastic bags. Yes. Oil. Plastic bags are made out of polyethylene. Polyethylene is made of ethylene. In the United States, ethylene is made of ethane which is extracted from natural gas. As a result, plastic bags manufactured in the United States are not made out of oil.

The ethane must be removed from the natural gas anyway to lower the BTU value of the natural gas to an acceptable level. Ethane burns too hot to be allowed to remain in high levels in natural gas that is delivered to homes and businesses for fuel. There is nothing else that the ethane can be used for except to make ethylene. If ethane is not used to make plastic, it will have to be burned off, resulting in greenhouse gas emissions.

Here are two great links to see for yourself:

www.savetheplasticbag.com

http://www.marketoracle.co.uk/Article5575.html

www.epa.gov

If we reuse and recycle this debate is lifeless, however our behavioral patterns prove this is something we have yet to master.

"Why are people so attached to plastic and paper bags?"

I can't speak for anyone else, but I use the plastic bags to dispose of my cats' waste products when I clean out their litter boxes.

I use the paper bags to gather up newspapers, magazines and mail detritus for recycling. It's much less messy. Without them, I'd probably throw this stuff in with my regular garbage.

Exactly. The issue should not be about governmental bans. It's a consumer right and choice if they choose paper, plastic or neither. I am always reusing the plastic bags, for one they are link resistant, and even if I do spill--then atleast I can protect whatever it's sitting on and turn it into a trashcan liner.

There are more important battles that need our attention...plastic bags are not one of them.

As cities and states start to ban plastic bags, I'm hoping that my Collection of "Reusable Shopping Bags" becomes the bearer of good news in the coming "Green" revolution.

My Collection will be on display in September at the Hickory Corner Library in East Windsor, NJ.

You may view the Collection and read comments from industry, customers and bloggers at:
www.Crafts2Press.BlogSpot.com/#NEXT

Glen

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