Posted on 06/27/2010 12:14:26 AM PDT by nickcarraway
Paper or plastic? Soon the answer may be neither. California would become the first state to ban grocery, liquor and drug stores from providing free paper or plastic bags under legislation pushed by Democrats and supported by Republican Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.
The goal is to fight litter and lighten the load on landfills by getting shoppers to use reusable fabric bags. Those who don't could buy paper bags for a nickel or more.
"I think the proliferation of plastic bags is unnecessary, and it's a pollutant, an urban tumbleweed," Assemblywoman Julia Brownley, D-Santa Monica, said of the lightweight bags that can litter yards and clog waterways. Californians use about 19 billion plastic bags per year, about 552 bags apiece, according to a legislative committee analysis of Brownley's proposal, Assembly Bill 1998. Tim Shestek of the American Chemistry Council said the plastic bag industry would rather pay to bolster recycling programs than ban plastic bags. He said that with California's economy struggling, it makes no sense to jeopardize about 500 plastic-bag manufacturing jobs and to promote paper bags that produce more greenhouse gas during their life cycle than plastic bags do. "We frankly think this is a dangerous precedent for the state to be setting," Shestek said.
The crackdown on disposable bags would cost an estimated $1.5 million the first year and $1 million annually to launch, administer and Advertisement
enforce, payable from fees on makers of reusable bags. AB 1998 was approved by the Assembly this month on a party-line vote, 42-27, with Republicans opposed; it is pending in the Senate. Schwarzenegger praised the bill when it cleared the lower house, calling it "a great victory for our environment."
Shoppers outside a West Sacramento Raley's grocery store had mixed feelings.
(Excerpt) Read more at mercurynews.com ...
I wonder when Arnold Schwarzenegger-Kennedy will change parties.
In WDC they have a $.05 “tax” on something that is free: grocery bags (both paper and plastic). Supposedly this is to help clean the Anacostia river. These asshat moonbat LIBs have been cleaning the Anacostia river for eons...it is still dirty! That’s after spending millions of taxpayer funds on a series of lame-brained ideas and programs to clean it. Then there is the study that shows high levels of e-coli bacteria on the reusable bags. I believe everyone should have a LIB assigned to them to carry their individual groceries home for them without any bags. For once LIBs might prove useful. That would be something unique in the history of civilization.
Socialists would love to control all monetary transactions. But that would be communism. Regardless, that is their goal and this is one step on the way.
They will be in your bedrooms and bathrooms next. Meanwhile, the state of CA is bankrupt and businesses and people are fleeing by the thousands.
The state is bankrupt and Spanish will soon become the primary language.
¿Qué
Just drumming up business for the 0bamaCare clinic near you.
OK, how about having customers buy 10,000 bags for a penny and give them a little card to punch each time they need one?
Laboratories of democracy have become the stomping grounds for socialists.
Dont worry you are not going to be able to Afford the Food in the stores either if there is any food to get soon when this Ass gets through
As long as my first grader son can get his weekly condom, they can do whatever they want. I don’t trust that little bugger!
You are an effing kook. Thank God you live across the world.
Stay away.
Idiots. I doubt these bags even weigh an ounce. The reusable bags probably don’t save anything when you consider their bulk by comparison and how long they last (not that long).
Plus, they’ve been shown to carry bacteria.
The “greenie” lady bringing her own bag to the store is bringing in Salmonella.
I recycle plastic grocery bags also.
They come in handy when walking my dog. I use the bags to scoop up the democrats my dog deposits in neighbor’s yards.
Have they considered that these bags, in reality, ARE NOT FREE?
The store paid for them. And, like any good business, will pass these costs on to the consumer in the way of higher food prices.
The California Alcoholic Beverage Control Board, through code, requires distilled spirit containers be concealed (paper bag) before being taken from the place of purchase into the public place. The purveyor must provide the bag. It's the law.
The goal is to fight litter and lighten the load on landfills.No word about plastic trash bags but buy paper bags for a nickel someone (lobbyist) from the paper ind. mand a sweetheart deal going to be a sweet Christmas bonus this year.
Outlawing plastic bags is more important than dealing with a full-blown illegal invasion.”
Wait until someone figures out that Illegals will no longer have plastic bags which they use to put dirty disposable diapers into. Then those mountains of disposable diapers will become the next generation of ‘landscape tumbleweeds’.
What are people supposed to use to pick up thie doggie droppings when they take them for walks outside their apartments?
IF I go spend $300-400 at one time at Wal-Mart, I certainly am not going to pay for bags. They can put it all back onto the shelf.
There will be serious consequences from this bill.
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