Are Reusable Bags Really Better For the Planet?

earther.com ^ | 6 June 2018 | Ian Graber-Stiehl

[rey]

Earlier this week, a pilot whale died after being found with 17 pounds of plastic bags in its stomach. The horrific incident was our latest reminder that plastic bags contribute to the scourge of marine litter. By sheer coincidence, it came on the heels of a major U.N. report pointing to plastic bag levies or bans as key strategies to help reduce that litter. Many seem to be listening.

But as the war against plastic bags intensifies, it’s worth taking a step back and asking: How much better are the alternatives?

(Goes on to mathematically question whether banning bags helps or hinders.)

[rey]

Of course, enviros are never bothered by the fact or numbers they just want to engage in feel good members and force people to comply with their edict. It is never about the environment. Environmentalism IS socialism.

[IronJack]

A dead whale is a “horrific incident?”

Hyperbole much?

[ClearCase_guy]

Whatever it is that you are doing, it is wrong. You need to change. You need to be a sheeple.

The very thoughtful, do-gooder types are out in front on all issues and they can tell you that paper bags are no longer good / plastic bags are no longer good / reusable cloth bags are no longer good. You are an evil person unless you are acting on the very latest information from the very thoughtful do-gooder types.

[1Old Pro]

Are cloth diapers better than Huggies? Or are we better offering a choice in a Free Republic?

[dirtboy]

Beyond the numbers, re-usable bags become hives of villany, scum and bacteria.

[null and void]

Some people will die from eating food contaminated by last week’s oozing meat packaging on the reusable bags.

Fewer people is good for the environment, right?

[dfwgator]

"The planet has been through a lot worse than us. Been through earthquakes, volcanoes, plate tectonics, continental drift, solar flares, sun spots, magnetic storms, the magnetic reversal of the poles … hundreds of thousands of years of bombardment by comets and asteroids and meteors, worldwide floods, tidal waves, worldwide fires, erosion, cosmic rays, recurring ice ages … And we think some plastic bags and some aluminum cans are going to make a difference? The planet isn’t going anywhere. WE are!"

[tiki]

The enviros gave us plastic bags because they wanted to save the trees.

[Rurudyne]

I’m reminded of the, IIRC, Dharma and Greg episode where the nutty hippie spawn learns her mom is pregnant and then gets upset that her parents are going to use diapers and not let the kid be a free range baby as she was.

At any rate, the menace of plastic shopping bags would be lessened if people used them for trash bags rather than buying trash bags and putting the plastic shopping bags in them.

[gathersnomoss]

George Carlin: “The Earth doesn’t share our prejudice toward plastic...”

[dfwgator]

“Why are we here?”

“Plastic...a-hole!”

[MrEdd]

Oh look.
Two idiot groups of enviroweinies having a civil war.

Never let it be forgotten that it was strictly the enviroweinies who wanted and legislated an end to the general use of brown paper bags.

[1Old Pro]

the menace of plastic shopping bags would be lessened if people …

Properly disposed of them and didn't let the wind blow them all over the place including oceans. However, after seeing the mess left by liberal environmentalists after their "protests" I'm surprised we have any healthy coral reefs left.

[Grampa Dave]

One of my longest friends has made plastic bags for decades.

When California did away with the big plastic bags and people went to the cloth bags, an interesting and profitable change happened for him.

People like my wife and I started using more “Free” plastic bags in the store to put our produce, meat and frozen goods into before putting them into the cloth bags when we checked out.

This $ increase in the small in store bags use, more than equaled the $ losses my friend’s had due to the banning of the big carry home bags.

[Reeses]

Plus, cycling to the store is better anyway.

I bicycle everywhere I can but one visit to the emergency room or morgue would negate everything. Even with the expensive bike lanes it's a very dangerous mode of travel, the fuel costs are high, and it is less green.

[Rurudyne]

Being on the right side of history means not having to pick up your trash.

[1Old Pro]

Being on the right side of history means not having to pick up your trash.

I live by the motto, bring it in, take it out, leave the place cleaner than how you found it - true environmentalism, not the bastardized version.

[Parmy]

'The enviros gave us plastic bags because they wanted to save the trees.'

First the plastic bags were killing sea turtles. Now, a whale. OMG.

[raybbr]

“””...a pilot whale died after being found with 17 pounds of plastic bags in its stomach. ”””

So, they killed it to find the plastic?

[CaptainPhilFan]

Bring back paper bags.
There are several alternative fibers these days, and they’re biodegradable