Plastics Industry Weighing In On Grocery Bag Tax

[Appaholic]

Battle in eco-friendly Seattle may foretell feasibility for rest of country

SEATTLE - Leaders of this famously green city last year passed America's first grocery bag fee, and other cities around the U.S. quickly followed.

But the plastics industry has been fighting back, bringing lawsuits, aggressively lobbying lawmakers and bankrolling a referendum in Seattle to overturn the 20-cent charge. The measure goes before voters Tuesday, and polls show marginal support after the industry spent $1.4 million, outspending supporters about 15-to-1.

If the bag fee fails in an eco-conscious city like Seattle, observers say, it will be a tough sell elsewhere.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/32421448/ns ... vironment/

[Grizalltheway]

Plastic grocery bags are fucking bullshit, and a perfect example of America's I don't give a shit attitude. How fucking hard is it to bring a few reusable fabric bags to the store with you?

[JayJ79]

Plastic grocery bags are fucking bullshit, and a perfect example of America's I don't give a shit attitude. How fucking hard is it to bring a few reusable fabric bags to the store with you?

I prefer cardboard boxes/totes myself. But still, same concept.

[dbackjon]

Yes. Let's use more foreign oil

[TwinTownBisonFan]

I only use paper (but then pull double duty with them by using them for my recycling)

still, I think this idea of a fee rather than an out and out ban is a good call. if you've ever been down on a major river or lake you've seen how ubiquitous the damn things are, and they are unnecessary and replaceable by smarter more sustainable and similarly priced items... seems like their time should be winding down

typical though... rather than innovate and develop a biodegradable bag from corn or soy (both of which are in development at NDSU and Iowa State IIRC) fight like hell to keep things the way the are... f them.