Recently, San Francisco banned plastic grocery bags. Now, Portland is considering doing the same thing.
Do you think plastic bags should be banned, taxed or left alone? Why?
23 Comments
C said:
Hahaha .. thats the same city that has laws that say it is illegal to wipe one's car with used underwear (talk about weirdos) and where playing poker in public is also forbidden.
Rick said:
I think Sam Adams doesn't have enough to do with running the transportation bureau. Now he isn't happy containing himself with screwing up the transportation system with hare-brained ideas completely detached from what working people need. His explanation that eliminating plastic bags reduces dependence on petroleum and is greener is laughable and disingenuous. A real problem that no one disputes - yet he ignores - is the massive waste of gas and increased pollution that directly result from policies he supports that bottles up traffic and forces unnecessary idling, all because of his political view that labels all cars "bad." Further, it's no surprise that Sam is leaning toward a tax instead of a ban. In his political worldview, there is no problem that can't be solved by simply imposing a new tax or levy on the public, since taking money from the public always solves every problem. What is clear from this latest proposal and his track record is that he is trying to make up for not getting to be student body president in high school. Too bad he now has real power over our pocketbooks. I hope the voters remember this when it's time to vote him out of office and back into private life where he can do much less harm.
Quinn said:
I think it's a good step in the right direction. However, there are plenty of cities in the country who already have a no plastic bag "rule" for grocery stores. People learn to bring their own bags... pretty simple.
Dennis said:
I don't know the whole story. But so far, it sounds pretty ridiculus. Banning plasitic bags isn't going make a big enough impact at "saving the planet". Not if you consider all the other plastic items that are improperly desposed of.
As far as taxing plastic bags. That is only going to put more money in politicians pocket's. The song Taxman, by the Beatles comes to mind
Anonymous said:
Whats ridiculous is that plastic bags are still being used.
johannna huft said:
BAN THEM....BAN THEM......the only reason we have them was to keep oregon green with trees.....so go on BAN THEM.....it will give the loggers something to do......
Anonymous said:
Paper bags should be banned too.
Sas said:
Just returned from a long trip, so sad to see plastic bags "blowing in the wind" (Sorry, Bob D.). Even in so-called 'pristine wilderness', they are everywhere. It's really a 'no-brainer' to provide your own shopping bag. What's worse, they are so flimsy (even though they last for years damaging the enviromen), it takes even more to assure it doesn't break." That's all I have to say about that"!!
johanna huft said:
ThEN I WAnt TO SEe OlD BagS BaNned TOo!!!.....B}.............but that aside it has always made me go hmmmmm.....the making of plastic bags...........why in the hell did we need them in the first place.....oh that's right it was the environmentalists answer to the logging of trees to make bags........and what happened??? we have both.....this is the usual out come when the "environment watchers" take the reins.....they not only don't solve anything they make it worse.......LET"S SEE HOW THEY SCREW THIS UP.......and yes ban the freaking plastic bags.
Don Thomason said:
Plastic bags should be outlawed....PERIOD! I don't need to help fill landfills with material that takes 100-1000 years to rot. They cause problems for wildlife that get them into their digestive tracts and they do no one any good except for the stores like WallyWorld that keep dishing them out liberally.
Anonymous said:
make them out of biodegradable substances. not just paper.
Scott said:
I wish Portland would try something innovative. I recently received an e-mail from a Commissioner regarding this debate. Nearly every major metro area provides a garbage and recycling container to citizens. How about providing permanent shopping bags? The City could institute a fee from grocery stores to help pay for the permanent bags. The grocery would not have the expense of paying for the bags and Portland could provide shoppers with say two bags. Shoppers would be responsible for buying more should they have the need. End result? No more paper or plastic waste.
Great idea. If we all carried cloth bags in our trunk regularly, and used them for groceries, we'd all be doing something for our environment
c said:
Luckily beer comes in boxes ...
John said:
Whats next? Are they going to tell me I can't smoke in MY OWN BAR oops too late. Big brother needs to but out!
es said:
hmmm sounds like bad news for the glue sniffers!
i think it would be good if they could be eliminated, its such a waste to buy a bag of chips and have them put it in a plastic bag. such a big deal is being made about gas guzzeling cars and these plastic bags but what about cruise ships? i hear they get something like one foot per gallon of fuel. thats well over 5000 gallons per mile. wouldnt it make sense to start with something like that?
maybe we could just put all the glue sniffers and plastic bags on the cruise ships then take em out to the middle of the ocean and sink em.
joahnna huft said:
WITh ThE stupid government here in Oregon they will probably tax the stupid things...like cigarettes...sheez they have taxed them to the point of people quitting....which is good but then where are they going to get that revenue????if people stop using plastic bags then where are they going to look next for new taxes???? What they should be taxing is the alcohol and gambling establishments........fine the bars that over serve......and tax the shit out of import alcohols not only would it be a long term income but actually do some good.....
Leah said:
There are so many other things to worry and think about! I don't care if they ban them or not.
Dennis said:
I love how some people blame the plastic bags for the carelessness of some people.
Tina said:
Everyone is getting so upset over plastic bags. I recycle mine. Take them right back to the store where I got them from after I get a whole bunch and put them in the plastic bag recycle thing. I hate paper bags because they cause trees to be cut down.
The biodegradable plastic bag thing sounds like a good idea. They should even make biodegradable kitchen garbage bags.
DAN said:
HOW ABOUT BANNING ( TOY"S ARE US) OR ALL THAT JUNK COMEING FROM CHINA>
Ivan said:
Think about the millions of Dollar Tree toys that are made of cheap plastic and break the first time a child starts to play with them. Seems as if that would be a better place to look to save our resources.
Or perhaps the fact that nearly everthing comes shrink-wrapped these days. Talk about a waste.
Quinn said:
I just can't understand how gluttony for a few is better than the well being of the entire world. Plastic bags are stupid and so are paper bags. Until a huge progression for re-usable bags occur, just recycle. Easy.
Hahaha .. thats the same city that has laws that say it is illegal to wipe one's car with used underwear (talk about weirdos) and where playing poker in public is also forbidden.
I think Sam Adams doesn't have enough to do with running the transportation bureau. Now he isn't happy containing himself with screwing up the transportation system with hare-brained ideas completely detached from what working people need. His explanation that eliminating plastic bags reduces dependence on petroleum and is greener is laughable and disingenuous. A real problem that no one disputes - yet he ignores - is the massive waste of gas and increased pollution that directly result from policies he supports that bottles up traffic and forces unnecessary idling, all because of his political view that labels all cars "bad." Further, it's no surprise that Sam is leaning toward a tax instead of a ban. In his political worldview, there is no problem that can't be solved by simply imposing a new tax or levy on the public, since taking money from the public always solves every problem. What is clear from this latest proposal and his track record is that he is trying to make up for not getting to be student body president in high school. Too bad he now has real power over our pocketbooks. I hope the voters remember this when it's time to vote him out of office and back into private life where he can do much less harm.
I think it's a good step in the right direction. However, there are plenty of cities in the country who already have a no plastic bag "rule" for grocery stores. People learn to bring their own bags... pretty simple.
I don't know the whole story. But so far, it sounds pretty ridiculus. Banning plasitic bags isn't going make a big enough impact at "saving the planet". Not if you consider all the other plastic items that are improperly desposed of.
As far as taxing plastic bags. That is only going to put more money in politicians pocket's. The song Taxman, by the Beatles comes to mind
Whats ridiculous is that plastic bags are still being used.
BAN THEM....BAN THEM......the only reason we have them was to keep oregon green with trees.....so go on BAN THEM.....it will give the loggers something to do......
Paper bags should be banned too.
Just returned from a long trip, so sad to see plastic bags "blowing in the wind" (Sorry, Bob D.). Even in so-called 'pristine wilderness', they are everywhere. It's really a 'no-brainer' to provide your own shopping bag. What's worse, they are so flimsy (even though they last for years damaging the enviromen), it takes even more to assure it doesn't break." That's all I have to say about that"!!
ThEN I WAnt TO SEe OlD BagS BaNned TOo!!!.....B}.............but that aside it has always made me go hmmmmm.....the making of plastic bags...........why in the hell did we need them in the first place.....oh that's right it was the environmentalists answer to the logging of trees to make bags........and what happened??? we have both.....this is the usual out come when the "environment watchers" take the reins.....they not only don't solve anything they make it worse.......LET"S SEE HOW THEY SCREW THIS UP.......and yes ban the freaking plastic bags.
Plastic bags should be outlawed....PERIOD! I don't need to help fill landfills with material that takes 100-1000 years to rot. They cause problems for wildlife that get them into their digestive tracts and they do no one any good except for the stores like WallyWorld that keep dishing them out liberally.
make them out of biodegradable substances. not just paper.
I wish Portland would try something innovative. I recently received an e-mail from a Commissioner regarding this debate. Nearly every major metro area provides a garbage and recycling container to citizens. How about providing permanent shopping bags? The City could institute a fee from grocery stores to help pay for the permanent bags. The grocery would not have the expense of paying for the bags and Portland could provide shoppers with say two bags. Shoppers would be responsible for buying more should they have the need. End result? No more paper or plastic waste.
Great idea. If we all carried cloth bags in our trunk regularly, and used them for groceries, we'd all be doing something for our environment
Luckily beer comes in boxes ...
Whats next? Are they going to tell me I can't smoke in MY OWN BAR oops too late. Big brother needs to but out!
hmmm sounds like bad news for the glue sniffers!
i think it would be good if they could be eliminated, its such a waste to buy a bag of chips and have them put it in a plastic bag. such a big deal is being made about gas guzzeling cars and these plastic bags but what about cruise ships? i hear they get something like one foot per gallon of fuel. thats well over 5000 gallons per mile. wouldnt it make sense to start with something like that?
maybe we could just put all the glue sniffers and plastic bags on the cruise ships then take em out to the middle of the ocean and sink em.
WITh ThE stupid government here in Oregon they will probably tax the stupid things...like cigarettes...sheez they have taxed them to the point of people quitting....which is good but then where are they going to get that revenue????if people stop using plastic bags then where are they going to look next for new taxes???? What they should be taxing is the alcohol and gambling establishments........fine the bars that over serve......and tax the shit out of import alcohols not only would it be a long term income but actually do some good.....
There are so many other things to worry and think about! I don't care if they ban them or not.
I love how some people blame the plastic bags for the carelessness of some people.
Everyone is getting so upset over plastic bags. I recycle mine. Take them right back to the store where I got them from after I get a whole bunch and put them in the plastic bag recycle thing. I hate paper bags because they cause trees to be cut down.
The biodegradable plastic bag thing sounds like a good idea. They should even make biodegradable kitchen garbage bags.
HOW ABOUT BANNING ( TOY"S ARE US) OR ALL THAT JUNK COMEING FROM CHINA>
Think about the millions of Dollar Tree toys that are made of cheap plastic and break the first time a child starts to play with them. Seems as if that would be a better place to look to save our resources.
Or perhaps the fact that nearly everthing comes shrink-wrapped these days. Talk about a waste.
I just can't understand how gluttony for a few is better than the well being of the entire world. Plastic bags are stupid and so are paper bags. Until a huge progression for re-usable bags occur, just recycle. Easy.