Connecticut Town Starts By Banning Plastic Bags
By Charanna Alexander
October 9, 2009
Source: New York Times, http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/11/nyregion/11bgreenct.html?_r=1
This article from a 2009 issue of the New York Times talks about Westport, the first town in Connecticut to put a ban on the usage of plastic bags. Since the ban, the amount of people bringing in reusable bags to stores has increased by 70%. The total amount of plastic bags saved has so far been 600,000, which the town is very happy about. Not only has the increase in awareness of the harmful effects of plastic bags been realized, but citizens of Westport and the surrounding areas have also taken awareness of the other environmental issues. This article is significant to the plastic bag issue because it demonstrates how people are recognizing the harmful effects of disposable bags and are doing something to try and end it.
Red Bank Emphasizes Recycling Over Big Ban
By Bill Finley
Published: January 16, 2009
Source: New York Times, http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/18/nyregion/new-jersey/18bagsnj.html
In December of 2009, a bill passed concerning Red Bank, New Jersey; the ban says that all businesses that use plastic bags must also supply a recycling bin for said plastic bags for their customers. Businesses that fail to do this will receive a first offence $100 fine. The Navesink River, which runs through the center of Red Bank, contains plastic bags that have been littered or blown out of the trash by the wind. This ban is part of a three-year plan to completely illuminate the usage of plastic bags all together. Red Bank schools have all added a course on environmental issues, including talk about the plastic bag issue. By teaching high school students about how we can help our environment in simple ways, the information is being passed on to the next generation and can be used for a better tomorrow.
Seeing a Pitched Battle over Plastic Bags
By: Mireya Navarro
Published: November 17, 2008
Source: New York Times, http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/18/nyregion/18plastic.html
This article centers on Steven Thrasher, an environmentally friendly man who always carries two reusable bags with him at all times in the event of an unexpected purchase. The main point of the article, however, is that even men like Steven sometimes make extra unexpected purchases that result in the use of a plastic bag or two. This is the main problem facing those who are trying to reduce the use of plastic in their lives: there are some times in everyday life that plastic simply cannot be avoided. In instances such as changing kitty litter and picking up dog “waste” are two examples of times that may be trickier to completely illuminate plastic from one’s life. While there are alternatives to plastic in these cases (using the bag the kitty litter came in to dispose of it and laying down newspaper before a dog does their business), some citizens are just not willing enough to take these extra steps every time they are called for. The article discusses the points of view of multiple sides concerning the plastic bag dilemma, including those of people who are willing to pay the extra couple of cent tax that is now being put on plastic bags in certain supermarkets. They believe that having to carry around extra bags is too much of a hassle, and that is what plastic bags are for. While this isn’t exactly the environmentally friendly attitude needed to end the plastic bag issue, this article shows how there are some people who would rather take the easier road and just accept the bags they are given. These people can be educated in the sense that the plastic bags they are so willing to accept can be used again in other aspects of life: as garbage bags, for dog waste, etc. This article does a good job at showing more than one opinion in the great plastic bag debate.
The single-use plastic bag gives way to the recycled tote
By McClatchy News Service
Published: May 9, 2010
Source: Dallas News, http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/bus/stories/DN-p2plasticbags_09bus.ART.State.Edition1.3ddd1ea.html
“The single-use plastic bag could be an endangered shopping species.” This article provides the sunnier side to the plastic bag issue facing the world today: the increase in the usage of reusable shopping bags is partnered with the decrease of the number of plastic bags being used. Following in the footsteps of the plastic bag bans of Whole Foods and Ikea in 2008, Wal-Mart has now set the goal of reducing the number of plastic bags used by 9 billion by 2013. Not only is the number of reusable bags that are being sold and used increasing, but the amount of plastic bags that are being recycled are as well. This year, stores such as Target, Walgreens and CVS gave out reusable bags for free as part of an Earth Day promotion. Target now offers a 5 cent rebate for all reusable bags that are brought back to stores in replace of using plastic bags for their purchases. While 5 cents may not seem like a lot, the amount of plastic bags that can and will be saved by this is worth more in the long run. Less pollution from the burning and littering of plastic bags will be a result as well as saving the lives of thousands of animals that choke and die from these bags every year. The energy that would have been used in making these bags is also saved and can be used for other more important things. This article gives an optimistic look at our current efforts to cause the extinction of plastic bags as well as giving a look into the future of what we can accomplish for our environment.
The Environmental Benefits of Online Grocery Shopping
By Leann Zotis
Published: N/A
Source: Helium Politics, News & Issues, http://www.helium.com/items/1791374-environmental-benefits-of-online-grocery-shopping
This article shows a much wider perspective on as simple a task as food shopping: there are more ways to reduce plastic litter than just using reusable shopping bags. By online shopping, there is not only a wider variety in products, but a great amount of energy is saved. Because no cars are used to drive to the food store, the only gas being used is that from the delivery truck which delivers to dozens of locations. If people had been driving separately to the store, the gas omitted into the environment would be much greater than that omitted by the single delivery truck. Sometimes when people go to the store, they only buy one small purchase or only arrive to realize that the item they seek isn’t in stock. Also, the petroleum that would have been used to make the plastic bags is saved and can therefore be used for other more important products. There are so many simple ways energy and litter can be reduced by changing the way one food shops, and this is clearly shown by this article.
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