urbanMSP

Councilwoman Tuthill proposing a ban on plastic bags in Minneapolis. I absolutely endorse this.

http://www.kare11.com/news/article/1036 ... astic-bags

Wouldn't it be better to get businesses to un-bundle the cost of shopping bags from the goods that are inside of them?

I'd like to hear more about why Tuthill does not want to consider the method used in Washington, DC.

Already discussed somewhat here.

I get the idea behind these bans, but won't support them because I use those plastic grocery bags as my garbage bags.

Paper will still exist, and hey, you can buy garbage bags separately.

On a higher level, we are so disconnected from the consequences of our consumption and the stuff we throw away... anything that makes us think twice about it & reduce waste is a good thing, imo.

As noted in the Tuthill thread, there is no consensus that plastic is worse for the environment than paper. In fact, there's a fair amount of evidence to the contrary.

While a paper bag weighs more, I'd be willing to bet that people recycle them and a vastly greater rate, but thats besides the point....

I think the real benefit is actually in getting people to be conscious of these issues and to ultimately reduce the usage of "disposable" items like that over all. And as far as local aesthetics/environments, which Meg seems to be very much concerned with, a paper bag that blows away will start to decompose as soon as it gets wet.