Opposition post

As an additional perspective to what will eventually be my research paper on this topic of banning plastic bags, I found an article written by someone who is opposed to the idea.

This person pokes fun at the governor of California, who was pushing for more people to use reusable bags and demonstrating how he uses them on a daily basis.

The author talks about how it is "unfair" that we need laws to regulate how we carry our groceries home...Which is a valid point. The government can often abuse their power to put laws into action that can demean our freedoms, but there comes a time where we need to be regulated for earth's sake.

If we could just run around doing whatever we want, we would destroy our planet in no time. Banning bags is not a restriction on how you choose to carry your things, it's more so a necessary law, enacted in the name of mother nature. It is necessary that this law have repercussions that will scare people into abiding by it because we have proven that, left to our own devices, we do not make environmentally-wise decisions.

Little things I've been trying

After starting this project and doing much research on the problems with plastic bags, I've realized that as a cashier and concerned citizen, I needed to start taking initiative to reduce the amount of plastic bags I give out at my register at work, while continuing to reduce my use of plastic bags in my personal life.

At work, I've began asking people if they'd like a bag, instead of just giving it to them automatically, and (although I'm sure I'm not supposed to) I've been silently sustaining from giving those bags that are purchasing extremely small items like single strings of beads, candy bars, pencils and various things that can be carried in pockets.

I have gotten some customers that specifically ask for a bag when I do this, in which case I have to give them one, but I've found that I can get away with not giving out bags a few more times than I usually would be able to otherwise so I think it is definitely worth it!

Raising Awareness through crafting

SO! Today I discovered a wonderful new use for old plastic bags!

It's fun, functional, and eco-friendly.

IT'S PLARN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So it's yarn, used for crochet or knitting, made from thin strips of plastic bags.

People have been making all kinds of wonderful things with plarn, like hand bags, wallets, bracelets, and basically anything that you could make from regular yarn.
Although I'm sure plarn is not very soft and cuddly, I've even seen pictures of tiny stuffed animals crocheted from plarn.

This exciting breakthrough could be a great way to get people excited about recycling, and also to raise awareness about the negative effects that unrecycled plastic bags can have on our environment.

If your bracelet lasts a long time, just think how long plastic bags last in landfills, or on the side of the road!

I'm thinking that items made with plarn could possibly be sold as a fundraiser to get more plastic-bag-recycling bins in major chain stores in the area, or possibly go towards the fight to ban plastic bags altogether.

Some initiatives

I've heard lots of things about some eco-friendly cities implementing bag-bans...such as:
- Portland, OR
- Austin, TX
- San Francisco, CA
- (coastal) North Carolina

Other places have implemented a small fee for plastic bags or even a small bit of compensation for choosing NOT to use plastic bags.

It has even been proposed in San Francisco to ban plastic AND paper bags, or possibly allow paper bags for a small fee.

Intro POST!

Working in retail made me realize our dependency on plastic bags. It became prominent in the middle of our busiest season, Christmas, when we ran out of plastic bags for a week and a half.

8 out of 10 people completely freaked OUT (guess-timation-ally), and I thought of how minuscule a plastic bag is to me when I receive them with my purchase.

My car has SO many plastic bags filled with just a receipt, or just the wrapper of the product I purchased...and then what happens to them? I usually fill them with other trash and throw them away, which is only adding to the non-recyclable junk I throw into the landfill, all for the sake of keeping my trash contained. And THAT is also considered reusing this demon plastic bag, which is better use than some people even get out them.

I just can't stand for this anymore.

I cannot bare to hand over another stupid pencil in a plastic bag that will inevitably become a death trap for some unsuspecting animal.

SO, NO, you can't have a bag for your 5 inch string of beads. PUT IT IN YOUR PURSE. PUT IT IN YOUR POCKET.

Spare the earth some change. In this blog, I'll tell you why you should, and how you can.