Following the unceremonious axing a few months ago of a proposal that would've banned outright the use of plastic bags, several L.A.-based state legislators are once again girding for battle over the introduction of a bill that would impose a 25-cent fee on the use of the offending bags. AB 2829, sponsored by Mike Davis (D-Los Angeles), would use the proceeds from the fee to fund litter prevention and reduction efforts.
A competing bill, AB2058, introduced by Lloyd Levine (D-Van Nuys), would only support voluntary reduction measures; as Emerald City's Siel points out in her post on the fee, this meeker measure closely resembles a voluntary plastic bag reduction measure that was enacted by the L.A. County Board of Supervisors.
Keith Christman, senior director of packaging for Progressive Bag Affiliates of the American Chemistry Council, is skeptical. "I don't think the public will pay 25 cents a bag," Christman said. "Grocery stores will start handing out paper bags. They will go back to paper bags. Paper bags require 40 (percent to) 70 percent more energy, double greenhouse-gas emissions, increase waste by 80 percent and dramatically increase water use."
He brings up a good point. But what can you do. Paper, plastic, canvas? I leave the store with like 10 bags and I certainly don't have 10 canvas bags. Oy these lifestyle changes are tough.
