Plastic Waste

On March 2, 2012, Austin passed a ban on plastic bags at retail stores.  This law will go into effect in March of 2013 and will prohibit all retail stores from using disposable paper and plastic bags.  Mayor Lee Leffingwell has done a fantastic job pushing this ban onto the city of Austin.   Personally, I feel this is an incredibly, brilliant idea, and I cannot understand how people can be upset with this ban.  The only people I can see having the right to feel perturbed are the owners of the plastic bag companies, as they will lose a lot of money.  Although, it is common knowledge that time changes everything, and those not willing to change with it will get stuck in the past.

All over Austin, we see plastic bags on the side of the road, in lakes, in parking lots, etc.  This is an unnecessary litter we no longer need to spend time or money on cleaning up.  Reusable bags, which will replace plastic bags, are inexpensive and easy to carry with you.  If a shopper forgets to bring a reusable bag with them, most stores already have some available for purchase.  For example, Natural Grocers does not use plastic bags, and if you forget your reusable bag they will supply you with a box to put your groceries in.  After you have unloaded your box of groceries at home, you can either recycle it or reuse it for some other purpose.

Some people say this ban is extreme, and they argue that they reuse the plastic bags for such things as trash bag liners or picking up pet waste at the park.  I feel this argument does not make up for the 263 million plastic bags Austinites send to the landfill every year.

In 2008, six major retailers tried to keep this ban from coming to light by taking it upon themselves to lessen the use of plastic bags in their stores.  However, this did not work as there was not a significant difference seen in the use of plastic bags compared to the effort put forth.  Furthermore, recycling companies cannot take the plastic bags, as they damage their machinery.

Austinites, and hopefully all Americans in the near future, will come to realize what a difference this law will make for our environment.  Embrace this change and enjoy cleaner streets.