U.N Official Seeks Global Ban on Plastic Bags

via Truthdig:



U.N Official Seeks Global Ban on Plastic Bags

Posted on Jun 9, 2009


The U.N.‘s top environmental official has called for a global ban on plastic bags, declaring: “There is simply zero justification for manufacturing them anymore, anywhere.” The ban is currently being tested in China, and already exists in the city of San Francisco. Los Angeles will hop on the environmental bandwagon in 2010.




http://www.truthdig.com/eartotheground/item/20090609_un_official_urges_a_global_ban_on_plastic_bags/

Don't know if an actual "ban" is necessary; the backlash on it would probably increase plastic bag use. But charging for plastic bags would be worth considering.

Things have changed a lot since I started using my own reusable bags a decade ago. In order to get stores to honor my wishes and fill my canvas bags I used to have to threaten baggers that anything they put into a plastic bag I would ask the cashier to take off my order and leave in the store (for them to return to the shelves). And I used to have to watch them bag every item to make sure it went into my bag. Now the stores are encouraging reusable bags and don't try to influence me to take the plastic bag by questioning every other item to see if I am "sure" I don't want that one in a plastic bag and giving me strange looks when I decline.

I would hate to give the righties the faux outrage of "They are taking our plastic bags!" To add to their pronouncement of the looming ice age rather than admitting sceintific evidence for global warming.

The down side of this is I will have to buy garbage bags to replace them with.