Blogging buddy Squawkfox (I love her blog, and you will too) wrote a post on 50 reasons to stop using plastic bags.
So good was the post that MSN money picked it up! Yaaaay, Squawkfox!
I thought it was a great piece and frankly, a no-brainer, ie., why wouldn’t we use canvas bags for shopping?
Well some of the 200+ commenters on her post didn’t agree:
- I don’t care whether or not my plastic bag will be around 50 years from now. Really, I don’t. Let’s concern ourselves with how to turn our economy around and get inflation under control. The media loves to jump on a “fad” until the next one comes along. Give me a break!
- If plastic bags are banned how the heck am I going to pick up my dogs business in public places?? paper is not suitable..maybe I can carry a roll of saran wrap for collecting that crap or better yet put a diaper on the dog… oh wait, that also made of plastic.. damn I guess I better get rid of the dog… now about the catbox ….
- well, too bad. i need them for my trash can.
You get the idea. And there were quite a few like this sprinkled in the mix.
Wow – I guess I’m more left-coast than I thought. I don’t get it. Why isn’t using canvas bags a no-brainer?
In a word, convenience. Not using plastic bags is one less thing to think about. Many people are just overwhelmed by the daily grind. Sad but true.
Here are two bags that are better than canvas though. Both reuse plastic. See
http://community.plasticofantastico.org/photo/photo/show?id=2197766%3APhoto%3A421
http://community.plasticofantastico.org/photo/photo/show?id=2197766%3APhoto%3A321
BobLQ
[Reply]
Yeah, my brain is still boggled with the negative feedback regarding my 50 freaking reasons to sack plastic bags. So far the story on MSN has 379 comments and over 70K views. Apparently, people are passionate about plastic. Thanks for being boggled along with me. ;D
[Reply]
I have to admit that I have canvas bags but have never managed to use them for my groceries. Most of my grocery trips are impromptu ones, on my way home from somewhere … so I don’t have the canvas bags with me. I do have a garbage bin (Simple Human! plug!!) that fits standard plastic grocery bags so I make good use of them. If anything, the thing I can’t understand is people BUYING plastic bags to throw away.
And when available I’ll ask for paper bags and use that to collect my paper recycling. This way I can bring the recycle the entire bag and contents when it’s full.
I guess that puts in me in excuse group #3 … but I am still trying to do my bit!!
[Reply]