People bitching about a nickel.

[Jiggz]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100222/ap_on_bi_ge/us_paying_for_plastic

Plastic bags in US — to pay or not to pay?

For decades the standard question at U.S. grocery store check-out counters has been "Paper or Plastic?" But since January, consumers in the U.S. capital have faced a different question: "Will you pay 5 cents for a bag?"

"I think it's unnecessary," said Daniel Koroma, 57, as he toted groceries home from a supermarket in a plastic bag that he'd paid for. "They sell you the groceries, they should give you something to put them in."

The issue has sparked debate and many shoppers would rather juggle items in their arms or drive to stores in neighboring states where bags are still free.



Wow. People bitching over a nickel. There are so many ripoffs going on in the US that cost us real money, yet people bitching over a nickel.

And wtf with people driving to other states to save the nickel a bag?

I submit this thread in the interests of wtf is wrong with people.

It's not the nickel or the dime but the principle behind it! Why bitch on the common man or main stream people but not the grocery stores who's using plastic bag? Or better yet bitch on those who manufacture the plastic bag. But no! You won't do that because this grocery store owners or manufacturers have high caliber lawyers to defend their practice. You remind me of that Audi commercial during the Superbowl where the "green cops" arrested a shopper for choosing plastic bag over paper bag but will not arrest the grocery store owner for offering plastic or worse yet the manufacturers of plastic bag!

 

[ecom]

I think it's unlikely that the 5c tax can be refunded because it's more cost effective to make a new bag than it is to recycle them.

Even in San Francisco where there is mandatory household recycling, it is explicitly stated that plastic bags are not accepted for recycling, despite their ubiquity; they will, however, accept any other type of plastic for recycling. The collectors will even place tags on the container about not placing plastic bags for recycling even if the bags contain recyclables such as shredded paper.

My guess is that the fee is used to discourage use of plastic bags by making them ridiculously expensive (500% or more tax) and using the tax (at least) to partially subsidize their recycling -- that is if facilities are available to recycle such materials.

But then what about the stores that require me to get a bag? I am then compelled to pay the tax? I remember there was a store in SoCal that mandated that I take a bag. Even if I went inside to buy a roll of packing tape, a pack of gum or chips, a pair of shoes which already comes in a box. The only exception was if the item were too large to fit in the bag.

 

[piasabird]

Who needs a bag? Just dump the stuff in a cart and take it outside and put it in the trunk. That is how people do it at SAMS.

 

[nageov3t]

Who needs a bag? Just dump the stuff in a cart and take it outside and put it in the trunk. That is how people do it at SAMS.

people who walk to the grocery store?

 

[MrPickins]

personal responsibility until asked to be responsible. people can't be bothered to throw bags into the trash so they end up in waterways. but, you know, if you ask someone to pay for their mess, OH NO YOU"RE MESSING WITH MUH LIBERTAH!

sometimes i think it's amusing that conservative and conservation share the same root word.

Or you could raise the penalties for littering and punish those that are actually responsible for the dirty waterways...

Like others in this thread, I reuse my grocery bags as trash/kitty litter bags, and the rest get recycled. Why should I be punished when I'm acting in a responsible manner? Just because someone else might not?

 

[Fear No Evil]

people who walk to the grocery store?

Obama gave everyone a car..

 

[charrison]

I think it's unlikely that the 5c tax can be refunded because it's more cost effective to make a new bag than it is to recycle them.

I recall reading that it is cost effect to recycle those bags.

 

[charrison]

I think the reusable bags are great. I got a couple of free reusable bags when the local grocery store started selling them. They hold more, the contents stay in better and they are easier to carry. This is cost cutting move, not one to nickel and dime the consumer.

The bags can be had for as little 50 cents and they are well made for their purpose. Wal-mart is currently trialling a 15 cent reusable bag in a few stores now.



They do not appear to be any less efficient to fill either as they stand up by themselves and hold more, so there is less bag changing.

 

[numark]

Obama gave everyone a car..

Really? I didn't receive one in the mail. Oh, wait, you had to trade one in and just get a discount on a new one? I can see how that equals "giv[ing] everyone a car."

 

[Whoozyerdaddy]

It's bad enough I have to pay a nickel for every beer, soda and bottled water I buy... now you want me to pay for the bag they go in? Don't try to make me feel like shit because it's only a nickel... it's only a nickel... LET ME KEEP IT!

"The green police, they live inside of my head..."

 

[ecom]

I recall reading that it is cost effect to recycle those bags.

What is the cost? If the operation is cost effective, why is it that SF has mandatory household recycling but explicitly states plastic bags are not accepted? It would seem that if it were cost effective, it could help to fund the recycling program. The only thing I can go by is the figure I found on Wikipedia that states that virgin plastics cost 40% less than recycled.

Recycling pickup on garbage day has existed here since the early 1990s and has expanded to where we are supposed to separate our compostable materials too, so there is quite a big operation here. I wonder where it's going to end and when I'm going to have 10 containers to roll out on garbage day...

 

[nageov3t]

What is the cost? If the operation is cost effective, why is it that SF has mandatory household recycling but explicitly states plastic bags are not accepted? It would seem that if it were cost effective, it could help to fund the recycling program. The only thing I can go by is the figure I found on Wikipedia that states that virgin plastics cost 40% less than recycled.

Recycling pickup on garbage day has existed here since the early 1990s and has expanded to where we are supposed to separate our compostable materials too, so there is quite a big operation here. I wonder where it's going to end and when I'm going to have 10 containers to roll out on garbage day...

maybe it's like the sorting or something?

my local recycling doesn't take them either, but my grocery store has a giant box near the entrance for recycling bags.

 

[sourceninja]

My area just sent us huge trash cans for recycling. A "service" we have to pay for no matter if we use it or not. I started using it as a garbage can. They have to sort it anyway, so I'll let them figure out what is trash and what is recyclable. Unlike my trash service, which can be picky about what is in the can (because men actually get out of the truck and dump it) I can put anything in the recycle can and they take it.

 

[sdifox]

My area just sent us huge trash cans for recycling. A "service" we have to pay for no matter if we use it or not. I started using it as a garbage can. They have to sort it anyway, so I'll let them figure out what is trash and what is recyclable. Unlike my trash service, which can be picky about what is in the can (because men actually get out of the truck and dump it) I can put anything in the recycle can and they take it.

expect a fine any time now.

 

[Zorba]

What is the cost? If the operation is cost effective, why is it that SF has mandatory household recycling but explicitly states plastic bags are not accepted? It would seem that if it were cost effective, it could help to fund the recycling program. The only thing I can go by is the figure I found on Wikipedia that states that virgin plastics cost 40% less than recycled.

Recycling pickup on garbage day has existed here since the early 1990s and has expanded to where we are supposed to separate our compostable materials too, so there is quite a big operation here. I wonder where it's going to end and when I'm going to have 10 containers to roll out on garbage day...

In Cincinnati they would not take the grocery bags because the jam up the sorting machines. Same reason in Fort Smith, AR.

 

[Patranus]

expect a fine any time now.

This makes the discussion over the Audi Super Bowl commercial even more relevant.

 

[Modelworks]

If they start charging me 5 cents for every bag I want my nickel back, those damn bags break so often charging 5 cents is a rip off !

 

[Modelworks]

people who walk to the grocery store?

That is me. I have walked to get my groceries for the past 3 years. Plastic bags ? They suck and break often. It doesn't help that the person bagging tries to cram a 2-liter pepsi, gallon of milk , and a box of cereal in one bag.

 

[Mr. Pedantic]

Meh. Just use your own bag. Or is the world now so dependent on plastic bags that it can't afford paying 5c per bag?

 

[charrison]

What is the cost? If the operation is cost effective, why is it that SF has mandatory household recycling but explicitly states plastic bags are not accepted? It would seem that if it were cost effective, it could help to fund the recycling program. The only thing I can go by is the figure I found on Wikipedia that states that virgin plastics cost 40% less than recycled.

I think it works because grocery stores dont have to sort them and they get paid to take them away, rather than paying to have them taken away.

Recycling pickup on garbage day has existed here since the early 1990s and has expanded to where we are supposed to separate our compostable materials too, so there is quite a big operation here. I wonder where it's going to end and when I'm going to have 10 containers to roll out on garbage day...

But you really dont need more than 2. One for trash and for recycling. The compostable material will compost at that landfill

 

[DrPizza]

Here's a suggestion: (weird, I thought I posted this already)

Buy a box of hefty or glad garbage bags, or whatever brand you use for your garbage, then use THOSE bags to pack your groceries in at the checkout. Nice clean, new bags. And, when the chicken package leaks a little bit, you don't end up transferring salmonella to the vegetables you purchase on the next shopping trip.

 

[Kntx]

In Toronto we've had 5 cent bags for about a year. At first I was annoyed, but now I beleive it is a good thing. When I shop I ususally bring reusable bags. When I forget and pay the 5c per bag the baggers place many more items in each bag then they ever did before. None of this 1 or 2 items per bag nonsense. When I get 1 or 2 items at the corner store, I just carry them home without a bag or place them in my backpack. I have noticed far less plastic bags blowing about the streets and stuck in trees since the law has taken effect.

 

[PricklyPete]

it's just one more thing...

although i do think plastic bags are taking over the planet i guess this would force me to bring my own re-usable bags.

My exact thoughts. I think the idea of charging is brilliant if it pushes people to bring in re-usable bags.

 

[sourceninja]

expect a fine any time now.

Well, it's been 3 years. It's impossible to know I'm doing it. Unless the county I live in knows who am I and reads this forum or they start actually getting out of the truck (kinda pointless with the design of the truck) they will never know. Hell the last 2 years I was using the cans they had to load by hand and they still didn't care.

And I get my money's worth while keeping the sorters gainfully employed.

 

[sdifox]

Well, it's been 3 years. It's impossible to know I'm doing it. Unless the county I live in knows who am I and reads this forum or they start actually getting out of the truck (kinda pointless with the design of the truck) they will never know. Hell the last 2 years I was using the cans they had to load by hand and they still didn't care.

And I get my money's worth while keeping the sorters gainfully employed.

wonder if you are the only one doing it