Comments on: New York Expands Plastic Bag Recycling

By: Recycling Plastic Bags… Because Sometimes You Forget the Reusable Ones : Sustainablog

Mon, 13 Jul 2009 16:17:23 +0000

[...] them back to the store: Many stores offer plastic bag recycling bins… California, New York, and now Delaware, ever have laws on the books requiring this service.The American Chemistry [...]

By: Kit Parks

Kit Parks — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 16:07:01 +0000

Recycling the typical plastic grocery bag costs far more than the cost of a new bag. The plastic bag manufacturers, in an effort to save their $4 billion/year industry have launched a full scale attack on any municipality that tries to reduce plastic bag usage. Unfortunately they are usually successful (see Hawaii, Washington and California, just for starters). Recycling these plastic bags is a sham financially, and most municipalities won’t take them because they gum up the machinery. Nonetheless, whenever a tax or ban raises it’s head, you can be sure that the American Chemical Council will spend a fortune defeating it, and will try to convince politicians that efforts to recycle will work, thus saving their industry.

A bag tax, because it costs people money, actually changes behavior, plus when someone does forget a bag, the plastic bag is still an option. Outright bans of bags lead to an increased use of paper bags, which ironically are more harmful to the environment (and are more costly and can thus raise consumer prices).

By: Trey Granger

Trey Granger — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 16:38:45 +0000

There aren’t really any major differences between the two laws. Think of New York City as a pilot program to test the effectiveness and commitment of consumers.

By: Just A. Comment

Just A. Comment — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 00:02:55 +0000

what is difference between nyc’s and nys’s laws. article make mention there are differences but don’t give side by side detail.

By: steve

steve — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 06:52:51 +0000

In Germany, they have charged 15 euro cents for plastic bags for years now. Nobody seems to have a problem with it, and you see way less plastic bags roaming the streets.

By: clear perspective

clear perspective — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 13:11:09 +0000

For more information go to http://www.thetruthaboutplasticbags.com

By: the good doctor

the good doctor — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 16:08:27 +0000

that’s good news, but i think the bigger emphasis must be on reducing rather than reusing. convincing people to use their own bags is one of the more accessible ways to initiate people into caring for the environment. here in china, they passed a law this year that charges 2 mao (that’s like 5 cents) for every bag they use at a store or restaurant. it has immediately made a difference in people’s shopping habits.

i think every city in america should be doing both, charging for the bags at the point of purchase in order to reduce their number while at the same time recycling them after the fact.