It’s In The Bag
Commentary by Bill Buchanan
People in Ojai are not shy about sharing their opinions. As a newspaper publisher, this is a dream come true. It makes for lively debate on the editorial pages as well as our online blog. Along that line, few issues have generated as much reader response as the proposed ban on plastic bags now under consideration by the City Council.
Earlier this week, I printed out 12 pages of blog comments devoted to the proposed ban. Those on both sides are passionate. Some voiced environmental concerns about the bags. Others resented being told what to do, and threatened to take their grocery business to stores outside of Ojai.
There are relevant points on both sides. Plastic bags are handy for lining my trash can and taking to the farmers’ markets, but they are also a giant pain. Like coat hangers, they seem to multiply on their own. One day you have three bags, a week later you have 57, and suddenly they are taking over your pantry.
Plastic bags are not good for the environment. But as several people pointed out, they are probably not as bad as the heavier grade plastic bag many of us would use in their place to line our trash cans. Another consideration is that Ojai is a tourist destination. Since most people do not carry their reusable canvas bags with them on vacation, what are they going to put their groceries in when they come in for supplies? Do we really want our local stores to charge folks 10 cents a bag for paper bags? Is that the message we want to send to our visitors?
There is also an enforcement issue with the ban. For instance, are we going to have plastic bag police scouring stores to catch offenders? Are we going to station undercover cops at the Farmers’ Market to “rough and cuff” those scofflaws who dare to put their blueberries in a plastic bag?
As with many environmental issues there seems to be no easy answer, no magic bullet that solves all our problems. I prefer the canvas bags for shopping. They are heavier, and hold more items. I would much rather carry three or four heavier bags than have to deal with 10 flimsy plastic ones. There is nothing to throw away, and they are useful for carrying things other than groceries — like when I take 10 or 12 novels back down to Bart’s Books to exchange for new ones. One problem I have is remembering to carry them with me to the store. I probably have 10 reusable bags, but they seem to herd themselves into the pantry, not into the van where I really need them.
As evidenced on the blog, people don’t like the word “ban,” and many have a negative reaction to it. We already have a myriad of rules and regulations governing our actions. People simply resent being told what to do and what not to do. I contacted a very environmentally conscious friend who was a source for this column. I asked him about the ban. He felt it was a little extreme. I thought he put it beautifully when he said, “This angers people for marginal (environmental) gains.”
So here is a thought — how about instead of a ban, we simply encourage the use of reusable bags? The city could issue a statement, stating that they support their use, and local stores could post signs encouraging shoppers to do the same. It might make a nice project for one of the art classes to have kids design clever and colorful signs to post inside and outside local stores advocating the bags, and reminding people to use them. A lot of this is habit. If you get into the habit of putting the bags back in your car after you empty them, then they are always accessible the next time you make a trip to the store.
Ojai is the most environmentally aware place in which I have ever lived. I really believe people would make the effort to shop with reusable bags if encouraged, rather than brow-beaten, to do so. Why not try it?
If it doesn’t work, the council can always vote to ban the bags later on.
Andy,
You pollute the environment when you make your little jaunt up the coast to Ojai. Stay at home for the better of us all. That kind of decision-making will lead us into a sustainable future.
Seriously? You were jarred?
Anon.5
Tourism Consultant
Truth Coalition
My girlfriend and I come to Ojai from LA to spend glorious weekends when the city becomes too much. I have to admit that I was a bit jarred to be offered plastic bags in several of your stores when we were there. What I appreciate the most about Ojai is its progressive, seemingly-environmentally-friendly ways. I would expect a place like Ojai to understand the blight issues surrounding plastic bags and to have a higher consciousness surrounding all of our impacts on the planet. Recycling efforts have been in effect in the state for years and have failed. I urge the council to adopt the strongest possible ordinance and help move everyone toward reusable bags. The kind of people who go to Ojai are the people who – like us – have our reusable bags in our cars with us. Tourists do have a choice and we are also quite fond of Carpinteria who last night moved boldly forward with a ban on both paper and plastic. That is the kind of thinking and action that will lead us into a sustainable future and is the kind of thinking I would expect from Ojai.
I would consider myself a strong advocate of the environment. I drive a small diesel car, I am a vegetarian/pescaterian, I live in a small dwelling unit, and I use my bike as much as possible. However, by no means am I a perfect environmentalist. I usually go to Trader Joe’s to shop instead of the local Rainbow Bridge (cost prohibitive). I almost always forget to bring my bags with me, so I use their paper bags instead. And sometimes when I have to go to Vons locally, my groceries are overflowing, I would even use their plastic bag, ashamedly so.
Instead of plastic bags, can we replace it with paper bags? Or could we charge customers to buy paper bags for a small fee (ie: 5 cents)? This is widely done in Germany and it is very effective.
If it’s a matter of convenience, can we replace the plastic material with a more eco-friendly one?
Apparently, in the ocean there is a mass of discarded plastic the size of Texas. I welcome the ban as support for me and others to help keep our environment clean and the animals in it safe. It is but one of many steps and practices that we need to take to reduce our impact on our environment , natural resources, and improve the lot of all living things. By the way, Santa Monica has my highest regard for modelling how to address human, sustainability, and environmental issues. We do well to look to them. Many religions and spiritual practices and pro human values support compassion, reduction of unnecessary consumption/waste and the good of all. If those values are “socialist”; then that is a credit to socialism.
Apparently, in the ocean there is a mass of discarded plastic the size of Texas. I welcome the ban as support for me and others to help keep our environment clean and the animals in it safe. It is but one of many steps and practices that we need to take to reduce our impact on our environment , natural resources, and improve the lot of all living things. By the way, Santa Monica has my highest regard for modelling how to address and human, sustainability, and environmental issues. We do well to look to them. Many religions and spiritual practices and pro human values support compassion, reduction of unnecessary consumption/waste and the good of all.
Ban the Bag,
> Where do the other 95% go? Landfills and rivers and streams to get washed out into the ocean, killing wildlife along the way.
Then that is a problem with our recycling process, not with plastic bags. If you want a cause to rally behind, then focus your efforts on ensuring that any recyclable materials placed into recycling bins DON’T wind up being washed out into the ocean.
Just say NO to plastic, if you don’t like plastic check out bags, then bring your canvas tote. Dont force an ordinance on people. I prefer plastic to paper because paper doesn’t protect anything from liquid. Find another way to encourage people to bring their canvas bags. Don’t punish everyone especially people like me who dispose of their plastics properly because of the actions of a few who throw their garbage on the street. If you do that for plastic check out bags why not ban aluminum cans? Every week I have to pick up the garbage in front of my house that people walking by (probably kids judging by the garbage) leave behind. Plastic candy wrappers, soda cups, cans,, do these items not pose a threat to the environment as well? I have never , not once seen a plastic check out bag in all the years I have lived in Ojai in the street in front of my house. Its always candy bar wrappers and soda cups. Only on very rare occasions do I see plastic bags on Ojai Ave, flying around.
Here is another thought. People in boats. Are they dumping their garbage out at sea? I’ve seen it done before, someone who I was on their boat for a few days of sailing, took 3 bags of refuse, weighted it down and threw it over board. I was completely shocked and when I asked about it , they said the ocean was a big place and that the garbage breaks down. He said thats how its done out here. Maybe more attention needs to be focused on boaters.
Why do we insist on using Santa Monica, that Socialist example of what’s wrong with City Government for a model for Ojai? The Green’s are fixated wtih Santa Monica, with rent control and a homeless population that is also out of control. That City has way more problems than Ojai. Try and find a better example. Before long they will be using Santa Monica as an example of how to turn the lights out in Ojai.Does the Beach front remind someone of the Beach front in Ojai? Bags are all over the beach because they don’t use Seagull proof trash cans, simple as that.
The ordinance is not a “ban”. The word “ban” is not even in the ordinance. The ordinance is directed at single use “point of sale” plastic bags, the flimsy ones you get at the grocery store, that fall apart easily. These bags cost the retailer, and the costs are passed onto us the consumer. They aren’t free, but we act like they are.
The ordinance provides an incentive to help us remember to bring our own bags by passing the true costs onto us, by charging 10 cents for a paper bag (which are reusable and can be recycled).
Buy paper bags a couple of times, and you start to remember (funny how that works). Yes, habits are hard to change, but this one is a costly habit. But changing this one little habit will have a major impact on our environment, wildlife and help to begin cleaning up the mess we have created.
I saw the movie “Bag it!” and it changed the way I see plastic bags blowing down the street or caught in a tree or filled with trash along the freeway. The habit is broken!
Make it a choice. Encourage people to use canvas. DOn’t make it a law.
Putting plastic bags in the recycled bin makes us all “feel good” about doing the right thing, doesn’t it? Do you know what happens to those bags? Do you really know? What are the facts?
The economics just arent there, it is much cheaper to keep producing new ones than clean up dirty sticky smelly plastic bags. Only 5% is actually recycled, and that is after shipping them to China for sorting first. Where do the other 95% go? Landfills and rivers and streams to get washed out into the ocean, killing wildlife along the way.
That free plastic bag we are so “entitled to” feels real good doesn’t it?
http://www.reuseit.com/learn-more/myth-busting/recycling-can-not-fix-this
> If it doesn’t work, the council can always vote to ban the bags later on.
How about not.
I always re-use plastic bags to take my lunch to work and for a myriad of other purposes. If I absolutely have to thrown one away, I put it in the recycling bin.
They’re cheap to make and are convenient for shoppers.
If using a canvas bag and driving a Prius eases your conscience, fine. But don’t punish the rest of us.
I have a hard time taking a strong position on either side of this argument. I guess I just dont care either way? Generally speaking though, I am one of those people who would rather not be forced into anything. Seams to me like a silly law to “ban” plastic bags in the grocery store. The bags are a means of transporting the goods you purchased, and those very same bags are more often than not filled with bags and various other plastic containers. Its a thin plastic bag in which you carry multiple plastic containers after all. The plastic containers in which your store bought goods are packaged do not seem to be a major concern yet they are a much thicker and in much higher numbers no doubt. There is some irony here that kind of seems ridiculous. Ban the bags in which we carry our plastic bags!? Here is how I will do my part……..I shall keep in my trunk at all times several cardboard boxes (or plastic bins), when I do my grocery shopping I shall reject any store purchased bags to transport my products to my vehicle, I will request that the “bagger” just put all my stuff back in the plastic shopping cart and yes of course help me to my vehicle, once at my vehicle I will insist that the bagger neatly pack my items in the containers provided. I will do my part Ojai! Look out Vons, Starr, and Westridge………