No Plastic Bags in Philly?

**mixiboi** · 07-27-2012, 02:46 PM

That is what one group is trying to so now...

July 26th is Bag the Philadelphia Plastic Bag Day: Sign the Petition - Green Philly Blog

Philadelphia voted and rejected a plastic bag ban in June 2009. Yet, Mayor Nutter has declared consistently that Philly is going to be the #1 greenest city in the US.
We, Green Philly Blog, were frustrated with this defeat 3 years ago, but decided to unite our amazing Philadelphia Bloggers to address this issue on their blogs, social media outlets and in person. Together, we can reach a wide audience of Philadelphians.

How can you help? Please keep sharing the petition and your personal stories! If a 12-year-old in Chicago can do it, we can do it!

Here's that story:
12-Year-Old Takes on ‘Big Plastic’ With Petition | Plastic Bag Ban Report

and even a politictian step in:

Councilman Jim Kenney says:
July 27, 2012 at 12:25 pm
Hi all, I just wanted to applaud your effort and show my support. I signed the petition and then shared in Facebook.

Here’s what I wrote: “This petition is a commendable local, grassroots effort to revive interest in a plastic bag ban. I share your sentiments; I have been working since 2007 to pass a citywide ban in supermarkets and pharmacies. The voluntary effort in place now by local retailers to recycle plastic bags does not go far enough and has not made a big enough dent in public demand. My 2009 bill failed to pass through City Council, so efforts like this are critical to showing Philadelphia’s Councilmembers and the Mayor that their constituencies are asking them to take bold action.”

Keep up the good work!

**seand** · 07-27-2012, 03:12 PM

As a dog owner, I have to ask. Has anyone tried to scoop poop with a paper bag? Its not pretty.

Plastic bags are useful for many things. That said we could do with a whole lot less of them, short of a "ban".

**OldMama** · 07-27-2012, 04:14 PM

Agree with sean about the dog poop! I use the bags my Inquirer comes in for that and my mother saves her for me as well. I also recycle, usually at Target since the SuoerFresh on South doesn't do it.

I try to use the Trader Joes totes for my groceries but I still end up with target bags- especially now when I'm buying school supplies for my kids and my church's drive and my friends who teach in the DR. Those bags reproduce at night.

My gripe is that I see so many empty plastic bags in trash cans around the neighborhood. Or worse, blowing around in the street. It's not hard to recycle them. I always have a bunch in the trunk so when I get to Shop Rite, Target, whatever, I can take them in. Recycling would be better than banning in my book.

**Garret** · 07-27-2012, 04:17 PM

No need to ban them, just tax them at a level like they use in Ireland. Originally 15c per bag in 2002 and now at 22c per bag. Enough to strongly encourage people to bring their own bags, but not enough to make then prohibitively expensive if you absolutely wanted one.

Leads to almost every shop selling reusable bags, and almost every shopper bringing reusable bags with them. Lots of shops don't even have plastic bags as so few people want them.

**mixiboi** · 07-27-2012, 04:19 PM

Originally Posted by seand

As a dog owner, I have to ask. Has anyone tried to scoop poop with a paper bag? Its not pretty.

Plastic bags are useful for many things. That said we could do with a whole lot less of them, short of a "ban".

There are bio-degradable plastic bags you can use for that...which is not what they are talking about.

**seand** · 07-27-2012, 04:24 PM

Originally Posted by mixiboi

There are bio-degradable plastic bags you can use for that...which is not what they are talking about.

They could also charge shop owners a fee for not using the very same bio-degradable plastic bags, which would still work for carrying, say meats or frozen items. Or newspapers or books in the rain.

Its seems wasteful and anti-recycling to purchase bags new to collect dog poop in.

**radiocolin** · 07-27-2012, 04:39 PM

They do this in my town here in CA. Plastic bags are banned, and you get charged 5c for each paper bag. Nanny state nonsense.

**OffenseTaken** · 07-27-2012, 04:41 PM

Originally Posted by Garret

No need to ban them, just tax them at a level like they use in Ireland. Originally 15c per bag in 2002 and now at 22c per bag. Enough to strongly encourage people to bring their own bags, but not enough to make then prohibitively expensive if you absolutely wanted one.

Leads to almost every shop selling reusable bags, and almost every shopper bringing reusable bags with them. Lots of shops don't even have plastic bags as so few people want them.

This city does not need to be charging more taxes. Instead, just institute a price floor of maybe 10¢ a bag; let the retailer keep the receipts, and let consumers decide whether they want bags or the pocket change.

It would cut down on needless consumption of petroleum bags that either sit in landfills or get stuck in trees, with a minimum negative impact on business.

**mixiboi** · 07-27-2012, 04:52 PM

Originally Posted by OffenseTaken

This city does not need to be charging more taxes.

Our debt saids otherwise...

**2happy4u** · 07-27-2012, 05:35 PM

I better get over to Acme self check out and grab a few stacks.... Why don't these so called groups go live in a jungle somewhere ...

**concourse** · 07-27-2012, 06:04 PM

Originally Posted by 2happy4u

I better get over to Acme self check out and grab a few stacks.... Why don't these so called groups go live in a jungle somewhere ...

They tried living in Cobbs Creek but it was covered in plastic bags.

**Gladys** · 07-27-2012, 06:51 PM

Originally Posted by mixiboi

There are bio-degradable plastic bags you can use for that...which is not what they are talking about.

Yes there are. that's what i use.

Clean Go Pet Biodegradable Replacement Waste Bags | PetEdge.com

I do agree the best idea would be for the store bags to be biodegradable.

**Sharkfood** · 07-27-2012, 07:00 PM

Originally Posted by seand

As a dog owner, I have to ask. Has anyone tried to scoop poop with a paper bag? Its not pretty.

Plastic bags are useful for many things. That said we could do with a whole lot less of them, short of a "ban".

What he said. I re-use all my plastic bags for dog waste.

**raider.adam** · 07-27-2012, 07:29 PM

What will I use to carry my cans of soda in?

**mixiboi** · 07-27-2012, 10:50 PM

Originally Posted by raider.adam

What will I use to carry my cans of soda in?

and you just set up a joke about Soda-tax....

**phillydeveloper** · 07-27-2012, 11:11 PM

Originally Posted by concourse

They tried living in Cobbs Creek but it was covered in plastic bags.

Hilarious

**JakeL** · 07-28-2012, 05:24 AM

How will I collect all the discarded corner store strewn trash with no Philadelphia tumbleweeds rolling by?

**Gladys** · 07-28-2012, 09:43 AM

The real question is Trash bags.... Large strong contractor or heavy duty trash bags. Every week when the trash goes out I see all kinds of plastic bags (of all sizes) along side a little box of recycling.

Wouldn't making biodegradable plastic trash bags be a nobrainer? or are they simply not strong enough. so far the articles i've read said not strong enough and i really don't want to test out that theory from my walkup on trash day.

anyone have a better article than this... basically according to this nothing works.

http://www.icis.com/Articles/2008/02...he-public.html

"Cities such as New York, Chicago, Philadelphia and Phoenix are already bringing plastic bag recycling to their jurisdictions," says Christman."

um. do we? i thought you weren't supposed to recycle them and this article was 2008.

**BarryG** · 07-28-2012, 11:37 AM

Originally Posted by Gladys

The real question is Trash bags.... Large strong contractor or heavy duty trash bags. Every week when the trash goes out I see all kinds of plastic bags (of all sizes) along side a little box of recycling.

Wouldn't making biodegradable plastic trash bags be a nobrainer? or are they simply not strong enough. so far the articles i've read said not strong enough and i really don't want to test out that theory from my walkup on trash day.

anyone have a better article than this... basically according to this nothing works.

Biodegradable plastics confuse the public

"Cities such as New York, Chicago, Philadelphia and Phoenix are already bringing plastic bag recycling to their jurisdictions," says Christman."

um. do we? i thought you weren't supposed to recycle them and this article was 2008.

Yup not supposed to recycle plastic bags: http://www.philadelphiastreets.com/recycling.aspx

Apparently they are hard to sort and get stuck in the equipment.

**BarryG** · 07-28-2012, 11:37 AM

Originally Posted by Gladys

The real question is Trash bags.... Large strong contractor or heavy duty trash bags. Every week when the trash goes out I see all kinds of plastic bags (of all sizes) along side a little box of recycling.

Wouldn't making biodegradable plastic trash bags be a nobrainer? or are they simply not strong enough. so far the articles i've read said not strong enough and i really don't want to test out that theory from my walkup on trash day.

anyone have a better article than this... basically according to this nothing works.

Biodegradable plastics confuse the public

"Cities such as New York, Chicago, Philadelphia and Phoenix are already bringing plastic bag recycling to their jurisdictions," says Christman."

um. do we? i thought you weren't supposed to recycle them and this article was 2008.

Yup not supposed to recycle plastic bags: http://www.philadelphiastreets.com/recycling.aspx

Apparently they are hard to sort and get stuck in the equipment.