plastic bag hypocrisy

By John
@mac1946 (1602)
Calgary, Alberta
October 2, 2010 2:19pm CST
I am sorry,but I am getting so mad about the bull of the stores and government telling everyone how terrible the plastic bags are and making you pay extra for them. These bags have been in use for decades and so long as they are not cover over in landfill are used many times for a lot of different uses and do decompose with the weather over a short time. If this light plastic is so bad,why do the stores that supply them(now for a cost)continue to sell disposable diapers?,They are a much bigger environmental danger than the bags are. What do you think?
3 people like this
9 responses
@hotsummer (13837)
• Philippines
19 Oct 10
I don't agree in making consumers pay for the plastic but i don't mind if they will require buyers to bring their own grocery bag.i think that we are having too much plastics.my home has too many plastics that are just kept In shelves which we are going to use as garbage plastic.
@mac1946 (1602)
• Calgary, Alberta
29 Dec 10
Very true hotsummer,I find it is one and the same,whether you have cloth or plastic bags,I always forget to take one or two with me when I enter the store. I do use the plastic bags in my store,so they are being reused. Thank you for you comment.
@cher913 (25782)
• Canada
3 Oct 10
i agree, but it all seems to have to do with convenience. i mean, who wants to deal with cloth diapers? lol
@mac1946 (1602)
• Calgary, Alberta
5 Oct 10
Many people are starting to go back to cloth diapers because they are far better for the baby,both health wise and early potty training. And no one throws used cloth diapers on your lawn or under cars to get rid of them. Thank you.
@GardenGerty (157027)
• United States
2 Oct 10
We do not pay for the bags, our stores do offer a place to recycle them, but they do sell reusable bags. Not only that, some stores give you a small monetary reward for using the cloth bags, or even if you bring your own plastic bags in to the store. The laws often are for the people who abuse the status quo, the ones who let the bags fly all over the place. The technology is in place to make bags that decompose in the landfill, but they cost more. There is a big movement to encourage people to use cloth diapers, but there is just as much resistance.Again, it is possible to make biodegradable plastic, but it is more expensive and depletes resources that could be used elsewhere. However, plastic should still be a choice.
@mac1946 (1602)
• Calgary, Alberta
5 Oct 10
Thank you Gardengerty,I do agree with you,I have not seen any reward for using cloth bags here yet,other than it does not cost you for the plastic bags. actually,nothing decomposes in a landfill,once it is covered with the earth,there is no air in the ground to help decomposition happen,this is why when a house is built on an old landfill site,and you start to plant a garden or such,you could dig up an old wiener or full diaper,I know,this has happened to me. And yes,there is a good revival of people starting to change back to cloth diapers,and I reward those that use them in my store. but it is the big stores that need to start supplying them and the plastic pants again,they are to hard to find anymore as yet. Thank you for your comments.
@maezee (42003)
• United States
2 Oct 10
I agree in a sense. I feel like they are using "saving the environment" as an excuse to charge us more and make more of a profit. I agree that there probably ARE tons and tons of plastic bags littering the streets and I'm sure SO MUCH of it in landfills - but at the same time - SOME stores just decide to have a recycling program (free), instead of charge you MORE for plastic bags. Luckily not too many places are doing it, at least not in my area. But I also disagree with the whole idea. I mean, perhaps it's getting people to think more about what they're doing and to bring their re-usable tote bags, so in concept it seems alright, but at the same time - I"m sure it's just an excuse to make a bigger profit for big corps, hiding behind the "we want to save the environment" shield. Ugh
@mac1946 (1602)
• Calgary, Alberta
5 Oct 10
I do agree,some stores did give away some cloth totes as a way to help the transition to start with,but most charged a couple of dollars each for them. I am not against them finding other ways to carry purchases,my complaint is that while they charge you for using the plastic bags,they are pushing the sales of products that are far worse without an alternative. thank you for your comment.
• Philippines
3 Oct 10
I have been in a country that in their state they do not use plastic bags. Instead if you're a customer, be sure that you have your shopping bag with you to keep all the groceries you have. It is a good campaign to start at least just to be environment friendly. About disposable diapers,hmmm they should also include those that are made to compost easily because we do know that disposable diapers lasts 500 years before they degrade. It only needs discipline. If they want recycled paper bags for groceries or just our own native bags(bayong) for shopping to local stores then why not? I don't see any issues with that. It will not make me a bad person to carry such anyway. But they should also consider other items which harms the environment such as what you mentioned. Happy Mylotting.
@mac1946 (1602)
• Calgary, Alberta
5 Oct 10
I do agree with you,I am not against using cloth totes,no am I against them stopping the use of plastic bags at all,I am against the fact that while they charge you an environmental charge for the bags,they push the disposable diapers and pull-ups without the choice of cloth diapers or plastic pants. Plastic is only a scapegoat,basically,there is nothing wrong with it,some is being recycled into bricks and other useful items. Thank you.
@Cutie18f (9551)
• Philippines
3 Oct 10
That's the problem in this campaign because even if we prohibit the use of plastic bags, but there are still many products that use plastic like bottled water and candies. If we really have to ban the use of plastic, then we should be consistent with the action and ban all uses of plastic. I wonder what we can do with candies which use plastic wrappers.
@mac1946 (1602)
• Calgary, Alberta
5 Oct 10
Interesting,I also wonder what they would make credit cards out of? thank you.
@hotsummer (13837)
• Philippines
19 Oct 10
I don't agree in making consumers pay for the plastic but i don't mind if they will require buyers to bring their own grocery bag.i think that we are having too much plastics.my home has too many plastics that are just kept In shelves which we are going to use as garbage plastic.
• United States
2 Oct 10
Propaganda promotes control of the peoples of the world. One that gets me the most is prejudice against peoples. If you go to any rural area you see all people getting along, working together to help each other. Then you insert propaganda that accuses some doing this or that. That causes the start again of prejudice that is not needed. Just because one group of people causes problems for others doesn't mean the whole of those people are at fault. So if the Major Rich people want you to use a product they are producing, they are going to hit us with what ever it takes for us to go out and buy it. Even if it isn't worth it or if it is. People need to start thinking for themselves, their wants and needs, not what others say or feel they need. Do I need a new computer every time a new operating system comes out, NO but they tell us we need to... Plastic bags is only one of many items they work with.. see by telling us it is bad to use, they now have the excuse to charge for them. It is all a control on how or where we spend. Take the control, to work with each other to succeed and survive.
@mac1946 (1602)
• Calgary, Alberta
29 Dec 10
I totally agree with you,it's all money. thank you for you view.
• United States
2 Oct 10
It is part of the whole craze and trends encamps with, as if they were that firm on assuring that the world goes green, then why on earth as you stated would so many other products still be highly promoted. Sometimes I think it just another tactic to humble us and continue to keep us as poor as they can. As long as so many rush and continue to purchase the highly publicized Green Products, they find nothing wrong with it. I for one tried a Go Green product, it was a Shampoo and Conditioner to be exact. My head itch and ached so bad for days that not only did I spend quite a bit for it, I ended up throwing it in the garbage.
@mac1946 (1602)
• Calgary, Alberta
5 Oct 10
Going green is fine,but all the big companies make claim they are doing all they can to do so,but as you say,how are they doing so,and how much is not green in the end? The conditioner and shampoo may be made from natural products,but the container is not. Besides,this is just a strategy that is used and is up to the individual to buy if they wish,but as with the plastic bags,this is not,you get stuck with the added cost for nothing. Thank you for your comment.