Dear Elders, Do you think plastic bags should be banned?
Signed,
Secret Shopper
Steve Leavenworth
Dear Shopper,
I sometimes think ALL plastic should be banned. Then we wouldn’t have cheap plastic toys made in China that break the first time Junior hits his brother over the head.
On the other hand, if the toy was unbreakable metal, his brother would have a concussion and health care expenses would rise. We need a committee to solve that question.
Of course there are legitimate uses for plastic, but bags? Forget it! Use renewable paper AND RECYCLE! You can always double-bag your beer and wine.
Jan Stickler
Dear Secret Shopper,
I think we have too much of a tendency to ban things rather than search for alternative solutions.
Maybe that is why we have so many weird laws on the books. I read recently that a recyclable plastic bag has been invented. No doubt it is costly, but perhaps supermarkets could offer those to customers, who prefer plastic, for a charge per bag.
That would offset the cost and move some people over to requesting paper bags. Speaking of paper bags, why can’t they have handles on them and come in two sizes – the normal size for body builders and a smaller size for everyone else?
Since my touting of paper bags has probably alienated every tree-hugger in the vicinity, let me also mention the possibility of us all bringing our own cloth bags when we go shopping. This might curtail large shopping sprees and impulse shopping, which I am sure the stores do not want to promote. It is also inconvenient to juggle a head of lettuce, a few tomatoes and potatoes and open your car door at the same time.
However, I believe “where there is a will, there is a way.” As our will to decrease the amount of refuse we produce increases, so will our ways. We just need a bigger nudge.
Casper Kranenburg
Dear Secret Shopper,
Well, yes, maybe plastic bags should be banned, as they seem to multiply in your kitchen cabinet, but how about this idea: You take some initiative and start using recyclable bags; spread the word and you’ll be amazed at what happens.
Then tell all supermarkets that a bag credit would save them money in the long run and help us shoppers as well by saving us a dime using our recycled bags.
In some countries, the stores will give you used grocery boxes to pack your purchases in, which is another way of reducing their cardboard waste.
Don’t be a Secret Shopper anymore, set the example for all of us!
Bill Twibill
Dear Your Secret Is Out,
Environmentally, they should be banned, but I have to admit that they come in handy. I use the cloth bags if I remember to bring them with me, and feel I contribute to our recycling and hope that I can influence others to do the same. Hannaford encourages the cloth bags by giving you a 5 cent credit for not using plastic. Maybe it is time for Market Basket and Shaw’s to do the same. Nickels add up very quickly.
Roioli Schweiker
Dear Secret Shopper,
Plastic bags shouldn’t be banned, but stores might charge for them. I have been to a number of stores that do.
Many people are beginning to bring their own shopping bags now.
