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Americans face whole new bag of tricks
Source: Agencies |
February 23, 2010, Tuesday
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FOR decades the standard question at US grocery store check-out counters has been "Paper or Plastic?" But since January, consumers in Washington DC have faced a different question: "Will you pay 5 cents for a bag?"
Europeans have long accepted the idea of providing their own baskets, bags or nets to carry their purchases, or paying for bags. But in the United States, where retailers go out of their way to cater to customers' needs, being given a free paper or plastic bag to carry purchases is largely taken for granted. So not all Washingtonians are pleased.
"I think it's unnecessary," said Daniel Koroma, 57, as he toted groceries home in a plastic bag that he'd paid for. "They sell you the groceries, they should give you something to put them in."
While one major city, San Francisco, has banned plastic bags, Washington's law is the first of its kind in the US. It is being carefully watched by activists who hope that one strong success will prove the tipping point for a program aimed at reducing litter, pollution and waste.
Trendsetting law?
"Whichever state is going to pull this off is going to have the potential to be seen as the one that has cracked this problem," said Vincent Cobb, founder of reuseit.com, a Website that promotes recycling and sells reusable bags.
Whether Washington's law will prove to be a trendsetter remains to be seen. The issue has sparked debate and many shoppers would rather juggle items in their arms or drive to stores in neighboring states where bags are still free.
Adding to the debate over the law is that while it was aimed at supermarkets, it has ended up applying to anyone selling edible items, including bookshops, clothing stores and small gift shops.
But some Washington residents have embraced it. Twana Littlejohn, who manages a Starbucks, said she feels good knowing that she's doing something for the planet.
"I've stocked reusable bags in my car so whenever I go shopping, I just have to pull one out," Littlejohn said. "It's not hard."
According to the US Environmental Protection Agency, 3,960 thousand tons of plastic waste, including bags, sacks, and wraps, was generated in 2008. Of those, barely one percent was recycled. The agency does not keep statistics on the effectiveness of fees or bans on bags.
Europeans have long accepted the idea of providing their own baskets, bags or nets to carry their purchases, or paying for bags. But in the United States, where retailers go out of their way to cater to customers' needs, being given a free paper or plastic bag to carry purchases is largely taken for granted. So not all Washingtonians are pleased.
"I think it's unnecessary," said Daniel Koroma, 57, as he toted groceries home in a plastic bag that he'd paid for. "They sell you the groceries, they should give you something to put them in."
While one major city, San Francisco, has banned plastic bags, Washington's law is the first of its kind in the US. It is being carefully watched by activists who hope that one strong success will prove the tipping point for a program aimed at reducing litter, pollution and waste.
Trendsetting law?
"Whichever state is going to pull this off is going to have the potential to be seen as the one that has cracked this problem," said Vincent Cobb, founder of reuseit.com, a Website that promotes recycling and sells reusable bags.
Whether Washington's law will prove to be a trendsetter remains to be seen. The issue has sparked debate and many shoppers would rather juggle items in their arms or drive to stores in neighboring states where bags are still free.
Adding to the debate over the law is that while it was aimed at supermarkets, it has ended up applying to anyone selling edible items, including bookshops, clothing stores and small gift shops.
But some Washington residents have embraced it. Twana Littlejohn, who manages a Starbucks, said she feels good knowing that she's doing something for the planet.
"I've stocked reusable bags in my car so whenever I go shopping, I just have to pull one out," Littlejohn said. "It's not hard."
According to the US Environmental Protection Agency, 3,960 thousand tons of plastic waste, including bags, sacks, and wraps, was generated in 2008. Of those, barely one percent was recycled. The agency does not keep statistics on the effectiveness of fees or bans on bags.
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