Comments on: Plastic-free Hayward?

By: Jenny

Jenny — Sat, 01 Sep 2007 00:44:39 +0000

I think it starts by making a choice. Canvas bags! No more big decisions. I know change is hard, but come on, it’s not like were trying to conquer would peace. which maybe after we switch to canvas bags we can get started on that. It’s really not that hard and there are tons of advantages that come along with doing the right thing.
There are alot of choices of eco friendly cool bags to chose from. If your really crafty you can decorate your own. Anyway, just my thought. Have a great day!

By: Rob

Rob — Thu, 19 Jul 2007 17:07:07 +0000

Here is a poll, Should plastic grocery bags be banned? Here is the link: http://www.apopularitycontest.com/display_poll.php?ID=5705 Anyone can vote on it.

By: Matt O'Brien

Matt O'Brien — Tue, 17 Jul 2007 23:47:01 +0000

Thanks for all the interesting commentary on this topic. I know that some city council members as well as representatives of the plastics lobby read this blog, so we’ll see what, if anything, comes of it all.

By: Fernando Hernandez

Fernando Hernandez — Sat, 14 Jul 2007 02:52:17 +0000

So, I listened to the program on the radio today,

There were some very interesting points brought up by experts from Europe, where they have been trying different strategies to reduce waste longer than we have here…

Apparently bans on plastic grocery bags end up inducing people to buy bags made for garbage, which are three times as thick as the grocery ones,

They warned about unintended consequences just like Dmitry,

After the info. I got from the program, I would be more inclined to support an ordinance requireing groceries stores to use biodegradable plastic bags, which would be more expensive, but maybe that would have the following results

1-encourage people to use cloth bags as much as possible
2-encourage stores to not offer you a bag if all you bought is a bar of soap
3-discourage stores to double bag unless the weight of the load actually warrants it.

By: elm. teacher

elm. teacher — Sat, 14 Jul 2007 00:34:26 +0000

I don’t use either. Seventeen years ago, I made some canvas bags to use for groceries, or anything else I buy, they work still. When they get dirty I wash them, and when they get holes I can patch them (that has not happened yet). I don’t need either plastic or paper.

By: Dmitry

Dmitry — Fri, 13 Jul 2007 22:55:37 +0000

People who agree with the ban on plastic bag are very concerned about our earth and pollution, but I bet you didn’t know that much more energy to produce one paper bag than it does to produce one plastic bag. So, to make to make more paper back we will actually have polluted more. More CO2 gases will be produces, also paper bags take more space, so the room at the landfill will run out much quicker. Not to mention, that it costs 3 times a much to make paper bag than it does to make a plastic bag. So, the cost of groceries will go up.

Banning plastic bags, as good as it sounds, is really bad idea.

By: Kary Loredo-Welch

Kary Loredo-Welch — Fri, 13 Jul 2007 18:20:05 +0000

Fernando…. i’ve misplaced your contact information… please call me at 510/885-1363 i need to discuss something with you please. Thanks, Kary

By: fernando hernandez

fernando hernandez — Thu, 12 Jul 2007 20:35:36 +0000

Here is a chance to hear a discussion on the topic on Public Radio, tomorrow:

Paper or Plastic?

Talk of the Nation-Science Friday,
Friday July 13,
88.5 FM
Either from 11-12 am or 12-1pm, I’m not sure,

Fernando

By: monica

monica — Tue, 10 Jul 2007 15:27:19 +0000

biodegradable bags:

http://www.ecosafeplastics.com/site_assets/www.ecosafeplastics.com/images/dynamic/6400%20Brochure%20Lg%20Sizes%202007%20R0313.pdf

By: Judy Fabris

Judy Fabris — Tue, 10 Jul 2007 06:26:52 +0000

It would be wonderful to be rid of styrofoam, as it is difficult to break down. But as far as
plastic bags go, I reuse them for garbage. Quite useful, however, if they should disappear,
from the marketplace, I won’t be buying plastic bags to replace the free ones. We’ll just
have to see where this goes. I have a suspicion that there is a hidden agenda on this.