Comments on: Plastic Bag Tax http://averageadam.com/2008/02/02/plastic-bag-tax/ The personal blog of a happily mediocre "adult" Sat, 23 Jul 2011 02:17:46 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: sergey http://averageadam.com/2008/02/02/plastic-bag-tax/comment-page-1/#comment-83 sergey Sun, 10 Feb 2008 06:41:50 +0000 http://adamhewgill.com/blog/2008/02/02/plastic-bag-tax/#comment-83 So I grabbed one of those "green" bags from Sobey's instead of plastic bags. I figured it fits more and I needed something good since I had to carry my groceries home. I realised after they didn't charge me for it -- which I guess sort of made it stealing -- but I'm totally going to use it now! So I grabbed one of those “green” bags from Sobey’s instead of plastic bags. I figured it fits more and I needed something good since I had to carry my groceries home. I realised after they didn’t charge me for it — which I guess sort of made it stealing — but I’m totally going to use it now!

]]> By: sergey http://averageadam.com/2008/02/02/plastic-bag-tax/comment-page-1/#comment-84 sergey Tue, 05 Feb 2008 19:31:52 +0000 http://adamhewgill.com/blog/2008/02/02/plastic-bag-tax/#comment-84 Congratulations on getting a reply back. More on this later : ) Congratulations on getting a reply back. More on this later : )

]]> By: Jay http://averageadam.com/2008/02/02/plastic-bag-tax/comment-page-1/#comment-85 Jay Mon, 04 Feb 2008 03:18:44 +0000 http://adamhewgill.com/blog/2008/02/02/plastic-bag-tax/#comment-85 Well, since I'm waiting for the solder to cool on the cables of my e-bike battery, it's pretty obvious which side of this argument I'm on. I think they should just ban plastic bags at all retail stores. Customers would solve this very simple problem very quickly on their own -- some would bring bags, some would just load their stuff from the cart to their trunks, some would look like idiots carrying 20 things in their arms -- I promise that everyone would get their groceries and other shopping home. Why does every problem's fix need to involve a solution that spoon-feeds the consumer a new easy for-everyone system? Just get rid of the problem; people are awfully smart and innovative when they have to be. Well, since I’m waiting for the solder to cool on the cables of my e-bike battery, it’s pretty obvious which side of this argument I’m on. I think they should just ban plastic bags at all retail stores. Customers would solve this very simple problem very quickly on their own — some would bring bags, some would just load their stuff from the cart to their trunks, some would look like idiots carrying 20 things in their arms — I promise that everyone would get their groceries and other shopping home. Why does every problem’s fix need to involve a solution that spoon-feeds the consumer a new easy for-everyone system? Just get rid of the problem; people are awfully smart and innovative when they have to be.

]]> By: Andrew http://averageadam.com/2008/02/02/plastic-bag-tax/comment-page-1/#comment-86 Andrew Sun, 03 Feb 2008 05:11:07 +0000 http://adamhewgill.com/blog/2008/02/02/plastic-bag-tax/#comment-86 Well, I just read an article on NY Times which says that the 33 cent plastic bag tax did in fact cause a significant reduction in plastic bag usage over in Ireland. I have to say, I am highly surprised. Then again, people in Ireland don't necessarily have the same mentality as people in Canada and the U.S., so it will be interesting to see what happens if a similar tax is introduced here. Well, I just read an article on NY Times which says that the 33 cent plastic bag tax did in fact cause a significant reduction in plastic bag usage over in Ireland. I have to say, I am highly surprised. Then again, people in Ireland don’t necessarily have the same mentality as people in Canada and the U.S., so it will be interesting to see what happens if a similar tax is introduced here.

]]> By: Andrew http://averageadam.com/2008/02/02/plastic-bag-tax/comment-page-1/#comment-87 Andrew Sat, 02 Feb 2008 17:36:38 +0000 http://adamhewgill.com/blog/2008/02/02/plastic-bag-tax/#comment-87 Interesting idea. I normally shop at No Frills which actually charges for plastic bags. I just put my groceries into a box, which gets thrown in the recycling when I get home. I do shop at Wal-Mart from time to time, and yes, the bags I get usually get thrown out as soon as I get home. My grandpa hates throwing out plastic bags so he just collects them. We have about 2,000 plastic bags stuffed into multiple drawers and corners in the house. But the likelihood that we're actually going to use more than one or two is pretty slim. People could bring their used plastic bags back to the store, but that adds a lot of hassle at the checkout. Checking out is supposed to be a fast and easy process, and having to pull crumpled bags out from your pocket and hand them to the cashier, who then has to uncrumple it some more and get it open, adds a lot of extra time. I have seen these new reusable bags, but I'm not yet convinced. Why would the consumer spend money on this bag when they could just get plastic bags for free? Even with your proposed 33 cent tax, a lot of people will just not care and still use plastic bags. If the government really wants to step up and be responsible, they should provide FREE reusable bags to all Canadian residents. Maybe set up a website where people can order them, with an allowable limit of maybe 2 or 3 per person per given time period. Sure, it would cost the government a little bit of money, but they would make it back with having less plastic bags to process into landfills. My point is this. The average consumer should not be expected to pay more just to be more environmentally responsible. If the government expects us to pay more, they should also be willing to put their money where their mouth is. Just my two cents. :-) Interesting idea. I normally shop at No Frills which actually charges for plastic bags. I just put my groceries into a box, which gets thrown in the recycling when I get home.

I do shop at Wal-Mart from time to time, and yes, the bags I get usually get thrown out as soon as I get home. My grandpa hates throwing out plastic bags so he just collects them. We have about 2,000 plastic bags stuffed into multiple drawers and corners in the house. But the likelihood that we’re actually going to use more than one or two is pretty slim.

People could bring their used plastic bags back to the store, but that adds a lot of hassle at the checkout. Checking out is supposed to be a fast and easy process, and having to pull crumpled bags out from your pocket and hand them to the cashier, who then has to uncrumple it some more and get it open, adds a lot of extra time.

I have seen these new reusable bags, but I’m not yet convinced. Why would the consumer spend money on this bag when they could just get plastic bags for free? Even with your proposed 33 cent tax, a lot of people will just not care and still use plastic bags. If the government really wants to step up and be responsible, they should provide FREE reusable bags to all Canadian residents. Maybe set up a website where people can order them, with an allowable limit of maybe 2 or 3 per person per given time period. Sure, it would cost the government a little bit of money, but they would make it back with having less plastic bags to process into landfills.

My point is this. The average consumer should not be expected to pay more just to be more environmentally responsible. If the government expects us to pay more, they should also be willing to put their money where their mouth is.

Just my two cents. :-)

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