07-18-2011, 05:29 AM
quote:
Originally posted by terracore
Eliminating plastic bags doesn't solve any problems. It takes far more energy and water to make paper bags, and they don't decompose any faster in a landfill. When I was in Mexico the plastic bags were't free. If you didn't bring your own bags you had to buy them, or take all your items out loose.
Eliminating plastic carry out bags solves the problem of those bags escaping into the environment where the plastic disintegrates into particles, with toxic effects, and does not decompose.
Eliminating plastic bags does not mean using paper bags, so comparisons in that regard are disingenuous at best.
Paying for the bags at the counter is certainly worth considering.