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Kudos to safeway - in the past my least favorite grocery store - won me over by not trying to shame me into bringing a bag when I shop.
Interesting to watch some of the other retailers when
1) you dont bring a bag (spur of the moment fly by...
2) Opt to just take the items in the cart - no bag needed - to an awaiting basket (milk crate really) in the car... not having a bag freaks em out it seems (loss control?)
Man (bottom line) dont try swimming upstream in the grocery stores - grin
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Yeah I've noticed this also it's pretty shameful and telling...
Thoughts to offer:
No matter how many people call it a plastic bag ban its not a bag ban.
Plastic bags are not banned you can still get them virtually anywhere they're just taxed.
It's a plastic bag tax. We're paying another tax.
Taxes are unpopular so we'll call it a ban and no one will notice! Uh not.
Plastic bag tax.
I shop exclusively in Puna and they have been giving me paper bags, I have now started buying small plastic trash bags to use all over, also larger sized ziplocks. I still think I will start ordering 1000 plastic bags on the internet for like $25, or maybe there is somewhere local, the farmers market guys must be getting them somewhere. At least that way it keeps the money in the free market rather then sending it to the black hole of government spending.
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i like the milk crate idea, they re so handy for many things!
islandgirl
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Actually the plastic bag charge IS NOT A TAX... the county has required the merchants to charge for the bags, but the county does not receive the charge... & there is no set cost that must be charged...
Most merchants are internalizing the charge (ie, using the charge in their gross receipts), but their are some retailer that have decided to use these funds for more philanthropic endeavors, and a couple of local merchants are donating all of the bag fee to the food basket.... so not all bad...
yea, I know each of us could donate, but how many of us would bother donating those few nickels each... but a retail establishment can end up with a sizable chunk of change at the end of a month of a few thousand nickels here & there...
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I agree Carey, it's not a tax. The stores have to buy shopping bags, just like everything else they sell. In the past they offered them "for free," which means the cost was included in the markup of other items in the store. Now, they sell the bags like they sell everything else. They keep the money, it doesn't go to any government agency.
I would also add the BYO Bag law is not a religion. There's no shame involved unless an overzealous checkout clerk gives the occassional stink eye, but that's really more their problem. You don't have to go to bag confession afterward.
Throw a few bags in your car, it's really that simple.
"I'm at that stage in life where I stay out of discussions. Even if you say 1+1=5, you're right - have fun." - Keanu Reeves
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I believe it is a tax... Just some people have different believes what a "TAX" is.
The real question is how do we overturn the plastic bag ban??? Let's start a bring back "da plastic bag" movement. I'm sure the majority would be behind it. It's a stupid law.
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Requiring the users to buy a bag from a retailer .... is a direct subsidy A gift to the grocery stores from the county.
Thats how socialism works by the way - now shunt to proceeds to universal medical and you have enlightened socialism -
rater than hand outs to grocery stores to effect social change as deemed important by a small vocal minority.....
just be honest about implementing (driving) social change.....
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Even before the ban I would often stop the cashier as they were putting a single candybar into a bag. Now I nestle a few items into the crook of my arm. I guess a bag would be slightly more convenient and in the case of multiple items would be necessary but for 3 or 4 items it really is hardly an issue. There is a psychological hurdle to get over though. Store staff sometimes acts like it is wrong to stuff luncheon meat in your pants.
