Bill Kill, Will Still

photo by Loupiote

What a bad news for all - CA state senate denied the bill that would have ban plastic shopping bag. The bill, AB1998, called for the ban to take effect in supermarkets and large retail stores in 2012. It would have applied to smaller stores in 2013.

The State Assembly approved an earlier version of the bill in June. Governor Arnold Schwarzengger then signaled his support. However the senate killed it with 14:21 votes before midnight on Tuesday.

Republicans and some Democrats opposed it, saying it would add an extra burden on consumers and businesses at a time when many already are struggling financially.

Excuse me? How many people are actually buying the reusable bags? Your grocery bag doesn't have to be Gucci or Coach, it's just some kind of reusable bag. Paper or plastic? It doesn't matter! In fact, many community organizations or companies give out reusable bags, it's just a matter of whether you remember/want to bring it with you or not!

Personally I've over 5 reusable grocery bags, and I paid for non of them! In fact many companies are making their reusable bags more fashionable with small corporate logo and trendy designs. If stores can save the money in providing plastic bags and shift that saving to cheaper goods, why can't we bring our own bags?!

Report said 19 billion single-use bags are used in California each year and an estimated $25 million is spent collecting and disposing of them. Plastic marine-debris is often mistaken for jelly fish by whales, birds and sea turtles who eat it, which could be a fatal move.

AB 1998 also included:

*For customers who did not bring or purchase a reusable bag, the only bag stores would have been able to give to customers is a paper bag made from 40% post-consumer material.

*Stores could charge for each bag they give out, but could only pass on the cost and not profit from it. Those receiving government assistance, such as food stamps, would have received recyclable or reusable bags for free from the stores.

Now local governments are trying to take action on their own. LA County Supervisors are expected to vote on a local plastic bag ban for unincorporated areas. It would prohibit supermarkets and retail spaces of more than 10,000 square feet, and pharmacies from issuing plastic carryout bags.

Santa Monica, Manhattan Beach are working towards bans and Redondo Beach and Los Angeles leaders support going in that direction. Malibu already has one in place. related story

政府不定法律，我們惟有自律

加州參議會否決了超市免費提供塑料袋的法案，理由是在經濟不景氣的時候不想增加人民的負擔。第一次感到政府是這麼的為人民著想耶。

事實上，很多公司和團體都有在活動時免費派發環保購物袋，雖然不是每一個都很美麗，有些更印有斗大的商標，但是也有一些是精美、拿在街上也看不出在為別人打廣告的袋子。因此，鼓勵大用環保袋，怎會是增加負擔呢？當然，如果你寧可拿個LV或Coach的大袋子去購物，我是無話可說啦。

加州消費者每年用掉190億個用即棄的一次性塑料袋，並要花2500萬元去清理和處理它們，這些錢才是應該省下的吧？再說，目前超市雖然沒有徵收購物袋費用，但是你會天真的以為那真的是「免費」的嗎？相對的，如果超市可以省下這筆塑料袋費，而把省下的錢回饋到更便宜的物價上，那不是讓更多人受益嗎？

不管怎樣，許多地方政府也實再「看不下去」，包括洛縣在內，已經著手自訂法規禁止使用一次性購物袋了。而我，今晚去購物時，也拿了一個大大的綠色環保袋去，左看右看，只有我一人用，不過倒是引來一些目光，不錯，希望大家「看著辦」！