Save the Plasticbag!

Save the Plasticbag!4 min - Aug 6, 2008The battle for the plastic bag has begun many citizens and businesses are on the Pro and Con sides of the issue. Los Angeles City Councilman Ed Reyes proposed a ban on all plastic bags by 2010. The ordinance is pending enactment. The city has been called to place a 25 cent per bag charge on any customer that chooses paper over plastic. If this charge fails to take place, all plastic bags will be banned. Over 80% of all plastic bags used in the United States are manufactured here. If the ban takes place thousands of jobs will be lost and will place another strain on an already struggling economy. Statewide, Over 19 billion in plastic bags are given out annually and only 3-5% of that is being recycled. Recycling is very available to Californians. Reyes stated, “Plastic bags are a big problem. You see them on sidewalks and in gutters, clogging up the storm drains, floating in the river and ocean.” A company known as Crown Poly has proposed transitional bag known as the Hippo Sak. It cost twice as much to produce but it is bigger and stronger. San Francisco banned plastic bags late last year and customers did what they had to do in order to adjust. They either swiftly moved to canvas bags or just settled for the paper offered at checkout. www.EmploymentCrossing.com