China bans free plastic grocery bags. We should too.

An AP article today reported that China plans to ban all free grocery bags in an effort to fight litter and pollution. I believe we should do the same. Moreover, I wonder if this does not foreshadow a broader trend where China may lead the US in “green” initiatives and technology out of sheer necessity.

I started thinking about plastic bags after moving to Austin a couple of years ago and getting the choice of “paper or plastic” for the first time in a long time while shopping at Whole Foods. While I try to be environmentally conscious, I was ashamed that I didn’t know the “best” option. So, I decided to put it back on the cashiers, telling them “your choice.” To my surprise, the cashiers were split about 50/50, with one even picking plastic explaining that I “look like I recycle” (after looking myself up and down, I decided that was a compliment). I became more confused when I read a few articles claiming that plastic bags had several advantages over paper, including being more energy efficient to produce and recycle (see Wikipedia excerpt below for a complete list of advantages and disadvantages). Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: Environment, green living | Posted in Life and Learning | 3 Comments »