Holmes’s proposal ‘unreasonable’
Diane Holmes suggestion to ban plastic bags is completely unreasonable.
There are many products that we purchase that are just too heavy or awkward to carry in a paper bag.
An example is a bag of milk. You would have to double or triple the bags in order to carry the weight. That in itself is a waste.
In addition, Ms Holmes should take a better look at her ward, and realize that many, many residents walk home with their groceries and purchases.
Will all these paper bags have reinforced HANDLES so we can easily carry our bags the several blocks we have to walk home? Has she attempted to carry six bags of groceries home? Has she tried this with paper bags?
Does she also realize that not everybody so easily discards these bags?
I, for one, reuse plastic bags to carry my lunch to work, and to line my garbage cans. I save money this way, so I do not have to buy lunch or garbage bags.
Has she also seen that plastic bags are reused at garage sales, or bake sales?
Hasn’t she ever needed to bring something home from the office, and said “Does anybody have a plastic bag?” Before she so quickly secures a ban against plastic bags, she must look at the broader picture.
A better solution would be to follow in the footsteps of stores like “Food Basics,” where you must purchase your bags. It is a small cost, about 10 to 15 cents a bag, I believe.
What this does is encourage consumers to bring their previously used, but still worthy bags with them to use over and over again.
Knowing that you will have to buy your bags each and every time you go to the store will encourage people to save their bags instead of throwing them out.
Nobody likes seeing plastic bags blowing around the streets, but nobody likes chasing their soup cans down an icy sidewalk either.
I think the above solution is a reasonable compromise that promotes environmental awareness, as well as understanding convenience for consumers.
Sarah Marsaw
Lyon Street
In Germany, canvas trumps plastic
Regarding your article about plastic bags in the Jan. 23 issue.
Many years ago I lived in Duesseldorf, Germany. Different lifestyle, different shopping habits. There were three bakeries within a five-minute walk. We went to one of the many open air farmers market for a lot of outside grocery shopping. There were fewer and smaller supermarkets. Most shops charged you five pfennig (about two cents) for each plastic bag. So, of course, most everyone used reusable canvas bags which cost a few Deutschmarks. I still prefer to use them to plastic.
There is a supermarket in Centretown that gives a small rebate if you bring your own bag. I think the German example is more likely to motivate people to avoid plastic bags. I am sure there will be a few irate consumers but if all the stops stick to that policy it will become second nature for most people to always have a few canvas bags with them.
Douglas G. Warnock,
Elgin Street