Proposed ban would prohibit throwing out clean plastic bags in Madison

[undeterred]

In Madison, it soon may be OK to be holding the bag — but not OK to throw it out. Ald. Judy Compton, Mayor Dave Cieslewicz and others on Tuesday will propose banning the disposal of clean, recyclable plastic bags that litter roads and lakes.

It still would be OK to use plastic bags from grocery or retail stores, or bags that hold products such as bread, newspapers, dry cleaning, toilet paper or paper towels. Soiled bags still could be thrown out. But throwing out clean bags would carry a $100 fine for a first offense, $200 for a second offense and $400 for third and later offenses in a year.

The city is likely to set up drop-off sites that would cost about $24,000 annually to operate and need an initial capital investment of $20,000 to $250,000, depending on the number of sites and type of containers.

"It's a matter of putting our money where our mouth is on environmental issues," Compton said. "It's really a simple thing." The city would rely on cooperation rather than enforcement, recycling coordinator George Dreckmann said.

"We don't send out people looking in Dumpsters," he said. Based on national averages, city residents use an estimated 74.8 million plastic bags annually but recycle less than 1 percent of them, Dreckmann said. "They're a big problem at the landfill and other places as well," Dreckmann said.

http://www.madison.com/wsj/topstories/449576


:yoiks:

[saltpoint]

1. Agree that plastic bags are the problem Compton et al says they are, but

it is legal to manufacture them. The bags are in every chain grocery store in the land. They're in most retail stores as well. I've never liked them but there they are.

This proposal, backed by a city's mayor, makes environmental sense but I wonder if it places the burden of proper use on consumers rather than on the mechanism of manufacturing and distribution, where it more properly belongs. If recyclable paper bags were the only choice at the grocery store, wouldn't that solve the problem at its source? Or in any case reduce the number of plastic bags over the long-term?

[undeterred]

2. I do see more stores encouraging customers to buy or bring

their own reusable bags, which is great. But I really hate to see something on this scale associated with a fine and law enforcement... its better to create a culture where people want to do the right thing, its made easy for them, and they can see the benefit.

[saltpoint]

3. Hi, undeterred. I am with you all the way. You put it as well as it

can be put, and I hope the mayor et al in Madison will act accordingly.

[dragonlady]

4. We have been able to recycle our plastic bags for a while now

They're picked up with all the other recyclables every other week. We do keep some to reuse in various ways (including cleaning the litter box--a very important reason!).
Don't Madison residents have this service, or do they just not participate enough? When our expanded recycling started, we received a very positive set of instructions on how and why to recycle, which I'll bet was at least fairly effective. It did point out that the municipality gets part of the proceeds, so the more we recycle the more we can hold down our property tax. That's a good reason right there.

[undeterred]

5. We have recyling for plastic containers, paper and cardboard,

and aluminum cans. They are loose in a container and get picked up every other week. It couldn't be much easier. Nothing has ever been said about plastic bags.

I hoard plastic bags to use for picking up after my dog, which is a whole other waste problem.

[AllyCat]

6. I wish we'd go a step further and charge 25 cents a piece for them at the store

That would get people to stop using the damn things in the first place.

[dragonlady]

7. Aldi does charge for bags

They are a basic grocery store (don't take checks, stock only about one brand of each item) and you have to either bring your own bags or buy paper or plastic bags at the checkout. I can't remember how much they cost (we bring our own) but it's something like 5 or 10 cents.

[LiberalFighter]

8. Are the stores providing locations for customers to return their bags?

I think it would be better if customers return to stores instead of a government site.

[undeterred]

9. As of last week some stores are providing

places to return plastic bags. Exactly the way it should be done.

[dragonlady]

10. Some recycling innovations in Minnesota

We visited family in the Minneapolis area over the weekend and I learned about two ways to recycle that I haven't heard of here in Wisconsin yet.

They collect organic materials in a special plastic garbage bag made from cornstarch or some such material that will break down in a year or so. Everything that will break down can go into it--vegetable peels, meat and bones, used tissues, paper plates, etc. etc. It all gets picked up with the regular cans, bottles, and paper.

Another great idea: one of the biggest grocery chains puts battery recycling barrels near the entrance to the store so you can drop them off when you shop--so convenient! Household batteries should not go into the trash.