Motivated by a Tax, Irish Spurn Plastic Bags

julia · 02-03-2008, 03:05 PM

Would Americans be able to do this?

Quote:

Motivated by a Tax, Irish Spurn Plastic Bags

By ELISABETH ROSENTHAL February 2, 2008
DUBLIN — There is something missing from this otherwise typical bustling cityscape. There are taxis and buses. There are hip bars and pollution. Every other person is talking into a cellphone. But there are no plastic shopping bags, the ubiquitous symbol of urban life.

In 2002, Ireland passed a tax on plastic bags; customers who want them must now pay 33 cents per bag at the register. There was an advertising awareness campaign. And then something happened that was bigger than the sum of these parts.

Within weeks, plastic bag use dropped 94 percent. Within a year, nearly everyone had bought reusable cloth bags, keeping them in offices and in the backs of cars. Plastic bags were not outlawed, but carrying them became socially unacceptable — on a par with wearing a fur coat or not cleaning up after one’s dog.

“When my roommate brings one in the flat it annoys the hell out of me,” said Edel Egan, a photographer, carrying groceries last week in a red backpack.

Drowning in a sea of plastic bags, countries from China to Australia, cities from San Francisco to New York have in the past year adopted a flurry of laws and regulations to address the problem, so far with mixed success. The New York City Council, for example, in the face of stiff resistance from business interests, passed a measure requiring only that stores that hand out plastic bags take them back for recycling.

Motivated by a Tax, Irish Spurn Plastic Bags - New York Times

The_Heretic · 02-03-2008, 05:55 PM

I have a 1.5 gallon trash can in my bedroom and I use my plastic bags from the store for that.

Alwayzpeaceful · 02-03-2008, 07:01 PM

I use the plastic bags for my small garbage can and I take them to the food bank in town and they use them.

julia · 02-04-2008, 01:20 AM

I don't think ppl would do this in this country.

Many states don't even have recycling programs for plastic bags, ie Wa state.

Jonesy · 02-04-2008, 01:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by julia

I don't think ppl would do this in this country.

Many states don't even have recycling programs for plastic bags, ie Wa state.

Really? I guess I should stop putting plastic bags in with the rest of the recycling.

I was thinking about the whole thing... of hemp. If the government uses some kind of socialized system (I know, I know), couldn't they use hemp? If it was entirely government run, i'm sure no evil marijuana smokers who smoke evil marijuana who smoke evil into their bodies would be a problem.

julia · 02-04-2008, 01:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jonesy

Really? I guess I should stop putting plastic bags in with the rest of the recycling.

I was thinking about the whole thing... of hemp. If the government uses some kind of socialized system (I know, I know), couldn't they use hemp? If it was entirely government run, i'm sure no evil marijuana smokers who smoke evil marijuana who smoke evil into their bodies would be a problem.

Yikes!
You sound werry evul, Jonsey!

julia · 02-04-2008, 01:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jonesy

Really? I guess I should stop putting plastic bags in with the rest of the recycling.

I was thinking about the whole thing... of hemp. If the government uses some kind of socialized system (I know, I know), couldn't they use hemp? If it was entirely government run, i'm sure no evil marijuana smokers who smoke evil marijuana who smoke evil into their bodies would be a problem.

I think it depends on the town whether plastic bags are recycled or not.

Jonesy · 02-04-2008, 01:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by julia

Yikes!
You sound werry evul, Jonsey!

It's true, I smoke the evil as often as I can. Unfortunately, i've been far too good over the past 6 years. I'd say i've averaged only two devil worships a year. I blame Bush. His evil has made me virtuous. Balance must exist, whether or not we like black holes.

Jonesy · 02-04-2008, 01:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by julia

I think it depends on the town whether plastic bags are recycled or not.

I usually get paper anyway. They haven't complained yet, so something must be going in my favor.

Sure was a nice night here tonight. Beautiful stars. No moon, thank God. I used to volunteer at an observatory around here, but I live too far away now. Not the best place for astronomy (Oregon probably takes the cake in this country).

It is a good state though. Around my house, ferns grow on the trees. I've heard it means clean air.

02-03-2008, 05:55 PM	#2 (permalink)
The_Heretic Master of Quill-Fu Space Invaders Champion! Yeti Sports 1- Long Shot Version Champion! Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Taylorsville, UT [stuck in the 20th century]. Posts: 6,067 Blog Entries: 4 Thanks: 28 Thanked 84 Times in 59 Posts	I have a 1.5 gallon trash can in my bedroom and I use my plastic bags from the store for that. __________________ John McCain: "He's in Iraq... with a few centuries to kill." *You won't fight for the Bill of Right? Fine! I won't fight for you in the ballot box!*
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02-03-2008, 07:01 PM	#3 (permalink)
Alwayzpeaceful Smile Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 696 My Mood: Thanks: 18 Thanked 30 Times in 17 Posts	I use the plastic bags for my small garbage can and I take them to the food bank in town and they use them. __________________ SMILE
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02-04-2008, 01:20 AM	#4 (permalink)
julia Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 2,877 Blog Entries: 7 Thanks: 161 Thanked 166 Times in 102 Posts	I don't think ppl would do this in this country. Many states don't even have recycling programs for plastic bags, ie Wa state.
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