Under the measure to take effect in 2026, shoppers will still be able to purchase bags made of thicker plastic that purportedly makes them reusable and recyclable
They banned single use a decade ago. My family switched to reusable bags. A lot of stores realized that they could sell “reusable” plastic bags, thicker single use bags, and get around the law.
So the rollout went like this, stores gives you free plastic bags your entire life, about a week where people were told “no plastic bags, you gotta bring your own,” then the plastic bags were back but a bit different and the store would sometimes charge you a bag fee (although a lot of places effectively waived the fee). This meant that no one adapted and they continued doing what people had always done with their plastic bags, sone reuse, mostly discard.
People always complain about unintended consequences of laws, I’ve always gotten the impression from those people they would prefer we don’t make the laws. I would love it though if we could iterate on our laws faster than, pass the law, every company finds a loophole a week later, close loophole after a decade of unintended consequences.
I just wish they would ban the plastic bags and force paper bags. The thick plastic bag problem came from not mandating paper only. Plus a lot of those polyester bags were so poorly made, they didn’t last long enough to male a difference.
Maybe it’s just me wanting to go back to the stores of my youth when plastic was a rarity.
In Austin we had a ban. The state overrode it a year later, but the damage was done…everyone realized how much easier it is to carry groceries in large tote bags that you can sling over your shoulder.
One time, I went to a small, family-owned grocery store that used cardboard boxes, and I can totally attest to this. The boxes are a transcendental experience.
Portland’s done it too. If you want plastic bags, they’re big and reusable and fairly expensive. Paper is really the only option at most places now. That said, I really wanna see the reusable cheap plastic ones banned, cause no one really reuses them.
We did it a while back, you will adapt pretty quickly.
They banned single use a decade ago. My family switched to reusable bags. A lot of stores realized that they could sell “reusable” plastic bags, thicker single use bags, and get around the law.
So the rollout went like this, stores gives you free plastic bags your entire life, about a week where people were told “no plastic bags, you gotta bring your own,” then the plastic bags were back but a bit different and the store would sometimes charge you a bag fee (although a lot of places effectively waived the fee). This meant that no one adapted and they continued doing what people had always done with their plastic bags, sone reuse, mostly discard.
People always complain about unintended consequences of laws, I’ve always gotten the impression from those people they would prefer we don’t make the laws. I would love it though if we could iterate on our laws faster than, pass the law, every company finds a loophole a week later, close loophole after a decade of unintended consequences.
And yea, having reusable bags is not difficult.
I just wish they would ban the plastic bags and force paper bags. The thick plastic bag problem came from not mandating paper only. Plus a lot of those polyester bags were so poorly made, they didn’t last long enough to male a difference.
Maybe it’s just me wanting to go back to the stores of my youth when plastic was a rarity.
In Austin we had a ban. The state overrode it a year later, but the damage was done…everyone realized how much easier it is to carry groceries in large tote bags that you can sling over your shoulder.
Or boxes; we use boxes. Carrying 3 - 4 boxes up stairs is much easier than 10 bags.
I have giant tote bags and can usually fit almost all my groceries in one. Slinging that over my shoulder is easier to carry than boxes
I have 3 hungry boys to feed, I’m not sure I could carry all of our groceries in one trip. , 😁
One time, I went to a small, family-owned grocery store that used cardboard boxes, and I can totally attest to this. The boxes are a transcendental experience.
Most NZ supermarkets just stack the boxes at the front after the checkout.
Are also keep a few in the back of the car.
Portland’s done it too. If you want plastic bags, they’re big and reusable and fairly expensive. Paper is really the only option at most places now. That said, I really wanna see the reusable cheap plastic ones banned, cause no one really reuses them.