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Texas Sharon's Bluedaze

Fracking News

Ireland Says NO to Plastic Bags

February 6, 2008 By TXsharon

Ireland found a simple solution to the plastic bag problem. In 2002 they started charging $.33 for plastic bags.

Motivated by a Tax, Irish Spurn Plastic Bags

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.

QUESTION: Why can’t we do that in the U.S.?

ANSWER: because the plastic bag manufacturers would lobby our elected officials and end up with “incentives.”

In honor of Ireland, I’m recycling this post from last year. I gave these for Christmas gifts.

TOP 5 REASONS TO REUSE A BAG:

  1. The petroleum in 14 plastic bags could drive a car 1 mile.
  2. Americans use over 14 billion plastic bags annually. (That’s 1 billion miles)
  3. It takes 70% more global warming gasses to make a paper bag than a plastic bag.
  4. Paper bags do not biodegrade in landfills
  5. Cities spend up to 17 cents per bag in disposal costs. (That’s $2,380,000,000.00)

1 Bag At A Time The website has a great flash show with some amazing facts about plastic and paper bags. I bought one of these bags today at Cupboard Natural Foods in Denton, TX. It’s a really nice, sturdy, BIG bag with a rectangular bottom so it stands up well.

About Sharon Wilson

Sharon Wilson is considered a leading citizen expert on the impacts of shale oil and gas extraction. She is the go-to person whether it’s top EPA officials from D.C., national and international news networks, or residents facing the shock of eminent domain and the devastating environmental effects of natural gas development in their backyards.

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