Watch VideoPaper or plastic?
Story By: Susan Davies
Source: KOAA
"Renewable" and "reusable" continue to be selling points with green consumers. Some local businesses are joining a worldwide call to ban plastic shopping bags.
China's government just announced such a ban and San Francisco passed a plastic bag ban last year. Local grocer Whole Foods is heavily promoting reusable bags. Shoppers get a dime when they bring them back. Whole Food manager say they want to reduce their carbon footprint and help the environment.
Solid waste managers say plastic bags are a nuisance at local landfills. They take hundreds of years to decompose and they tend to blow around and litter neighboring areas. Many environmentalists oppose plastic bags because they're made from oil and not easily recyclable.
The Environmental Protection Agency says paper bags are not the perfect substitute. They actually generate more air and water pollution than plastic bags, and require more energy to produce.
Most environmentalists agree the best solution is reusable bags. An increasing number of retailers are moving in that direction as businesses go "green."
