The ban-the-bag poll

The current poll has "ban plastic bags" leading by a wide margin. Come on people! Plastic bags have their uses, and the battle to ban them distracts us from the big issues.

As Grist's "Ask Umbra" reminds us, a plastic bag has almost no impact on the environment compared to our habitual drive in the car to the grocery store.

http://www.grist.org/advice/ask/2002/06/04/umbra-grocerybags...

I think that taxing plastic bags is by far the best option - it helps include the externalities that are are aren't currently included in the price of plastic bags. If they cost more we're much less likely to thoughtlessly use them. Superstore and MEC currently do this - either by giving us a "no bag needed" discount or by charging for the plastic bag.

People respond to these incentives. Superstore is full of people who have brought their own reusable bags and boxes.