Hawaii Bans Plastic Bags
This month, Hawaii became the first state in the US to outright ban plastic bags. They also banned paper bags that don’t have a minimum of 40% recycled content.
This one action will keep about 450 million bags a year out of the state’s waste stream and prevent them from ending up in the ocean.
The proposal was led by the Sierra Club chapter and the Surfrider Foundation. Along with the plastic ban, the groups expect a small fee on paper bags to be implemented. A 10-cent fee would raise $20 million a year which would go toward restoring and protecting watersheds and rainforest areas that get trampled by non-native animals such as goats and pigs.
Hawaii’s action comes on the heels of a plastic ban in Los Angeles and about a dozen California municipalities.
Check out a video about plastic bans on the Documentary Channel here.
Michael Machida
June 30, 2012 at 11:04 pm
Love the story. Very cool Hawaii.
Phoebiann
July 8, 2012 at 11:11 pm
I sure hate people telling me what to do, also soliciting me in front of businesses. I do wonder what will happen with trash can liners that one buys at the store. I use them; I also choose plastic bags at the grocery store to pick up dog poop. It used to irk me that some stores did not offer paper bags at all, only plastic. In those days, I didn’t have as much use for plastic bags, but what I disliked most was not having a choice. I talked to a solicitor of this cause in front of the grocery store, who told me I could BUY plastic bags for my use. So, does this mean that if I toss some money, the bags will suddenly be okay for the environment? Still, I do want to know whether I will be able to continue purchasing trash can liners.
Cammy
July 18, 2012 at 3:51 am
Another “rush to legislate!” With education the majority of the public will do the right thing. How many warehouses are full of plastic bags waiting to ship? How many businesses have a large investment in the equipment, employees and space to manufacture these bags? How many stores just purchased hundreds of bags printed with their name for their customers’ convenience? Educate the public, offer alternatives, but an outright ban disregards business sunk costs in a product that was just fine yesterday.
Judy Houston
July 18, 2012 at 10:13 pm
According to some peoples comments on this ban, I guess some people believe money and their freedom of choice to pollute Mother Gaia seem more important than setting a good example for future generations! Wonder why there is so much suffering? I appreciate Hawaii’s efforts! The rest of the world will follow. Good Job! Blessings to all!
Jenn Huey
August 7, 2012 at 3:46 pm
I too appreciate what Hawaii is trying to do, however, I believe this is something we as citizens, who play an active role in maintaining mother earth, should be doing anyway, without our freedom of choice taken away.
Squire
July 21, 2012 at 9:34 am
That’s awesome news. I think this is good thing for Hawaii. Great way to stop plastic bags from ending up in the ocean from our end. Also not bad idea for raising money for our Aina. Thanks for the story.