ConservingNow Community Change

"The forces behind the challenge are it again, and this round of competition is about expanding the idea. This time, it’s between 31 different towns in the 2009 Colorado Association of Ski Towns Reusable Bag Challenge.

"The town took a step toward joining Westport as the only town in the state to ban most plastic grocery and retail bags, the Connecticut Post reported. 

Stores in New Zealand recently began charging for plastic bags.  As a result, the major retailers are reporting shifts in the buying habits of their customers.  "At Victoria Park New World this week, several customers held their shopping in their hands, having declined to pay for a bag.

Gearing up for Seattle's big vote tomorrow - here are a number of news articles that ran over today and over the weekend.  There are so many sides to this story and its great to see all of the interesting perspectives everyone has.  Its obvious how important this issue is and how much thought and consideration Seattle residents are giving to their voices. 

The Scientific American Podcast this week is reviewing whether or not plastic bag bans work.  Forcusing on the bag ban in China, the podcast considers whether or not customers are really using less bags, and more importantly, whether or not there is less plastic bag waste and pollution as a result of the bans.  "Yet, a survey by the International Packaging Assocation found that t

Fairfield, Connecticut has recently voted to ban plastic bags.  "Plastic checkout bags used by stores and organizations here are now a step closer to extinction, as the town is poised to become the second in the state to ban the distribution of plastic bags at checkout counters.  Heeding arguments that disposal of the plastic bags harms the environment, the town's Reusable Bag Or

The vote to tax plastic bags iin Seattle is on August 18th.  In the run-up to the election, Seattle's papers are filled with commentary both for and against.  Here are a couple of recent articles relating to the vote.

http://www.seattlepostglobe.org/2009/08/11/bag-initiative-supporters-cri...

Writing for the Long Island Examiner, Soozy G.

What makes a plastic bag compostable?  In Durham, Canada its the green certification stamp on the bag.  Any other bags will be rejected by the waste management collectors.  This asks an important question about what is compostable and how do we know that's true?  The answer is to become a label reader.  Some plastic bags that are "compostable" are difficu

John Miller, owner of VailDelivery.com, was under pressure to switch to reusable bags for his delivery service.  He did, and what a difference it made.  "Every bag filled up for a customer keeps three or four plastic bags hanging in a store.