ConservingNow Community Change

In an interesting, yet brief, article Earth Times is reporting that Hong Kong businesses are seeing a drop in their businesses since the plastic bag tax went into effect.  It seems from the article, that if consumers have forgotten to bring their bags to work, they will opt for not purchasing anything that day, rather than pay for a plastic bag. 

"Businesses across Kingston have been urged to do their bit on the world's first plastic bag-free day.  Environmental campaigners have called on traders to advertise the event, on September 12, in their shop windows and only hand out long-life bags on the day.  Shoppers will be able to pick up a free cloth bag from a stall outside All Saints Church, in Kingston's Market Plac

"Britain’s biggest supermarket chain has published misleading figures giving the impression that it had met an industry target to halve the use of plastic bags.  The Times has learnt that Tesco, which claims to be one of the greenest retailers, missed the target and tried to conceal its actual performance."  The Times has learned that Tesco has cal

Safeway stores in Breckenridge, Colorado have recently placed employees outside their store to remind shoppers to bring their own bags! 

In addition, "Summit County is winning the competition against all Colorado ski towns to see who can use the least plastic and the most reusable bags. The winning community gets $10,000 towards their school system."

The city of Phoenix has found a way to save nearly $30,000.00 a year, as well as help residents rid the cabinets of used, unwanted plastic bags. The city has asked that city residents fill dog waste receptacles in city parks with their old plastic bags, allowing every city resident to utilize the bags for their dogs' waste. 

Target stores in South Australia are joining other stores in South Australia in phasing out the use of plastic bags in their stores.  "Target will join other Target stores in a national phase-out of plastic bags on Monday, following a statewide ban on plastic bags in South Australia."

The City of Seattle has decided to put a plastic bag tax of $.20 to the voters.  This is the first time voters are being given the opportunity to decide what to do about plastic bags in their communities.  Already the issue has become incredibly contentious in Seattle with many green coalitions standing up against petroleum companies and the American Chemistry Council.

"The Outer Banks is set to become the first community on the East Coast to banish those wispy plastic bags. Gov. Bev Perdue is expected to sign the bill that bans large local retailers from using the ubiquitous bags, spokeswoman Chrissy Pearson said Tuesday. The state Senate passed the bill 44-2 on Monday.

"Hawaii’s Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument, designated by President Bush, may be the next stop [for plastic bag waste].

Our families often debate what to do with old plastic bags or how to break friends and families from using resealable bags (like sandwich bags) at home. Its certainly difficult - the younger generations were raised on resealable bags and therefore, don't often think of discarding them.