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New York Times Article Summarizes Where Cities Are Today On Plastic Bag Policies

Posted on Fri, 08/21/2009 - 11:37

There is a great article in the New York Times that summarizes where many American cities are on their plastic bag policies, be it recycling, banning or taxing. 

See the article here:

http://greeninc.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/08/19/where-recycling-plastic-bag...

Plastic Bag Island Isn't An Island At All

Posted on Fri, 08/21/2009 - 11:31

Think there is "just" a plastic bag island in the ocean?  Think again.  A local scuba instructor in Hawaii teamed up with a videographer and the results of what they found floating in the ocean are shocking.

Mexico City Bans Plastic Bags

Posted on Fri, 08/21/2009 - 11:24

Mexico City has banned stores from using any plastic bags that do not biodegrade.  The move comes from an effort of the government in Mexico City to clean up the city and improve its environment.  "The law affects all stores, production facilities and service providers within the Federal District, which encompasses the city limits.

Plastic Bags Release Harmful Gas

Posted on Fri, 08/21/2009 - 11:01

Turns out that plastic bag waste is not the most harmful by-product of plastic bags - toxic gases just might be.  A new study reported on in The Independent states that as plastic bags break down they are releasing gases that are incredibly harmful to both humans as well as marine life. 

From The Independent:

Fall out from the vote in Seattle

Posted on Fri, 08/21/2009 - 10:45

The fall out from Tuesday's vote on Seattle's plastic bag tax continues.  Many articles cite the unfairness on lower income indivduals or the public mistrust of where the tax funds would go.  It will be interesting to continue to monitor this debate as more and more cities consider how to approach their plastic bag problems.  The following is a collection of articles from the New

Seattle Residents Reject Plastic Bag Tax

Posted on Wed, 08/19/2009 - 09:50

At last count, Seattle's voters have rejected a 20 cent plastic bag tax by a margin of 58% to 42%.  Opposition to the campaign outspent the supporters of the tax by 15 to 1.  At ConservingNow.com we were very disappointed to hear of the results.  It is positive to see that already there is chatter on the internet about a public campaign to support recycling the plastic bags as we

Delaware Requires Retailers Who Use Plastic Bags to Recycle Them!

Posted on Wed, 08/19/2009 - 09:45

"House Bill 15, now law with the addition of Governor Markell's signature, calls for virtually all stores that hand out plastic grocery-type bags to customers to accept the bags back for recycling by August first of next year.

New Zealand Residents Collect Plastic Bags

Posted on Wed, 08/19/2009 - 09:41

"Campaigners in Dunedin collected enough plastic bags from shoppers in less than 5 hours to create a 70-metre long chain, as part of Saturday's 'Plastic Bags Aren't Free Day'.  Onlookers were just astounded by the chain,” said DSSCF co-organiser, Celia Neilson.

Kids Lead The Way

Posted on Mon, 08/17/2009 - 16:45

"Over one hundred Magnetic Island State (primary) School students have signed a petition asking Townsville City Council to ban the use of plastic shopping bags on the Magnetic Island.  For the record the petition to Townsville City Council reads: "We, the

Ski Towns Rally To Reduce Plastic

Posted on Mon, 08/17/2009 - 16:28

"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.