More green legislation
by Lori Barrett | April 30, 2008 at 10:44 am
Posted in baltimore politics, the environment
The latest proposal by a member of City Council aims to ban plastic bags and Styrofoam cups, as well as require a 10-cent deposit for all types of bottles purchased in Baltimore.
James Kraft proposed his environmental agenda at a recent hearing, but he was not well received. The resistance, however, was not because he compared plastic bags to German Nazis, but because business owners fear that the changes will either decrease their profits or increase consumer costs.
Bar owners are fearful that a bottle deposit will be the end of smaller establishments that are still struggling from the smoking ban. Larger bars — like Max’s on Broadway, which has “2,000 empty beer bottles and 300 empty liquor bottles after an average weekend” — worry about where they are going to store the empties.
Grocery store owners argued that replacing plastic bags with paper ones would significantly increase costs. But if the Europeans can do it, can’t we? Maybe Baltimore can ease into the transition as Ikea did — first charging extra for plastic bags, then eventually eliminating them all together.
Personally, I would love to see less plastic bags floating around the sidewalks, and the deposits may encourage people to cash in their empty bottles rather than just toss them aside. So maybe it’s more of an anti-littering effort than an environmental one, but either way, I’d support it. What about you?
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April 30th, 2008 at 3:08 pm | Please log in to reply. | Log in to rate this comment | report this comment
10 cent deposit? What took you so long? When I grew up in MI 10 cent dept was the law of the land. You couldn't find an empty can or bottle anywhere! And the homeless were happier than jaybirds because they had instant income from recyclables. At a large tailgate party you can make minimum wage if you're fast enough (this I know).
It's absolutely fabulous for recycling.
And the bags? 86 'em. People can learn to bring their own bags. We're priveleged but we're not morons. We can bring our own bags.
April 30th, 2008 at 4:02 pm | Please log in to reply. | Log in to rate this comment | report this comment
I have to agree with DB.
I've started bringing my own bags to places like the grocery store, target, the mall. Or when it's a small item, just stuff it in my purse with the receipt and not bother with them.
I don't want to get rid of them completely, though, as i use them as trash bags.
April 30th, 2008 at 4:17 pm | Please log in to reply. | Log in to rate this comment | report this comment
I live downtown and walk to grocery store. I find several uses for the plastic bags...from trashcan liners, to poop bags for my pooch. In addition, don't charge me extra for buying a bottle...I'm taxed enough already!
April 30th, 2008 at 4:28 pm | Please log in to reply. | Log in to rate this comment | report this comment
Monique... You'd get the money back for the bottle. Try travelling to states that have bottle bills. They are much cleaner. Baltimore is so filthy. If people threw their bottles on the ground with a bottle bill there would be someone who would clean it up for the money.
April 30th, 2008 at 4:35 pm | Please log in to reply. | Log in to rate this comment | report this comment
F Bush...I've been to those states. You're focusing on the wrong group here. Baltimore isn't filthy because were using plastic bags or that we don't have a deposit on bottles/cans. There is a systemic issue with the (lack of)value of life and whether or not an individual has hope (within a community)...certain people just don't care.
April 30th, 2008 at 4:49 pm | Please log in to reply. | Log in to rate this comment | report this comment
Am I the only one who reuses the plastic bags from the grocery store - not just for trash cans and such - but to rebag groceries? I mean, pretty much every single grocery store will take them back.
As for the deposit on bottles - what happens to single stream recycling once everyone immediately begins sequestering their bottles in order to get money for them?
April 30th, 2008 at 4:56 pm | Please log in to reply. | Log in to rate this comment | report this comment
Ouch!
[ There is a systemic issue with the (lack of)value of life and whether or not an individual has hope (within a community)…certain people just don’t care]...So OK, we're picking up bodies in Baltimore. Do we have to pick up bags and bottles too? Can we at least recycle them? Maybe we can all find the love thru that.
And yea, it's a deposit, not a tax. You only lose your deposit if you throw the bottle/can away or liter. But you can always liter. I'll be there to score the dime. No shame there.
May 1st, 2008 at 12:19 pm | Please log in to reply. | Log in to rate this comment | report this comment
All of this sounds like a great idea. Stores could charge and extra 10 cents and give it back when you bring the bottles back. Stores could not use plastic bags. My wife and I bring reusable bags when we can and we use any plastic grocery bags we get until they fall apart.
The only objection I have is when these ideas are implemented by force. If we want to pass laws to control litter, why not go after the source of the litter? (the people who do it) Why impose regulation on those of us who are already responsible with how we act?
May 1st, 2008 at 1:32 pm | Please log in to reply. | Log in to rate this comment | report this comment
I used to live in MI and they have the 10 cent bottle deposit and trust me you save your cans/bottles for returning. Grocery stores even had the bottle/can return machines so you can take them to the grocery store and get your deposit back...generally used to purchase more beverages of choice (In MI grocery stores are acutally allowed to sell liquor, wine & beer...something MD should consider). Even the homeless could benefit from this...as they could pick up the stray cans off the street and get 10 cents for their return.