As managing editor of Tofino, British Columbia, a small tourist town known for whale watching and other activities, has passed a ban on plastic bags, although it is asking residents and businesses to comply voluntarily.
The district council voted 6-1 to ban "petrochemical-based, single-use plastic bags," according to this report from westcoaster.ca, an independent online newspaper in Tofino.
“We’re hoping people will effectively switch to compostable bags,” said [councillor Derek] Shaw, who proposed the idea. “At this point, the ban is effectively sending a message to the community.”Council has set no timeline for implementation.
The number of bags saved in Tofino would be small, but some tourists may carry away the village's message back to their hometowns after a visit. Unless bag makers can drum up some grass roots support for their product, it's going to be difficult to fight bans in every green-minded city and town in the world.
Comments (1)
The Tofinese, and most of the rest of the world, refuses to see paper as "petrochemical-based" as well. A handled paper bag eats up close to 4 times the energy of the plastic .. and where is that energy coming from, if not petrochemical sources? Furthermore, the plastic recycles, has lots of uses around the home, doesn't rot nor support bacteria growth, its light weight uses less fuel in shipment and less storage space. As for degradability of paper, degradable plastics are easy to make, but it's BAD for the environment (supports bacteria, breakdown products unknown, wastes resources). What's wrong with plastics that last forever, just like glass and rocks? We should be promoting plastics for ENVIRONMENTAL reasons!
If people want to do something in this regard, make an issue about double-bagging so markets buy strong, well-made bags and not cut costs there, and BUY LESS STUFF at the market! Worrying about the packaging is a diversion from the bigger issue of consumption. We overbuy and overeat and want the law and the government to cover for us?
Posted by Allan Griff | May 23, 2007 10:35 AM
Posted on May 23, 2007 10:35