As editor of Most of the stories we see about plastic product bans and taxes quote only people in favor of the restrictions. In fact, often if seems like there's no one at all, outside a few vocal bag makers and their suppliers, who are fighting the trend. So this story from the Palo Alto, Calif., Daily News has a "man-bites-dog" tone -- it's a city where some businesses have actually decided to fight against restrictions on plastic bags and polystyrene foam containers.
According to the story, about 40 businesses are supporting a petition that will be presented to the Palo Alto City Council tonight. The businesses say a ban would not work, and would hurt local stores and restaurants.
"Please don't punish local businesses just to make an empty environmental gesture," the petition reads. "Products don't litter, people do."
The City Council is tentatively set to take action on a bag ban on April 21, and it expects to look at restrictions on PS foam containers this summer.
The story quotes council member Yoriko Kishimoto saying she supports a ban.
"To me it seems like a no-brainer," Kishimoto told the Daily News. "I believe we definitely need to drastically reduce our use of plastic bags." She added that cities have tried for years to increase their plastic bag recycling rates, but the rate still hovers at about 5 percent.
I'm skeptical of that point. I have seen very few efforts by municipalities anywhere to recycle plastic bags -- typically they expect grocery stores to handle that chore.