As editor of The plastic bag beat continues to be one of the hottest in environmental journalism. Here's a sampling of bag-related headlines today:
- The California Film Extruders and Converters Association and the American Chemistry Council are each backing producer-responsibility legislation in Sacramento. If one of these bills passes, it would shift the bag debate in California -- and the trend would likely spread elsewhere. Check out staff reporter Mike Verespej's coverage of the issue, posted on our Web site today.
- Whole Foods Market estimates that it has kept 150 million plastic bags from going to landfillls in the past year, since it stopped giving them out at cash registers a year ago. “At first we wondered if shoppers would just switch to paper but to our great surprise, people have been truly excited about using reusable bags,” co-President and Chief Operating Officer A.C. Gallo said in a news release.
- The city of Edmonds, Wash., may beat Seattle and become the first city in Washington state to ban plastic bags. The effort is being led by Councilman Strom Peterson, according to this report on The Daily Herald's Web site.
With communities facing tight budgets and politicians reluctant to raise property or income taxes, watch for more bag tax proposals to pop up around the country in the next few months.