Went grocery shopping tonight at the local Extra Foods and was surprised to see that they are now charging five cents for their plastic bags in an effort to as they say, Save the Planet, Protect the environment. Isn't that what they all say?
Now I get all the environmnent stuff, I get it, I mean I'm not fanatical about it but really how is charging me five cents for a plastic bag going to have a real significant impact on the environment.
I asked a couple of employees where this nickel ends up. Does the company donate back to say environmental causes or is it just another five cents into the profit bag. And don't get me wrong, I'm not against profits.
I understand all the hype about plastic bags. Apparently we use over 500 billion of these things every year. And thats what leaves me a little skeptical. Do the math on five billion multiplied by five cents and its starts to look like a money grab to me. Tell me my nickel is going back to planetary improvement and not to the companies bottom line.
Also its not like the plastic bag industry isn't aware of the concerns.They had to get concerned after the city of San Francisco became the first city in North America to ban plastic bags. The industry says they will be using 40% recycled content by the year 2015 and expect to reduce waste by 300 million pounds per year.
My concern, What about poor Fido? Signs all over parks tell us to "Scoop the Poop" or get fined. Scoop it where if I can't carry a plastic bag? Will I have to start carrying a little plastic pail on all my walks? What about these parks that sell little plastic bags? Will they have to stop? You know I'm trying to convince myself that this nickel a bag thing is all about the environment. But something else is telling me its just another executive thought out money grab.
I know, I hear you on the plastic bags but it's sure "hush, hush" about disposable diapers isn't it? Someone picks an item and everyone gets on the "bandwagon" and that's all I have to say about that!
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