Are plastic bag bans just a scam to sell plastic bags?

[Grub]

Most of the grocery stores around here have stopped giving out plastic bags and force you to use those reusable bags. Since this started my plastic bag use has not decreased. Now instead of using those bags from the grocery store as garbage bags, I have to buy garbage bags. I'm still throwing the exact same amount of plastic bags into the landfill. It's just now they're $9/box plastic bags instead of free plastic bags.

Are plastic bag bans just scam so they can sell more garbage bags?

 

[Dysnomia]

I wouldn't be surprised if Hefty is in on it somehow. The world is so corrupt and money hungry.

I don't make enough trash myself to warrant a huge ass garbage bag. So I like using the store bags and just putting them in the public trash compactor. Some of the bodegas still give you the old flimsy bags though. I treasure them.

I think the issue was that people were just tossing the bags in the trash instead of reusing them. Which I always found weird since we always reused the bags. Now when I go to the supermarket I have to bring a bag of bags with me. They charge you for paper bags. And the bags are low quality and rip easily. They're nothing like the paper bags I remember as a kid.

Honestly, I'm surprised they aren't trying to sell us 100% recycled paper garbage bags at $15 a box. It's probably a comin'.

 

[Magicicada_septendecula]

I wouldn't doubt someone supporting this got the idea that it would prop up some other industry or create a new one. Mostly though, I think environmentalists (not all, but definitely the NIMBY-ists who would never get their hands dirty by planting a tree or clean trash) are stupid, one-step thinkers who come up with these kind of things because they have no concept of unintended consequences. I remember when paper bags were going to destroy the forests and single-use plastic bags were going to save the world.

My state totally banned single-use plastic bags just as the pandemic was beginning and all the stores started selling those washable reusable bags. Everything about it seems seems to be having the opposite effect of what it was supposed to as well as clash with my state's other agendas. It was one of the most restrictive states for masking and vax mandates when I would think single-use bags would be better because you can throw them away and not have to worry about washing them to get rid of any germs. You even see ripped bags thrown on the side of the road along with the single-use masks.

 

[Tetragrammaton]

i would not be surprised one bit if this was the case. the paper companies are most likely also in on it as well. if the goal was to try and prevent as much waste of single use plastics like plastic bags as possible why not just offer money for them like they do soda cans? then they can recycle the plastic bags into those reusable bags.

instead you either have to pay for low quality paper bags which rip instantly in most cases or buy the reusable bags. it just seems like the goal here is less focused towards saving the environment or whatever and more focused on making money. before the plastic bag ban i used to keep all the bags i got from the store in this little box i found at a thrift store.

they were useful to have around the house because you never know when you might need a bag for something. if too many started to pile up i would just take them with me to the store and stuff them in that plastic bag recycling bin.

in my opinion they started to notice how much profit they lose from people reusing plastic bags for free rather than buying much much more expensive things like trash bags and decided to do something about it under the guise of being environmentally friendly. the fact that these bag bans started during COVID is just further proof of this.

all of a sudden they decided to start making people have to pay for plastic bags during a time in which people are being forced to order take out and stores are getting swarmed due to mass hysteria. i know some states already had bans on single use plastics but those bans spread further during COVID and i do think this was because they knew profits were to be had from all of this.

but its not just the plastic companies making money from this its the paper companies as well. any time you do not have enough bags when you go shopping you have to either buy a reusable bag or a much cheaper paper bag. some stores also just outright refuse to bag things for you unless you buy bags from them. it all just feels like a massive scam and a way to take advantage of people when they least expect it.

 

[Alligator Alcatraz]

Maybe? I think it really is about minimizing single-use plastics, though. I never believe the government environmental people when they say that plastic bags are hurting the environment and litter our cities because I never see them flying around. What I DO see though are people just balling up the plastic bags and immediately tossing them. Plastic bags are pretty hardy things if you treat them right, so it's such a waste.

I don't mind using reusable bags because they are often sturdy, comfy, and have fun designs. Paper bags are better for some things, like produce. I don't like being charged for paper bags, though.

 

[Bookwork]

First they persecuted plastic bags because people would put them on their heads and die, like that was the plastic bags' fault.

Now, its because plastic bags last longer in landfills than the people who have them on their heads do.

It's so fucking unfair. Un-ban The Bags!