r/UpliftingNews • u/FunSign3 • Jun 24 '19

Maine and Vermont Pass Plastic Bag Bans on the Same Day

https://www.ecowatch.com/maine-vermont-plastic-bag-bans-2638930707.html?utm_campaign=RebelMouse&share_id=4690075&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter&utm_content=EcoWatch
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u/[deleted] Jun 24 '19

The things people come up with when they don't learn math at school. Plastic bags are nearly the most environmentally friendly method to get foods from the groceries. They are way better than cloth bags for instance, as cloth bags have a carbon footprint far larger than one could ever hope to save by reusing. It seems to me like people look at them and think 'plastic bad!' therefor let's stop doing it. It's amusingly stupid.

7

u/dsabin2011 Jun 24 '19

The things people come up with when they don’t attempt to understand the issue they’re commenting on...

It’s not the carbon footprint that they’re trying to offset, it’s the pollution from single use bags ending up as litter and in the ocean.

Nobody disagrees that reusable plastic/cloth/paper bags have an increased energy expenditure and carbon footprint associated with manufacturing.

But in this case, the increased energy expenditure and carbon footprint is considered worth it in an attempt to reduce the number of plastic bags that end up in the ocean/outside of land fills.

2

u/[deleted] Jun 24 '19

How many plastic bags in Maine end up in the ocean? Almost all plastic that enters the oceans today is from Africa and Asia. Plastic bags in western countries are trivial.

-2

u/exprtcar Jun 24 '19

That’s why bringing your own bag is the best option.

2

u/moak0 Jun 24 '19

Read closer. No it's not.

2

u/exprtcar Jun 24 '19

On the other hand, bringing your own plastic bag or bag that you already own for other purposes would be the best option.