Plastic bag bans promote shoplifting & global warming

by NW Spotlight

Wow, this just keeps getting better and better! OK, we knew that plastic bag bans were good for spreading norovirus and E. coli, and for making shoplifting in Seattle easier, but now we’re hearing that plastic bag bans are good for shoplifting across America AND that plastic bag bans contribute to global warming!

That’s right – earlier this week, Willamette Week asked “Portland in 2011 banned plastic bags in stores. Did we make a huge mistake?”  University of Oregon Professor of Chemistry David Tyler answered “If you’re worried about global warming or the amount of waste going into landfills or the amount of water used to make a bag, then yes.”

Professor Tyler also said that plastic bags “have the lowest carbon footprint, the lowest water use, and the lowest municipal waste [of any bagging option]. A plastic bag in many impact categories is better than a tote bag, it’s better than a paper bag.”

As was noted in a March 2012 Oregon Catalyst article, plastic bags are 100% recyclable and are made in the U.S., using domestic natural gas and they support American jobs.