Letters: Plastic bags and the consumer

Re “Hard data on plastic bags,” Editorial, Nov. 27

The Times’ suggestion of a study to determine the effects of plastic-bag bans on the municipalities in California that have passed them is an excellent idea. But let’s make sure it is truly objective.

The study should consider the overall life-cycle impacts of plastic versus reusable bags, including their impact on the environment, jobs and society in general.

For example, will cases of salmonella and other food-borne diseases increase because of the greater use of reusable fabric bags?

Regardless, consumers need to be strongly advised to place purchases of fruits, vegetables and meats (especially chicken) in their own plastic bags. Of course, they should do this anyway, but the problem is minimized if the grocery bag itself is disposed of or recycled as it should be.

In addition, reusable bags need to be thoroughly cleaned before reuse.

John C. McKinney

Cerritos

Nearly 90 California cities and counties have banned plastic bags, and early adopters have already seen tremendous success in shifting shoppers to reusable bags.

Post-ban, more than 75% of shoppers in San Jose and Santa Monica brought their own bags or carried goods home by hand, according to research by the city of San Jose and a team of students at Santa Monica High School, respectively. San Jose’s plastic-bag storm-drain litter was cut by 89%. Creeks and rivers saw a 60% reduction.

Los Angeles County reports that banning plastic bags cut single-use bag use by 94%, eliminated plastic bags at the affected stores and triggered a 25% drop in paper bag use.

It’s time for the rest of California to transition to a sustainable, renewable future. It’s time to ban plastic bags statewide.

Nathan Weaver

Los Angeles

The writer is the oceans and preservation advocate for Environment California.

I have always enjoyed The Times editorial board’s sense of humor, but you really outdid yourselves here.

The Times extols the virtue of banning plastic bags in the pursuit of a cleaner environment, while noting that a state proposal makes an exception: “Other plastic bags, such as the ones that protect newspapers from rain, would not be affected.”

What a funny joke.

Andrew M. Weiss

Playa Del Rey

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