ConservingNow Community Change

You already bring your own carrier bag to the farmer's market, and yet so many of us still rely on the plastic produce bags offered by the vendors. A trend in farmer's markets nationwide is to ban these bags, but if your farmer's market hasn't done so yet, here are some tips for packing your carrier bag so you won't need to use any plastic produce bags.

From the Paramus Post (New Jersey): http://www.paramuspost.com/article.php/20090614183654231

Five Cent Bag Tax Wins Final Council Vote

http://www.bizjournals.com/washington/stories/2009/06/15/daily41.html

The District gave its final unanimous vote in favor of charging a nickel for each paper and plastic bag that residents get from restaurants, pharmacies and grocers in an effort to clean up the Anacostia watershed.

Becoming responsible to our environment: paper, plastic or cotton bags?
By Frosty Wooldridge
Denver Political Issues Examiner

As from June 1, Altesa Supermarkets started charging for their biodegradable plastic bags at one céntimo each. On its' sales ticket it says "Help protect our Islands. Everyone for the environment." also referring clients to a website referring to degradable plastics.

The Madison Common Council on Tuesday night approved an ordinance requiring residents to take unsoiled plastic bags in for recycling. The ordinance bans throwing clean plastic bags away in the trash, but it allows people to throw away used, soiled plastic bags.

Store owners and city residents united Tuesday against a proposed 25-cent surcharge on plastic and paper bags used in Baltimore, saying the plan would burden small businesses and city residents struggling through difficult economic times.

At ConservingNow.com we like to provide you with up to date information on plastic bags. Most of the time we gather links and information so you can explore the issue on your own time or in your own neighborhood. Every so often a story comes by that we feel is important to share the entire story with you.

Today's article from CNN is one of those stories.

Larry's Environmental Issues Blog
By Larry West,
About.com Guide to Environmental Issues since 2005

China Plastic Bag Ban Shows Strong Results After First Year
Monday June 1, 2009

Washington D.C. Approves Plastic Bag Tax
June 2, 2009

Washington D.C. joins many other cities doing their part to eliminate plastic bag waste and pollution.