This is our proposal.
1. ENCOURAGE THE REUSE OF PLASTIC CARRYOUT BAGS. We don’t believe that plastic or paper bags should be banned or that consumers should be charged for bags. We believe people should be encouraged to bring their free plastic bags to the store to be filled up again, instead of throwing them away. It’s easy. Keep a bunch of them in the glove compartment or the trunk. How hard is that? It’s a no brainer really.
2. INSTALL MORE AND BETTER PLASTIC BAG RECYCLING RECEPTACLES. In California and some other parts of the country, large supermarkets and other stores are required by law to install plastic bag recycling receptacles. (See the photos below.) We want to see more plastic bag recycling receptacles installed in supermarkets and other stores throughout the United States and we want to see more people use them. Stores need to do a better job of positioning them in prominent places in the store and making sure their customers are aware of them. Make them big and bright. Put up signs. That isn’t difficult to do.
Take your bags back to the store
Virtually all bags returned to the store are actually recycled
3. PUBLICIZE AT THE CHECKOUT. How do we get the word out about continuously reusing plastic bags and disposing of them in the special plastic bag recycling receptacles? We think it’s easy. Suppose for one month, cashiers asked customers to reuse the plastic bags that they are being given and pointed out the plastic bag recycling receptacles to every customer. Maybe do it regularly. That would make a big difference to the recycling rate.
4. PROMOTE THE SALE OF REUSABLE BAGS AT THE CHECKOUT. We encourage everyone to buy durable reusable bags. However, shoppers must still have the choice of free plastic or paper bags.
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