Wend.com  8.24.09

"Add another city to the list of those that have understood the severe negative effects of single-use plastic bags. Last Wednesday, Mexico City banned businesses from distributing plastic bags that are not biodegradable. The ban affects all stores, production facilities and service providers within the Federal District, which encompasses the city limits. Nearly 9 million people live inside the district, which makes it the second large metropolitan area in the Western Hemisphere to outlaw single-use plastic bags..."

For more, read the entire article.

Our Take: It’s always good news when a major metro region takes action on the plastic bag issue. However, instead of bag bans, bag fees designed to curb consumption are smarter, market-based solutions. Ireland’s PlasTax, for example, reduced plastic bag consumption by more than 90% in the first year alone.

Comments

[Lisa]

How can ReusableBags.com say that a bag fee is better than a bag ban? "Bag fees are designed to curb consumption...." It's not a matter of merely curbing consumption, but eliminating the existence of these nuisances. A fee keeps the bags in existence; perhaps to a lesser degree, but still in existence and causing problems nonetheless. Ban the bag, the problem goes away. Yes, Ireland had great success with their PlasTax, reducing bag use by "more than 90% in the first year alone." But there's still roughly a 10% bag use happening, choking marine life, breaking down into toxins, polluting waterways, etc. Bag bans, worldwide, is the best solution. Everyone bring your own bag, box, collapsible crate, etc. Remember the "box boy" of the 1950s? You box your own now--in actual, reused, cardboard boxes--at membership clubs like Sam's and Costco; carry this over to other stores, problem solved.

[Tara]

I'm not sure I understand or agree with your take that a ban isn't effective. I live in France, and although I wouldn't call the system here a 'ban', the bags are simply not available. You have to pay something like 30 - 50 cents for a large, stylish re-usable bag if you forgot yours, but almost everyone brings their bags, and many stores just don't have any. You quickly get into the habit of having your bags with you all the time and now it's part of their way of life.

[Rogelio]

As an American now living in México, the ban is a welcomed decision. 10-20 years ago consumers would carry their own merchandise in sturdy, moisture-resistant nylon bags that withstood 12 kilograms (25 pounds) easily. It seems that the nylon bag will return & customers will no longer be in the a habit of asking for a bag for the most trival quantities. Besides contributing to the blockage of sewers & rivers in Mexico, poly bags increase the price of goods the consumer pays. The ban is a practical decision that makes $en$e.