Some Grocers Abandon Rebates for Reusable Bags
USA Today 3.25.11
Grocery store chains including Kroger and Safeway are beginning to move away from the pennies-per-bag rebates they once supplied, saying they don't do enough to prevent customers from forgetting reusables in their cars or at home. In order to avoid plastic-bag bans and taxes, which could potentially cost supermarkets or their customers more money, many chains opted for rebates (credits), but they didn't produce the results owners hoped for.
Company officials said customer feedback indicates most want to use reusable bags, but it’s a matter of making it a habit. Kroger is utilizing plastic bag recycling containers and sprinkling parking lots with signs asking, "Are your reusable bags still in the car?" Kroger also holds bag design contests and giveaways and sends shoppers coupons for reusable bags.
Read about our stance on the downsides of cheap reusables here.
To read the full article, click here.
Image: USA Today
Well, anything that can help save the Earth is good...
Glad to see the big chains doing their part. Constant reminders like signs around the parking lots are a good start/idea...
Cheers,
Alan
http://teethgrindingcure.thetruthhere.com/
Posted by: Teeth Grinding | June 08, 2011 at 07:51 AM
Beginning as early as July of 2011, the Bulgarian Government will impose a tax of 0.15 on Bulgaria's leva (Bulgarian currency - €0.07) per plastic bag, increasing to 0.35 leva (€0.18) next year, to 0.45 leva (€0.23) in 2013, and up to 0.55 leva (€0.28) a year later, reports PRW. The progressive legislation is designed to help Bulgaria, which has one of the highest per capita uses of plastic bags in the European Union, with the growing waste problem and proliferation of plastic packaging waste. The country’s environmental ministry hopes the fee will deter the widespread consumption of plastic overall.
Similarly, the Bulgarian parliament has also amended other refuse related orders, including regulations on packaging waste, automotive waste, the treatment and transportation of waste from batteries and accumulators and the treatment of end of life electrical and electronic equipment.
Posted by: monclerjacketslove | September 02, 2011 at 08:42 PM
Very little of the plastic in the Great Pacific Garbage Patch comes from plastic bags. I think they are a much bigger problem in coastal areas. The major pollution they cause is visual. Most plastic bags are polyethylene and are essentially inert until they start to degrade. Polyethylene is simply a very long chain hydrocarbon. It is too large to interact with most aqueous systems which is why it is so inert. You've got to appreciate the time and effort taken to share this great info!
Plastic bags are really not the environmental catastrophe that people are pretending they are. The major pollution they cause is visual. Most plastic bags are polyethylene and are essentially inert until they start to degrade. Polyethylene is simply a very long chain hydrocarbon. It is too large to interact with most aqueous systems which is why it is so inert. The major degradation mechanism is exposure to UV light which breaks the hydrocarbon chain, produces free radicals and introduces reactive sites on the free ends which allow enzymes to begin to attack it. This stuff is awesome. You've got to appreciate the time and effort taken to share this great info!. thanks
Posted by: latex gloves | September 13, 2011 at 11:30 PM