Plastic, Paper, or Canvas?

The San Francisco Board of Supervisors took the groundbreaking step yesterday of banning the use of plastic bags at the City's groceries and pharmacies. The move was vigorously opposed by the California Grocer's Association who are warning of higher prices for shoppers and in a fit of pique are threatening to go back to paper bags rather than offer compostable bags that cost about the same.

Even our local newspaper, The Chronicle, jumped in with an editorial that lauded the plan and predicted that consumers will demand bio-degradable bags, but you know what I think... Bullsh*t! Consumers will continue to take whatever they're given because this plan, though a good start, puts the focus on the wrong players, businesses. Grocers use plastic because it's cheap, and they will continue to offer the cheapest solution that satisfies the law. That's recyclable paper, not compostable paper.

So what should we be doing? Encouraging everyone to use durable canvas shopping bags...that's what! No disposable bag is ever going to be as good as a bag that can be used thousands of times. I personally have three of varying sizes, one of which I've been using since 1988. I should get a freakin' rebate from the grocers. Oops...actually...I do! So maybe the Supes should have encouraged everyone to use their own bags by subsidizing a larger rebate--maybe bump it up to $.50 for each bag of your own that you use.

Now...how's that for preachy?