February of 2010 saw the introduction of Assembly Bill (AB) 1998, the measure to regulate single-use plastic bags. AB 1998 may be passed or not today.
As usual the campaign concerning an Assembly bill (not even a ballot proposition) has inflamed an hysterical debate fueled by emotions, fear mongering and not surprisingly, out of state money.
Comments sections in various online publications contain warnings of the slippery slope ("plastic knives and forks will be next"), lost jobs and the end of life as we know it.
Some comments are less dramatic and just want the "convenience" of single-use plastic bags.
Here are two video perspectives of the dilemma.
This column supports conservation, therefore single-use anything deserves scrutiny.
That said, reuse of "single-use" bags is a good idea.
Development of biodegradable bags is a good idea.
BTW those funding "No on AB 1998" are plastic bag producers. Single use plastic bags are now created from petroleum by products. Material that otherwise would be hazardous waste.
Instead of remediating that waste, the industry manufactures plastic bags and sells them in our communities.
