Is anyone else angry about the mandatory paper-bag charge? (San Francisco: neighborhoods, to live in)

[luau]

Originally Posted by legal_eagle

I've generally been a liberal throughout my adult life, but the latest requirement that merchants in San Francisco charge people for paper bags is ridiculous. In response to this dumb law, I am going to drive to South San Francisco whenever possible to shop, thereby increasing pollution. I am also going to be increasing my online purchases, since I won't be jerked around about niggling charges, and my purchase will be delivered right to my doorstep. Of course, that will consume energy and cause pollution, and my order will be still be in a (free) box or bag. The law of unintended consequences strikes again!

Does anyone else think the Nanny-state mentality has gone too far?

Not sure if you're serious, but I just think it's kind of annoying. It's only 10 cents a bag though, so I don't care.

[peudedieu]

It's a great idea and should be implemented everywhere. Buy a Chico bag that can be folded up very compact so you can take it with you all the time. By the way, they started doing this in Santa Monica recently as well.

[BayAreaHillbilly]

All because drunks, thugs, and non assimilated third worlders were throwing away perfectly good plastic bags. I never let one go to waste. Oh, but to be cool ya needs ta trow da empty 40 out da window in da bag. Cool!

[Tallysmom]

You can also take some old t shirts, cut off the sleeves but leave the seams! Take a dinner plate and mark a bigger hole around the the collars and cut off the collars and sew the bottoms shut.

Washable free bags.

We don't have to use them here in Oakland, but I do....

[jade408]

I don't understan what the problem is. I generally bring a bag all the time. Even when I don't plan to do any shopping. I have a whole ton of bags in my car purse sized bags etc. You save on clutter at home, and the "free" bags they give you now are hardly sturdy enough to even walk to the car. Forget about surviving a muni ride.

FYI: City Target has some really good better than chico reusable bags. They are thicker, bigger and have comfier handles. I highly recommend picking them up. I haven't seen them at any other Target. They were $5 and hold up to 25#.

[Isebiel]

Actually, when I heard about the plastic bag ban passing in LA several months back, I felt cheated because we were still using plastic bags here. I didn't realize a ban had passed but it hadn't gone into effect yet.

[dlyoung123]

Its not so much the extra cost or hassal. But the simple fact we have a nanny government saying we have too. That is making people like me mad as hell. Its one thing to have an anti-litter law. Which would also clean up the mess. (I think a $200 fine for throwing a bag or other litter would be more of a deterrent than forcing everyone to pay an extra ten cents per bag.) Its another thing to force everyone to pay ten cents or carry extra bags with them.

[Bayarea4]

It's a non-issue for me because I have been bringing my own reusable nylon bags for years. I use the ones made by Envirosax, which are sold in bookstores and on line. I actually like Envirosax better than paper or plastic because they have good sturdy handles, and they hold a lot of stuff. They're washable and they come in attractive designs, too. These bags can easily be rolled up and carried in a purse or pocket. I also save large department store bags to reuse for bulky purchases, and I keep a stash of paper grocery bags in the trunk of the car.

[bigdumbgod]

Originally Posted by dlyoung123

But the simple fact we have a nanny government saying we have too. That is making people like me mad as hell.

The ongoing thrust to maintain illogical, unreasonable ideological purity is why so many choose to continuously look for something to complain about. Reducing plastic bag waste everywhere (these things do get friggn' everywhere), reducing landfill use, and reducing the need to create more petroleum-based products are good things.
These are the kinds of things enlightened societies that actually evolve do. The ones full of people hopelessly wed to the past and therefore doomed to repeat it's mistakes, don't. If bringing a bag to the grocery store represents the height of personal disruption, it's time to move to the Unmerry Land of Perpetually Angry Type-A Agitators.

[Radical347]

If you prefer the markets in SSF or Daly City, then by all means, shop there. No one is stopping you. & I do enjoy Kukje much better than Woo Ri or First Korean, anyway.

If you're just driving to SSF or Daly City to spite the bag charge, seems counterproductive but no one is stopping you either.