BYOB. Europe does it. America used to do it before the Second World War. African nations may soon join in. So will you if the Philadelphia City Council succeeds in banning plastic bags.
It's not that hard. Just bring your own bag when you go shopping.
If eco-conscious council members have their way, Philly will soon join the ranks of green cities like San Francisco and Paris. Councilman Frank DiCicco dislikes our "throwaway society" and wants to ban plastic bags in the city. He favors paper, reusable or compostable bags as an alternative. His colleague Jim Kenney is taking on Styrofoam with a ban aimed at polystyrene packaging.
If South Africa, Bangladesh, Rwanda and Zanzibar can pull off a plastic-bag ban, why can't we?
Critics protest that banning plastic increases costs and can even have a negative impact on the environment.
They argue that retailers don't have deep enough pockets to shoulder the financial burden of bagging alternatives. A compostable bag costs about six to 10 cents in comparison with three cents for a paper bag. But a plastic bag is only a penny.
However, not all businesses object. Acme Markets has indicated its willingness to comply with the proposed ban. IKEA already charges customers a nickel for every single-use plastic bag in order to encourage use of its reusable blue bags.
The proposed ban will not cripple the local economy. DiCicco's legislation targets only supermarkets, convenience stores and pharmacies with over $2 million in gross sales. Kenney's ban would allow the use of polystyrene if alternative packaging increases costs by over 10 percent.
In short, these bans won't kill small business. But is there merit to the environmental damage argument?
In a 1999 study, consulting firm Franklin Associates concluded that the manufacture of paper bags actually produces more air pollution, water contaminants and industrial waste than that of plastic bags. Plastic bags also have the advantage of taking up less space in landfills. In terms of energy consumption, neither option appears better than the other.
Naturally, coalitions of plastic and polystyrene manufacturers cling desperately to findings like these. The Progressive Bag Alliance and the Alliance for Foam Packing Recyclers argue that their products should be recycled, not banned.
I don't like plastic bags. Seeing them roll down our streets like tumbleweeds in the wind is an "aesthetic affront," to quote Environmental Studies professor Robert Giegengack. Nevertheless, the panicked plastic producers make a good point.
But Philly's proposed ban will be toothless without accompanying efforts to reduce waste. Recycling should be a key part of any environmental initiative.
Philadelphia had the happy distinction in 1987 of being the first major American city to pass a recycling mandate. It also has the misfortune of being ranked 8th out of the nine major US cities for its curbside recycling programs. According to the Recycling Alliance of Philadelphia, the city's residential recycling rate is only about 5 percent.
Penn hasn't fared much better. The DP reported last fall that Penn's recycling rate hovers at below 12 percent - the worst in the Ivy League.
"A plastic ban might make more sense in one city than another," says Giegengack. He believes that recycling and reducing packaging materials are smarter environmental solutions. Why do plastic toothpaste tubes need to come packaged in a cardboard box?
He now owns an eco-friendly, reusable bag which says "Bring Your Own Bag." It only cost him 98 cents.
This could be the simplest solution to the whole plastic v. paper controversy. We should bring our own durable canvas or plastic bags when we go shopping. Keeping a shopping bag stuffed into your backpack at all times may be a bit annoying, but at least you can feel virtuous about saving the earth.
It's not even hard to find a reusable bag on campus anymore. The Bookstore's $10 bag made from 100 percent recycled plastic bottles may be a bit pricey, but Penn Dining sells its own version for $1. You'll even get a discount of 5 cents on any purchases over $3 at all Penn Dining locations if you come bearing the bag.
Yet students may not be aware of this. According to Barbara Lea-Kruger of Business Services, Penn Dining has only sold 175 bags since its introduction early last month.
Go get your own bag from somewhere. Philly's jump on the ban wagon will be pointless if we can't change our habits.
Rina Thomas is a Wharton and College senior from New Orleans. Her e-mail address is thomas@dailypennsylvanian.com. The Gospel According to Thomas appears on Thursdays.
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