West Virginia Lawmakers Attempt to Ban Plastic Bags
West Virginia Lawmakers Attempt to Ban Plastic Bags Save Email Print
Posted: 9:49 PM Feb 7, 2008
 Last Updated: 9:49 PM Feb 7, 2008
 Reporter: Associated Press
32 comments
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CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) - Several West Virginia lawmakers are attempting to ban plastic shopping bags statewide.

A House of Delegates bill would require retail establishments to phase out the use of plastic bags by 2011.

The measure would also require them to provide compostable bags such as paper, or offer reusable bags for purchase. Retailers would also have to put recycling labels on bags and set up recycling bins for customer use.

Delegate Ralph Rodighiero (ROD'-uh-geer-ee-oh) is the bill's lead sponsor. The Logan County Democrat says plastic bags have become a public eyesore, cluttering riverbanks and roadways. He also says a ban on the bags would benefit the environment.

Other states have considered similar legislation but retail opposition has prevented the measures from gaining momentum. The first local government to ban plastic shopping bags was San Francisco last March.

There is debate in some circles about whether plastic bags are actually the better environmental choice. Concerns include the amount of trees cut down and the pollution created during paper bag production.
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Posted by: Rachel on Jul 14, 2008 at 10:22 PM
well, i guess these r all nice ideas, but really what is ideal s if people would purchase, use and CLEAN reusable bags. I'm a cashier at WalMart and i see how many plastic bags go out just from one store. I ALSO see nasty funky reusable ones that make me wanna puke. we originally used them but had to stop because it spread disease and pestilence (spelled right?). Reality:....plastic bags really are ruining the earth. not just from people purposely littering them. Do we really think that we can catch all the people littering these? There is a "floating Island" between Cali and Hawaii that is the waste that falls off garbage ships. dams are filled with plastic bottles and bags. so are river banks and other water sources.not only is it destroying the planet but the fact that this could save EVERYBODY money by simply recycling them. not using them for trash bags. as convenient as it is. and not tossing them anywhere we want. We dnt have to b Xtrem, just b earth friendly in any small way
Posted by: Bag Lady on Feb 16, 2008 at 11:45 PM
I use paper bags to hold my liquor in. Plastic isn't as good.
Posted by: Johnny on Feb 14, 2008 at 12:34 AM
I think that a tax on disposable works better. It promotes the use of reusable bags . In Ireland, the bag tax has reduced bag usage by %94.
Posted by: RoaneCo. on Feb 11, 2008 at 08:32 PM
I wish they would shut up about the this plastic bags stuff before Danny Jones puts a $2.00 user fee on them.
Posted by: Slocum on Feb 11, 2008 at 07:43 PM
I'm stockpiling plastic bags as we speak. When they are made illegal I will be able to make a lot of money since you won't see them around anymore. Just wait, in 20 years when I sell them I will be a rich man.
Posted by: ralf on Feb 11, 2008 at 11:53 AM
"Why" sounds like a germaphobe.
Posted by: fred on Feb 11, 2008 at 11:43 AM
earl, quit griping.
Posted by: Agree w/T on Feb 11, 2008 at 11:25 AM
Yes I agree with T, we have much more to worry about than grocery bags. Every city in the state is trying to raise the water and sewer bills, gas is 3.00 a gallon, the cable company has a plastic bag over our heads and they are worried about what kind of bags to make us use. Please remember this come election day.
Posted by: donnie on Feb 11, 2008 at 10:59 AM
if they ban plastic bags, what will logan county use as grass? old paper towels?
Posted by: earl on Feb 11, 2008 at 05:37 AM
CANT ANYONE FIND ANYTHING ELSE TO GRIPE ABOUT
Posted by: Graham on Feb 10, 2008 at 08:16 PM
winners writes in run on sentences and doesn't use periods or commas and doesn't capitalize uraloser it does mention buying but the retailers dont support it so winners conspiracy theory doesnt hold water
Posted by: anon on Feb 10, 2008 at 07:50 PM
To uraloser-it states-" offer compostable bags such as paper or reusable bags FOR PURCHASE" I reread the story.
Posted by: gracee on Feb 10, 2008 at 04:58 PM
Consider this: plastic is made from petroleum. Petroleum resources are finite, and plastics should be used for purposes for which other materials are not appropriate (medical uses, for example). Plastics also do not decompose. It is insanity to continue to use plastics for packaging that will end up in landfills. And it's not just the grocery bags. You can't even buy an ink pen these days that is not packaged in plastic. By the way, Europeans think packaging food in plastic is just plain yucky. Plastics also off-gas, creating health risks.
Posted by: uraloser on Feb 10, 2008 at 04:37 PM
winners, you obviously didn't read the story. There is no suggestion whatsoever of buying your own bags. The story clearly states that the retailer must provide paper or reusable. Please re-read.
Posted by: Anonymous on Feb 10, 2008 at 04:32 PM
I have to agree with "why" on this one. we went to plastic to save the trees and now they want to go back to that and reusable bag GROSS people are so nasty and if I worked in a store i wouldn't even want to handle the bags ....paper bags are a REAL issue to worry about, if that is all WV had to worry about I could understand but WV along with the rest of the tri-state area have a lot more bigger problem than plastic bags
Posted by: sherry on Feb 10, 2008 at 12:45 PM
well then what about banning beer & other drugs too while their at it. drink at home or don't drink any?
Posted by: winners on Feb 10, 2008 at 09:45 AM
what is this so now ur going to use tax dollars to pay for a problem u created heres a novel idea find out whos throwing these bags around and fine them plus make them spend so many hours community service cleaning up 200 hrs first offense 500 second time and dont hold back this is as simple as it gets ur in a state where most people cant afford food and u qant them to buy there own bags sounds to me like wally world or krogers need a break their not making enough money so they get the law makers to endorse this grand plan last track i had littering was illegal but i guess it is to much to enforce the laws on the books lets just make a new one and spend money that could be used wisely on a real problems like better education or teacher wages stop and think how much this will increase the bottom line for the grocery stores and i'll bet they wont drop prices but then again its wva so what more could be expected the rich get richer the poor get poorer thats the americian way
Posted by: Why on Feb 10, 2008 at 09:01 AM
Why in the world ban plastic bags? We will deplete the ozone even more by cutting down all the trees to make paper bags. Oh yeah, lets spread germs and diseases by making people bring their own filthy bags to the store. Have you ever looked inside some peoples houses? Are you going to ban filthy bags. I don't want these people's germs. That is why I spray the shopping cart with Lysol first and use hand sanitizer three or more times while shopping.
Posted by: crazyeight on Feb 10, 2008 at 01:10 AM
If someone puts a plastic bag over your head you can suffocate. If they put a paper bag over your heat you can break out of it. I agree with the bill for safety reasons. I've already started practicing breaking through paper bags. I'm getting pretty good at it.
Posted by: Laurie on Feb 9, 2008 at 07:56 PM
I am all for a ban on plastic bags. I really feet West Virginia should take it further and make recycling MANDATORY at home. Such as separating paper and plastic.
Posted by: Phil on Feb 8, 2008 at 07:38 PM
Delegate Ralph Rodighiero (ROD'-uh-geer-ee-oh) is the bill's lead sponsor. The Logan County Democrat says plastic bags have become a public eyesore, cluttering riverbanks and roadways. He also says a ban on the bags would benefit the environment. HOW ABOUT A BAN ON WEST VIRGINIA !!
Posted by: me on Feb 8, 2008 at 02:29 PM
Yay Environment!!!
Posted by: Gail on Feb 8, 2008 at 02:19 PM
It's about time. Please give the legislators all the assistance they need. The commercial community will also soon appreciate the cleaner roadways.
Posted by: Carl on Feb 8, 2008 at 02:15 PM
Great! That would be the main litter that our money goes to to clean up.
Posted by: EC on Feb 8, 2008 at 10:27 AM
Good idea! I am tired of looking up in trees and seeing plastic bags waving at me!
Posted by: Wayne on Feb 8, 2008 at 09:37 AM
" To: T " People have to pick-up or clean-up those plastic bags. Our State and County Governments spend millions of dollars to pick up and dispose of those bags.. That’s the reason You see those orange clothed people out on the highways. They are taken out of the jails to clean up those bags. The plastic bag issue will be the simplest to deal right at this time. Everyone knows people are killing themselves with drugs. The people that travel through this State just don’t see the drug addicts lying along the highways as they see plastic bags scattered everywhere. No, that’s not a good comparison is it.
Posted by: Bill on Feb 8, 2008 at 08:55 AM
Let's get those bags off the roadways, out of the trees, off the shopping center banks, out of the creeks, and every where else they end up. Eliminate them in due time.
Posted by: T on Feb 8, 2008 at 05:59 AM
WV has the highest Prescription drug use rate, is one of the lowest states for dental care, high unemployment and welfare rates....and you guys are worried about plastic bags???? Come on guys!
Posted by: Anonymous on Feb 7, 2008 at 11:27 PM
I was at Wal-mart tonight and they had canvas bag displays on a few register end caps. Aside from the obvious environmental factors, this will save companies money, and the ones that carry reusable bags will have another popular product.
Posted by: sherry on Feb 7, 2008 at 11:01 PM
Craycrafts Foodland in Catlettsburg, KY sell canvas type reusable bags.
Posted by: Dru on Feb 7, 2008 at 10:46 PM
Yay for this finally getting attention. Why don't we just purchase reusable bags? They are sturdier anyways. I've seen them for sale at Kroger's out of state and thought about purchasing one.
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