They already make biodegradable plastic bags, particularly for communities who must recycle their garbage. It doesn't mean that there is no market for paper bags, but plastic is more adaptable to things like groceries, and other heavy items. I'm sure the manufacturers of these bags are making money or they wouldn't be in business.
In quoting my post, you affirm and agree that you have not been goaded, provoked, emotionally manipulated or otherwise coerced into responding.
"The difference between what we do and what we are capable of doing would suffice to solve most of the world’s problems.”
Mahatma Gandhi
Because fewer and fewer places want to take garbage. Any large municipality must take their trash somewhere, unless they decide to go with gasification plants that incinerate their garbage, but that is another discussion. Most municipalities have to truck their trash to a dump. Dump sites are much harder to come by these days, as an increasing number of rural areas don't want them. Hence a large move toward recycling. The average plastic bag will not degrade for hundreds of years unless exposed to sunlight, thus sucking up space in trash dumps. If you separate out the recylables and put the pure garbage in biodegradable bags, and also make all the superfluous bags degradable, your dump space will last longer. Trash will not increase your tax bill as quickly. Municipalities will not be left in the position of having no place to dump the trash.
In quoting my post, you affirm and agree that you have not been goaded, provoked, emotionally manipulated or otherwise coerced into responding.
"The difference between what we do and what we are capable of doing would suffice to solve most of the world’s problems.”
Mahatma Gandhi
because what's best for the planet isn't always the cheapest. I agree with dr who, people would prefer biodegradables, but it would be hard for biodegradable to compete with plastic bag industry because it's already established. It's classic mom's and pop's stores against wallmart. people want cheap and convenient.
Peter1469 (02-08-2013)
In quoting my post, you affirm and agree that you have not been goaded, provoked, emotionally manipulated or otherwise coerced into responding.
"The difference between what we do and what we are capable of doing would suffice to solve most of the world’s problems.”
Mahatma Gandhi
Peter1469 (02-08-2013)