Tacoma: Stores shouldn't provide bags at all

In the current conversation about banning plastic bags, one key component is missing: Plastic bags are made of petroleum, an energy resource that creates and recycles bags as well.

Since our goals need to include reducing our use of finite resources, reducing the use of plastic is paramount.

Paper bags are not a viable option as they deplete another valuable resource. Now that its cousin is legalized, hemp should be cultivated for everything from paper and clothes to hempcrete.

Rather than press for a plastic ban ban, we should encourage retailers not to waste precious dollars to buy disposable bags and consumers not to use them. Costco hasn’t suffered any loss of business by not supplying bags.

Reusable fabric bags are sturdy and washable. Some are designed to roll up to fit into a pocket or purse.

Astonishingly, 25 percent of Americans’ annual trash is generated between Thanksgiving and Christmas – most of which is unnecessary packaging. Not only are disposable shopping bags unnecessary but so is gift wrap. Reusable bags made of fun fabrics and the comic pages wrap our family gifts.

Why wait or press for a ban when not providing or expecting disposable bags seems a reasonable response.

This story was originally published January 12, 2016 at 12:04 PM with the headline "Tacoma: Stores shouldn't provide bags at all."