Pacific Green Products

County Moves Closer To Plastic Bag Ban

alonso — Wed, 24 Aug 2011 05:26:04 +0000

County Edges Closer to Plastic Bag Ban

By Danny Wool Tue, Aug 23, 2011

Millions of bags wind up in Monterey Bay. Photo by Curtis Cartier.

At its meeting this morning, Santa Cruz County’s Board of Supervisors will take further steps to introduce a ban on plastic bags, at least in the unincorporated areas of Santa Cruz. It’s a significant step forward. There are an estimated 500 retailers in these areas, and most of them hand out free plastic bags to their customers. The new law would eliminate these bags for everything but frozen goods, produce and meat.

Advocates of the bill believe that paper bags are more environmentally friendly—a view that is contested by the plastic bag industry—even if they are not quite as friendly as reusable bags. The problem is that they also cost more for stores. In order to lower the burden on retailers, the proposed ordinance introduces a 10 cent fee on paper bags, which goes up to 25 cents per bag one year after the ordinance goes into effect.

The real problem is that the ordinance will not affect the incorporated cities and towns in the county, including the cities of Santa Cruz and Watsonville. Yet, these towns are most responsible for the extensive use of plastic bags in the county, which is estimated at 43 million plastic bags a year. While these bags can be recycled, according to the EPA only 5 percent are, with the rest of them going into landfills, or, more disconcerting, into Monterey Bay.

Supervisor Neal Coonerty hopes that the public reading of the ordinance today will be one step forward toward a uniform ordinance throughout the entire county. The Save the Plastic Bag Coalition has already said that it plans to fight the county’s efforts.

California says NO to Styrofoam

alonso — Tue, 07 Jun 2011 23:47:07 +0000

California says NO to Styrofoam

Posted on June 7th, 2011

You wont be getting your typical Styrofoam takeout containers in California after July 1, 2016. California has now become the first state to officially ban the use of polystyrene plastics. Polystyrene plastics are made out of petroleum, which are petro-products chemically altered to become liquid hydrocarbon. This can be molded into a variety of shapes and it will harden into an aromatic polymer.

The most common form of polystyrene plastic is Styrofoam. Styrofoam is bad for the environment in several ways; birds, fish, and mammals mistake it as food when it breaks up into a little pieces. Styrofoam is not naturally degraded by anything, meaning it will stay in a forest, on a beach, or in a lake for a very, very long time (1 million years +). Styrofoam can be recycled but hardly ever is because of low return cost and no market for it.

Packing peanuts have to go

The ban on polystyrene plastics is specifically intended to force restaurants, stores, and other venders to find some alternative, more sustainable containers. The bill passed through congress with a 21-15 vote. Environmentalist are rejoicing, while businessmen are scoffing saying that the new bill will put hundreds of foam manufacturing employees out of work.

The larger goal of the Californian ban is to limit the use of single-use items that cannot be re-used, and are bad for the environment. Imagine how much waste would be saved if every person brought their own cutlery set, cup, bowl, and container when they went to the store or restaurant.

San Francisco was the first city to enact a polystyrene ban on takeout containers back in 2007. Palo Alto joined the “ban wagon” in 2010, also banning polystyrene takeout containers. Palo Alto also bans polystyrene in packing peanuts and Styrofoam packing blocks, but allows the plastic on a limited basis in cup lids, utensils, and straws.

How would you feel about a Polystyrene ban in your city?

If you’re interested in Styrofoam recycling check with your local recycling agency to see if they have a program set up for collecting Styrofoam.

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alonso — Thu, 19 May 2011 06:25:03 +0000

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Benefits of Biodegradable and Compostable Trash Bags and other Eco-Friendly Products by: Robert Haskell

alonso — Thu, 19 May 2011 06:10:38 +0000

Benefits of Biodegradable and Compostable Trash Bags and other Eco-Friendly Products
by: Robert Haskell

Biodegradable and Compostable Trash Bags are considered a great way to keep huge amounts of garbage out of disposal areas. We all throw garbage out of our home. If we add the waste of all our homes then it adds up to a huge pile of garbage. Human population is increasing with each passing day but the land space remains the same. To find a solution to this grave problem led to the invention of Biodegradable Products that break down in city waste disposal areas.

There are millions of people all over the world who are not even aware that eco-friendly products exist in the market. They are fairly new in the market and this is why several governments and other organizations are organizing campaigns to popularize these Earth-Friendly products.

Most people are interested in knowing why eco-friendly products should be used. This article should help. Earth friendly office supply products are available at affordable prices and break down rapidly in any garbage disposal area.

The following are the prominent types of degradable Trash Bags.

a.Compostable-These types of bags break down more quickly than biodegradable bags. They will completely decompose under ideal circumstances in 10-45 days.

b.Biodegradable-These kinds of bags break down into carbon dioxide and water when disposed of in commercial landfills. The process takes from 18-36 months.

These unique Green Solutions are effective because of their dual process. In the initial process the plastic is oxidized and afterwards micro organisms consume the plastic. These micro organisms leave behind refuse which is a reusable biomass. They are highly beneficial as they are environmental friendly and do not contain harmful toxins as well.

To give a better future to our coming generations we need to seriously think about Biodegradable Products. It will be a wise move as you do not want to leave a legacy of billions of plastic bags behind for future generations.

Given the rising concern for the environment and limited land space for garbage disposal, biodegradable and Compostable Products are a welcome addition in the market. Eco-friendly products enjoy good marketing opportunity in the market.

The Internet is the best place to start your search for high quality Biodegradable Products. Just take some time to sit at your computer and do a quick search online for Earth-Friendly products. Several results will appear on the screen of your computer but you need to choose the reliable one that offers high quality products at cost effective rates. In this way you can contribute to save the planet by going green whenever you throw away trash.

Simply sign up with the website in few simple steps. Browse through the different pages of the website to get the idea of the green solutions offered by them. View the products and you can even search for the right ones with the help of advanced search tools. The customer service is excellent and they will help you to choose the right products. Browse now and you can rest assured that you will receive only high quality products at competitive rates.

County holds public meeting on plastic bag ban

alonso — Fri, 13 May 2011 04:45:49 +0000

Written by Ecology Action

County holds public meeting on plastic bag ban

By TOVIN LAPAN

Posted: 01/27/2011 01:30:15 AM PST

LIVE OAK — Environmental advocacy groups, residents and even a “Bag Monster” showed up at a community forum held by the Santa Cruz County Public Works Department on Wednesday to discuss a proposed plastic bag ban.

Save Our Shores, Ecology Action and the Surfrider Foundation were all on hand to talk with residents about the impact of plastic bags on the community and the environment. Advocates for the ban pointed out the harm to turtles that mistakenly ingest bags thinking they are jellyfish, and birds and other animals that get caught in them.

The proposed single-use bag reduction ordinance would ban all plastic bags at checkout in retail stores in unincorporated Santa Cruz County. Bags used inside a store, to hold produce or bread for example, would still be allowed. To use a paper bag, stores would charge customers a small fee, which would go directly to the store to help cover costs. An alternate version of the proposal would exclude take-out fast food from the ban.

County officials said the ban is necessary because, despite recycling programs, the majority of plastic bags are not recycled and they are not a good use of resources.

The “Bag Monster,” Norm Beeson, a Save Our Shores volunteer covered in 500 bags — the number of bags the group says the average American uses in a year — was a tangible reminder of how much plastic people use. Little more than his gold-rimmed glasses and white beard showed under his costume.

Beeson, who lives near Seacliff, decided to get involved with Save Our Shores four years ago after taking notice of all the trash on the beaches.

County Supervisor Mark Stone, who has championed the ordinance, says he got fed up waiting for the state to pass any regulations on plastic bags but he would have preferred a unified statewide ordinance instead of different laws in different communities.

“I see it as a burden on some businesses that operate throughout the state and need to comply with different laws,” Stone said. “One thing that is a side benefit, however, is that it should help some of our small businesses. New Leaf doesn’t use plastic, and they have to buy paper bags at higher cost than big groceries that can buy in bulk. So increasing reusable bag use should help them.”

Critics of the ban say plastic is being unfairly singled out, while paper can be just as detrimental to the environment in its own way.

“Where they have imposed bans, the vast majority of customers are still using paper bags,” said Richard Wieckowicz, a local resident who has been looking into the issue. “The real environmental impacts are not being considered.”

Plastics industry representatives say improved recycling programs are a better idea, and reusable bags, some of which a recent study by the Center for Consumer Freedom found to have excessive amounts of lead, are problematic.

“We found that a statewide ban could cost California an estimated 1,000 jobs,” said Tim Shestek of the American Chemistry Council. “Most people reuse the plastic bags they get at stores, so single-use’ is somewhat of a misnomer. A lot of reusable bags are made in China, and the ban could have a negative influence on employment.”

In the next few weeks an environmental impact report will be released, and a 30-day comment period will follow. The ordinance could then go to the Board of Supervisors by April, and, if approved, would take effect six months later.

All four cities in the county also are considering such a ban, though none has enacted one.