We've seen all over the news nationwide crackdowns on plastic straws in an attempt to help our environment. Governor Murphy recently vetoed a bill that would've placed a 5 cent tax on plastic bags, so now our local Jersey lawmakers are trying to come up with an even tougher proposal. This proposal would be the toughest in America. Opponents say this new proposal banning businesses from giving plastic bags can be potentially extremely harmful both to them AND we the consumer. I certainly don't want to see businesses suffer from this! I wish we could let it be up to the businesses on how environmental friendly the can be. Under this proposal, stores wouldn't be allowed to hand out single use plastic shopping bags (I'm guilty of getting plastic bags while grocery shopping just this week,) plastic drinking straws and polystyrene food containers! I always say vote with your wallet. After seeing the harm on our environment and wildlife all summer long especially down The Shore, (how sad are those videos where dolphins get plastic bags stuck in their air holes,) we do need to come up with some sort of better procedure. Perhaps grocery stores can have paper bags at the self check out aisles as an alternative option? Even that compromise isn't enough for Governor Murphy and others though, who even want to tax paper bags? I'm open to exploring potentially helpful options. When Awesome Girlfriend Megan and I saw dolphins swimming down Asbury Park this summer, it was one of the most beautiful sights in my lifetime. Hopefully we can together start coming up with realistic compromises, that don't hurt too many.
Photo by Pixabay