Campaign hopes to sack grocery bags

Submitted by John Richardson on Fri, 11/06/2009 - 14:01

A group representing businesses, conservationists and the Baldacci Administration is launching a new public education campaign to reduce the use of disposable plastic and paper grocery bags by 33 percent in two years.

The campaign is called “Got Your Bags, Maine?” Leaders of the group plan to officially sign the agreement and announce the details at the State House in Augusta Monday morning.

Although no details were included, a notice sent by the group today says: “The campaign is a public education and outreach effort aimed at encouraging Mainers to increase the usage of reusable bags for shopping and decrease the use of single use paper and plastic bags.”

Reducing the use of disposable bags, especially plastic, has been the focus of legislative debates as well as private efforts by retailers.

The group that put together the new effort includes the Maine Grocers Association, Maine Merchants Association, Hannaford Bros. Co., Rite-Aid, Wal-Mart, the Natural Resources Council of Maine, American Chemistry Council, the Maine Chamber of Commerce, representatives from the Maine State Planning Office and the Maine Department of Environmental Protection, as well as a growing number of Maine grocers and retailers.

Copyright 2009 MaineToday Media Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Bookmark/Search this post with:

Comment viewing options

Select your preferred way to display the comments and click "Save settings" to activate your changes.

I try to use canvas bags as

Submitted by Anne Mosey on Fri, 11/06/2009 - 18:10.

I try to use canvas bags as often as possible but I sometimes forget to bring them into the stores. 

Of course the stores are in favor of this.  Instead of having to buy bags as a business expense, they can sell them to the customers.  Their cost goes down & they can make money on the reusable bags.

Stupid!! Down right stupid!

Submitted by Richard McKusic, Sr. on Fri, 11/06/2009 - 16:58.

Stupid!! Down right stupid!

so what am I supposed to use

Submitted by rinht2 on Fri, 11/06/2009 - 16:39.

so what am I supposed to use for trash can liners?

Umm...maybe trash can

Submitted by s h on Fri, 11/06/2009 - 20:41.

Umm...maybe trash can liners?  You know, they come in a box -- they're in aisle with the household goods.  I'm surprised stores haven't started charging for these bags yet.

What about the plastic bags

Submitted by Scott Bernier on Fri, 11/06/2009 - 15:30.

What about the plastic bags that bread comes in?

What about the excessive packaging stuff you buy in the store comes in?  Why is the package so much larger than the contents?  I know stuff settles, but you can't convince me that it settles by 50% or more in some cases.