Paper or Plastic?

Colorado Senate Bill 156 was recently turned down. What was this Bill about? The bill was about implementing a fee for plastic bags handed out by grocery stores. The goal was to reduce the usage of plastic bags due to their environmental impact. The fees per plastic bag would have been $0.06 and would have been split between the State of Colorado and the grocery store. The profits from the bill would have been used in a bag reduction program.

State Senator Ted Harvey (R-Highlands Ranch) opposed the Bill and called it terrible. His fear was that consumers would be driven to paper bags instead. His concern was that paper bags are even worse for the environment. Apparently several proponents of the Bill agreed on this statement.

Well, plastic bags are definitely not good for the environment and the loose usage is concerning. It will take many decades for those plastic bags to decompose (if they decompose at all). Paper Bags at least would decompose or can be recycled.

So, the question to State Senator Ted Harvey would be: What are doing about it? European countries have long cracked down on the usage of plastic bags and you have to pay up to $0.50 for a single bag. Paper bags are not offered at all. Consumers bring their own re-usable bags or baskets to carry their groceries to the car. It is a learning process, but considering how problematic plastic bags are, it would have been more beneficial to not shoot down the Bill, but to work with the other Senators and to come up with a solution that would help the environment.

I do not have information about which Senator voted which way, but Ted Harvey is specifically mentioned in the Highlands Ranch Herald. How about stepping up and taking leadership and to go the extra mile? If he represents Highlands Ranch, it would put Highlands Ranch on the map as a leading force in how to help the environment maybe?

So, what is your choice? Paper or Plastic?

Please note: This article is not meant to put Ted Harvey into a bad spot. I think it is all up to everyone to think a little bit more about the environment so that our children will have the same chance to enjoy outdoors as we have it.