Now don't get me wrong: I love the environment, and I'm a huge recycler. I just think that consumers should be given the choice. I tried to dig for some background information on the web this morning and according to this article from the Twin Cities Star Tribune, Target spokeswoman Katie Boylan said the company "has no set policy on bags." And indeed in most parts of the country, it seems that Target is defaulting to plastic bags at a time many focus on sustainability. It also cites that "many customers say they prefer plastic bags because they can reuse them to store dog waste or line garbage cans." I fall into that camp: I reuse my plastic bags and then recycle them.
And I realize I should probably focus my frustration on the stupid local ordinances vs. Target's policy, as I'm sure they were forced to comply with Sunnyvale's new law. However, they don't have to pass the cost on to the consumer, as according to the aftormentioned article, at Target stores where they DO offer a choice between paper and plastic, they don't charge extra for one or the other.
6 comments:
Seattle has the same law now, and stores are required to charge a 10 cent tax on paper bags. This ordinance may be the same.
most likely they are charging 10 cents per bag so that you can remember to bring your own?? I lived in France for two years, and that is what they did across the board. I never forgot my bag after I had to pay for crappy plastic bags that were so thin they barely made it to the car. Now that I'm back in the States, I still have that habit of bringing in my own bag. I have one for each of the stores I go to, to make it more fun. Plus you get five cents back at Target for each bag you bring in.
Meliora hit it on the head. Retailers in Seattle are required to charge .10 cents per bag if you don't have your own. I know I used to be dreadful about bringing my own bags but now that it's essentially required, I rarely forget.
Actually this law passed in California ( and from what I understand will ultimately be adopted in the whole state) that requires people to pay for bags, so this is not a target specific issue,
I don't mind it. The Wal-Mart back home charges for bags. I, an employee of Target, do not shop there often, but when I do it's not a big deal. For me a mild inconvenience is certainly outweighed by huge corporations trying to go green. That is a commendable effort and I support companies for doing it, even though it irks me. Not to sound high and mighty or anything! I don't reuse my plastic bags and don't to very many "green" things myself, so I have no room to talk. :)
All stores do this in DC and Montgomery county in MD for any type of bag, paper or plastic, 5 cents each. Local law and I love seeing everyone bringing in their own bags. Big fan.
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