The town of Aspen, Colorado has voted to ban plastic bags in grocery stores, and several other Colorado communities are considering the same. Basalt has approved a 20 cent fee on plastic and paper bags, and Carbondale is moving toward the ban as well. Some folks are upset over the ban, saying a government mandate is not the way to do it, and that people should have the choice. With the amount of plastic garbage in our oceans and landfills, it does seem that there should be some incentive not to use plastic bags. We've all got a zillion canvas bags that we've received from the health fair, a conference we attended, a great store we went to and wanted to support, and it's just a matter of remembering to bring them. When we have traveled out of the country, it is not uncommon to go to the grocery store and be charged for a grocery bag. If you want to use it, they add it to your bill, and that's just the way it is. I understand that even our little town of Steamboat Springs is considering something similar. Maybe rather than an all-out ban, if a fee was charged per bag that went to local environmental causes, it would not seem like a mandate but instead a choice. Either you choose to use and pay for a plastic bag, and the money goes to a worthy cause, or you bring your bag from home and save a plastic tree. Wink I almost always bring my own bags, but on the days I forget, I honestly feel guilty. I would probably feel better paying for it if the money was going to support something I believe in, rather than counting toward the bottom line of the grocery store. Just some Monday morning thoughts from EcoSak...