45 replies to this topic

[Darth Lefty]

How DID people survive before disposable diapers?

Many didn't. Many still don't.

[folsom4us]

Been there twice since. First time I was there I didn't realize they had made the change. I didn't have too many items so I opted no bag at all. Today, I did bring a Target bag and ended up buying one of theirs. It is a pain in the butt, but it is a worthy cause. I did notice that the two times I have been there that there were no lines.

[The Average Joe]

Just had my first "bagless" run to WalMart. Pissed me off. I mentioned to the checker that I thought it was ridiculous that they are "saving the planet" by not using plastic bags while most of their items for sale have an insane amount of excessive packaging, she seemed dumbstruck (insert Walmart employee joke here) that I wasn't thrilled. I started to mention the "nanny state" and just figured I'd be wasting my breath.

Count me as one who thinks this is just silly window dressing for the "green" crowd that achieves next to nothing.

[EAH]

Just had my first "bagless" run to WalMart. Pissed me off. I mentioned to the checker that I thought it was ridiculous that they are "saving the planet" by not using plastic bags while most of their items for sale have an insane amount of excessive packaging, she seemed dumbstruck (insert Walmart employee joke here) that I wasn't thrilled. I started to mention the "nanny state" and just figured I'd be wasting my breath.

Count me as one who thinks this is just silly window dressing for the "green" crowd that achieves next to nothing.

Really warped logic. Why don't you educate yourself about plastic bag toxins and general dangers before you throw a hissy fit about NOT getting one for free. Would it seriously be so hard to reuse one of the doubtless millions you already have recieved or God forbid use a cloth bag?????

Reducing the use and waste of plastic bags ALONE will have an enormous impact on the health of our planet and its inhabitants.

Consider the following:

Plastic bags are made of polyethylene
Polyethylene is a petroleum product
Production contributes to air pollution and energy consumption
Four to five trillion plastic bags are manufactured each year
Americans use over 380 billion polyethylene bags per year
Americans throw away approximately 100 billion polyethylene bags per year
Of those 100 trillion plastic bags, 1% are recycled
It takes 1000 years for polyethylene bags to break down
As polyethylene breaks down, toxic substances leach into the soil and enter the food chain
Approximately 1 billion seabirds and mammals die per year by ingesting plastic bags
Plastic bags are often mistaken as food by marine mammals. 100,000 marine mammals die yearly by eating plastic bags.
These animals suffer a painful death, the plastic wraps around their intestines or they choke to death
Plastic bag choke landfills
Plastic bags are carried by the wind into forests, ponds, rivers, and lakes
There are alternatives to plastic bags. All of this death and pollution is unnecessary
Countries all over the world are slowly becoming aware of the threat plastic bags present to our world. Many have enacted laws aimed to decrease the use of plastic bags, while others have, or are, planning to impose taxes on the use of plastic bags.

[The Average Joe]

You completely miss my point. I wasn't "throwing a hissy fit" because I didn't get one for free (as I often do, I used no bag at all), I was irritated because the person seemed appalled that there was another viewpoint to their "green-ness".

I was pointing out the ridiculousness of them selling thousands of products stuffed with far more poly packaging than a mere bag (how many products do YOU buy that have multiple layers of packaging) while promoting a 'green" agenda. If they wanted to have more than a token effect, they would get their suppliers to commit to less packaging, sell items in bulk vs convenience size and use paper, which is one of the few true renewable sources.

If you don't like plastic bags, fine. I don't want to monitor your use of convenience items and decide what is reasonable for you. But since you want to impose your choice on me, I assume you don't use any plastic food storage, don't buy plastic toys for the kids, have your computer monitors custom encased in wood, have a carbon fiber interior for your automobiles and walk on wool carpet, tile or hardwood in your home. I guess you don't want your newspaper in a plastic sleeve when it's raining? I was pointing out the hypocrisy of it all. I also oppose nanny culture where others decide what is "best" for us all (like that ridiculous incandescent bulb ban).

I also call bs on your stats (not counting the trillion typo). There is no way my family uses 4000 plastic bags a year...11 a day? Every day? Maybe 5 a week...and we reuse those until they go in recycle. And according to your stats the US only uses about 8% of the worldwide market. And we recycle 75% of them. So our excesses" are 2% of the "problem". If many countries have already enacted laws, who is using all the bags?
And if you put those stats next to the amounts of poly used in packaging, I'm sure even you would agree that whatever "feel-good" benefit there may be from Walmart not offering plastic bags is a pittance compared to any real, substantial change in the use of plastics.

If you want to eschew owning a car, use solar power for electricity, carry organic produce in a hemp basket and live in a log hut made from naturally felled timber...
I say more power to you. Just don't make that choice for me...

And BTW, I am energy conscious (and pay extra for "green" energy), I use cfls (but I am concerned about the toxic metals these will produce in landfills) I do recycle, i pass on bags when i can carry items, I minimize trips, I bicycle, I pick up others trash, I use rechargeable batteries, etc. However, I am against these things being imposed on others.

[EAH]

Well then my question to you should have been :
Did your telling off the poor Wal Mart checker who makes minimum wage and has to deal with people like you all day long since this policy was implemented make you feel better? Knowing of course that they had ABSOLUTELY no say in making this policy, nor ability to change it?

[Dave Burrell]

I was pointing out the ridiculousness of them selling thousands of products stuffed with far more poly packaging than a mere bag (how many products do YOU buy that have multiple layers of packaging) while promoting a 'green" agenda. If they wanted to have more than a token effect, they would get their suppliers to commit to less packaging, sell items in bulk vs convenience size and use paper, which is one of the few true renewable sources.

I fully agree, but someone's gotta start somewhere and this is a step in the right direction.
I too would like to see products no longer packaged in hermetically sealed hard plastic cases

[Bill Z]

I fully agree, but someone's gotta start somewhere and this is a step in the right direction.
I too would like to see products no longer packaged in hermetically sealed hard plastic cases

I hate that packaging. Even after cutting it with scissors, it can still be a pain to get your item out, and then the sharp plastic edges also can cut you if you aren't careful.

My other pet peeve, is stickers that don't peel off easily. Ya know, where the glue is stronger than the paper so the paper begins to peel from paper still leaving behind paper and the glue.

[ducky]

I hate that packaging. Even after cutting it with scissors, it can still be a pain to get your item out, and then the sharp plastic edges also can cut you if you aren't careful.

My other pet peeve, is stickers that don't peel off easily. Ya know, where the glue is stronger than the paper so the paper begins to peel from paper still leaving behind paper and the glue.

I hate that packaging, too. Sometimes it is hard to get the product out without damaging it. I guess we can all thank shoplifters & thieves for that trend. I also hate it when they use dozens of those sharp, plastic twist ties to hold a $9.99 toy in a box.

[cw68]

If they wanted to have more than a token effect, they would get their suppliers to commit to less packaging, sell items in bulk vs convenience size and use paper, which is one of the few true renewable sources.

The excessive packaging is generally done due to shoplifting. Walmart can't control sticky-fingers, but they can contribute this way. Better than nothing.

[baltimore?]

Just had my first "bagless" run to WalMart. Pissed me off. I mentioned to the checker that I thought it was ridiculous that they are "saving the planet" by not using plastic bags while most of their items for sale have an insane amount of excessive packaging, she seemed dumbstruck (insert Walmart employee joke here) that I wasn't thrilled. I started to mention the "nanny state" and just figured I'd be wasting my breath.

Count me as one who thinks this is just silly window dressing for the "green" crowd that achieves next to nothing.

Way to give em hell! I am sure that as soon as you got done berating her, she called the CEO of Wal-Mart and let him know your feelings. I do not like Wal-Mart so much, but at least they are doing something. Good lord, you have nothing better to do than put down this person that is making nine freaking dollars per hour? I really hope that you felt better after your rant, as I am sure that she immediately shut down and did not hear a damn word you said. Seriously, if this brings you that much grief, you need to get a life.

[SacKen]

We went to Walmart this weekend for the first time since the bagless policy started. Since we have been using reusable bags for a couple of years now, the policy isn't a big deal to me. What was a big deal was the extra time it took to checkout because of all the people complaining in front of us. The #1 complaint was that it was an "inconvenience" to them. I guess the inconvenience they were causing for the checker and the people behind them meant nothing.

BTW, to those that think this is crap, especially when there is so much waste in product packaging, bla bla bla... Walmart has been actively using their buying power to "encourage" manufacturers to reduce the amount of packaging in their products. They started a "sustainability" program that is focusing on several areas, including things like reduced packaging, reducing the amount of phosphates in laundry detergent, etc. They even have a "Packaging Scorecard" they use when making purchasing decisions.

http://walmartstores.com/Sustainability

I'm not a big "green" freak, but I think its silly to not at least go after the low-hanging fruit. There's so many little changes that can make a huge collective affect on our resource consumption, waste, and pollution, yet have a negligible or no affect on our daily lives.

[Bill Z]

I went shopping at Walmart this weekend. entered the store with my oversize Costco bag.

Was able to shoulder the costco bag when I left so no need to take the cart back out to my car.

[The Average Joe]

<wonders about reading comprehension>

Nowhere did I say I "berated" or "told off" or "gave hell" to the checker as two of you jumped to imply. I also didn't have a "hissy fit."
I "mentioned to the checker" . In other words, I expressed an opinion. I didn't attack her. How will management ever know how their customer feels if no one ever applauds or complains?
Yes I was irritated that she couldn't understand why I thought the excessive packaging was more of a problem, but I didn't take it out on her.
But those of you that are comprehension challenged feel free to make arbitrary rants about things that never happened.

[BinFolsom]

Nowhere did I say I "berated" or "told off" or "gave hell" to the checker as two of you jumped to imply. I also didn't have a "hissy fit."
I "mentioned to the checker" . In other words, I expressed an opinion. I didn't attack her. How will management ever know how their customer feels if no one ever applauds or complains?Yes I was irritated that she couldn't understand why I thought the excessive packaging was more of a problem, but I didn't take it out on her.
But those of you that are comprehension challenged feel free to make arbitrary rants about things that never happened.

The key word is management here.... You need to express your opinion there. In many years in the retail business, MANAGEMENT usually considers employees as complainers and information goes in one ear and out the other and employees give up on passing comments along. CUSTOMERS do get their attention and if you take a moment before leaving or calling after getting home would be the more logical.

Just my opinion.....