Quote :

"Bans on plastic bags have taken root in communities across the country, but banning the sale of water in plastic bottles? The town of Concord, Mass., is in line to be the first in the nation to do just that, now that the state’s attorney general has signed off. The bottled water industry, for its part, is considering a lawsuit. Championed by an 84-year-old resident during a three-year battle, the law bans the sale of single-serving PET water bottles of one liter or less starting on Jan. 1 in Concord, population 18,000."

Quote :

"Jean Hill, the Concord resident behind ban, told The Boston Globe that she was relieved after three years of work. "I hope other towns will follow,’" Hill said. "I feel bottled water is a waste of money.""

Well, if you feel that movies are a waste of money, want to ban those too, Hill?

Here is a link to the BBC article: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-20895902

NBC: http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/09/07/13710037-concord-mass-the-first-us-city-to-ban-sale-of-plastic-water-bottles?lite


I know some others in cities like Cambridge, MA and others in Massachusetts were trying to ban them as well. I bet it will likely happen seeing how liberal it is here in Cambridge. I live in Cambridge and use to live in Chapel Hill...at times, Chapel Hill seems moderate in comparison.

[Edited on January 5, 2013 at 4:47 PM. Reason : t]

1/5/2013 4:47:02 PM

This is what happens when the socialist government water industry is threatened by free market competition. They'll never get my precious bodily fluids though.

1/5/2013 4:53:21 PM

funny political cartoon I just found in regards to this:

1/5/2013 5:09:59 PM

We should tax the hell out of plastic bottles

1/5/2013 6:30:48 PM

Plastic bottles of carbonated sugar water still A-OK

[Edited on January 5, 2013 at 11:55 PM. Reason : .]

1/5/2013 11:54:48 PM

I feel very strongly that sometimes government has to encourage change through legislation (e.g. mileage standards) because the free market won't respond quickly enough to address the need for the change.

But,

Quote :

"Plastic bottles of carbonated sugar water still A-OK"

This is the problem with their law; it's selective. At least with plastic bag bans, ALL plastic bags are banned...not just the ones of a certain size or those that are sold at a certain place.

1/6/2013 11:33:54 AM

So what exactly are the arguments in favor of this legislation considering plastic bottles are recyclable? Health concerns? What's the alternative, btw, back to aluminum cans? I'm not quite clear on this.

1/6/2013 12:00:45 PM

recyclable does not mean they are recycled.

1/6/2013 12:35:22 PM

^^ Aluminum cans have plastic lining inside. People saying how wonderful aluminum cans often fail to mention that there is plastic lining them.

1/6/2013 12:54:33 PM

Probably because there isn't actually a plastic lining.

1/6/2013 1:09:57 PM

states rights

1/6/2013 1:12:37 PM

Quote :

"Recent studies have shown that the linings used in most aluminum cans contain a chemical known as Bisphenol A, linked to negative health affects in the brain and in children. Understand the risks of aluminum can liners and your alternatives."

http://www.ehow.com/info_8147954_hazards-aluminum-can-lining.html

I think they should ban aluminum cans. Plastic is the devil and the government decides best.

1/6/2013 1:15:26 PM

aluminum cans don't end up in giant floating semi-dissolved trash continents in the ocean

1/6/2013 1:41:40 PM

^ Shouldn't the government ban all plastic bottles then if they end up in massive piles of trash in the ocean?

I think someone should write a letter to the Concord, MA government and demand that they ban all plastic bottles under 1L.

[Edited on January 6, 2013 at 1:50 PM. Reason : sd]

1/6/2013 1:45:01 PM

yes, or at least taxed. other types of plastic consumables too. we should also try to get multi-national support for it, but since many places subsidize the plastic industry and resin exports that's unlikely.

the more practical first step would be rebates for people who reduce plastics use in their packaging and production. while more things are packaged in plastic now, its important to note that most of these things use less plastic than they used to.

1/6/2013 1:51:59 PM

At work, we use plastic spoons and plastic cups that we throw in the trash because they are biodegradable.

http://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/plastic.html

1/6/2013 1:57:29 PM

Only kinda biodegradable, and not biodegradable at all really in a landfill

1/6/2013 2:43:27 PM

Quote :

"Plastic bottles of carbonated sugar water still A-OK"

You just made that up, didn't you?

1/6/2013 2:51:32 PM

^ what?

1/6/2013 8:27:14 PM