"Safety First"
On March 1, 2013, Austin Texas passed an ordinance banning single-use carryout bags.
Single-Use Carryout Bag Ordinance can significantly reduce the number of thin
plastic bags that can harm our environment, engender unsightly litter and end
up in landfills that can take many years to decompose. It can also contribute to flooding by clogging storm drains and creeks. It
can also harm animals when it is mistaken as food. People in Austin now have
the option of bringing their own bags or purchase a reusable bag at checkout.
Approximately 9 cities in Texas have enacted the Single-Use Carryout Bag
Ordinance, but Legislature has failed to educate people of the potential hazard of cross contamination. Reducing the use of plastic is great for our environment, but I
encourage Texas Legislature to warn and/or educate Texans on the potential hazards of reusable bags before they allow more cities in Texas to enact this
ordinance.
Reusable
bags can lead to contamination and sickness if people neglect to wash and/or
clean them. According to an article in the International Association for Food Protection:
"Reusable bags were
collected at random from consumers as they entered grocery stores in California
and Arizona. In interviews, it was found that reusable bags are seldom if ever
washed and often used for multiple purposes. Large numbers of bacteria were
found in almost all bags and coliform bacteria in half. Escherichia coli were
identified in 8% of the bags, as well as a wide range of enteric bacteria,
including several opportunistic pathogens."
Many
people are not aware of the harmful risks and effects associated with unwashed reusable
bags. Studies have shown that San Francisco’s ban on plastic bags has led to an
increase in bacterial food-borne illnesses and deaths. Washing
the bags is known to reduce about 99.9 percent of the bacteria in the bags. Texas
Legislature should be aware of its people’s safety and educate the people on
the proper care of reusable bags before more cities in Texas enact the
Single-Use Carryout Bag Ordinance. Proper care should be printed or displayed on the bags.
I, Marquis Bagby, agree one hundred and ten percent with my colleague Loan Tran on the growing epidemic we as Texans are facing currently when it comes to reusing the reusable bags as a result of the single-use carryout bag ordinance. For most people that are now affected by the ordinance, it doesn't even pop into their minds that the bag they continue to use time and time again will eventually become dirty and host a number of harmful bacterias.
ReplyDeleteJust like with anything we as humans continue to use over time, there should come a time where that item, no matter how big or small will need to be cleaned. I mean think about it, when the car gets dirty - we wash it, when our clothes get dirty - we wash those, when the household carpet gets dirty - we shampoo it, so why not apply the same logic to our reusable carryout bags?
I think for some the bag is seldom used and is conveniently pushed off the priority list to be taken care of. Or maybe individuals feel that since the bag is only being used for a short amount of time, it could possibly miss a few washes or two. Whatever the reasonings are behind the lack of keeping up with the cleanliness of these bags, they are ultimately hurting us as a nation.
I also agree that "proper care instructions" should be printed or somehow attached to the bags when they are purchased. Texas legislature should definitely have this on their radar come next month when they meet again and make it mandatory for stores that are complying with the ordinance to have a visible display somewhere on these bags for the proper caring of our reusable carryout bags.
ReplyDeleteMy colleague Ms. Tran's article caught my attention. Austin as a growing city's decision for the no plastic bag use was an innovative idea that effected all of our residents. “SafetyFirst” is a post about the Single-Use Carryout Bag Ordinance in Austin. Before reading her writing I did not realize what hazards there were for the re-usable bags. She stated that there was potential cross contamination inside the bags. I don’t believe people ever think about cleaning out there bags. When you carry raw meat and vegetables together you don’t think twice about it. I agree with Ms. Tran’s position that the legislature should help educate the citizens on the Single-Use Carryout Bag Ordinance's potential hazards when people do not clean out their re-usable bags.
The post was well written and informative. Ms. Tran gave the brief on the ordinance, gave the problem with the ordinance, and her idea to resolve the problem. The piece was not too long and kept me interested in the topic. I would suggest others living in Austin or any other individuals living in Single-Use Carryout Bag Ordinance cities to read her blog or find another way to educate themselves on the issues.
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ReplyDeleteMs. Tran's article titled "Safty First!" very interested and informing. I agree with the article when it stated that single-use carryout bag I never knew how of the potential hazard reduce the number of thin plastic bags that harm our environment and may end up in landfills that may take years to decompose. I know in Austin and several other store don't use plastic bags anymore. I believe that's something great and a positive movement. But I did not know the potential hazard of cross contamination it may having well use Single-Use Carryout Bags. The article was very informing and lets the readers know that reusable bags can lead to contamination and sickness if people neglect to wash or clean there bags properly. These article was very helpful because I never knew we are suppose to clean the bags. It was very interested to know that once San Francisco's' ban on plastic bags that it led to an increase in bacterial food-illness and death. I strongly agree the people should be aware of these hazards and proper care should be printed on bags so that buyers are more inform in how to use it. I believe promoting less plastic bags was more encourage then inform others of the use of single-use carryout bags. My colleague Ms. Tran explained the article, stated the problem and lastly gave her thought and opinion that there should be visible display on the bags to inform others about the hazard that comes when using these bags. I encourage people to read this article to inform others and spread the word.
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