Current Event #2

URL: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/04/30/chicago-bans-plastic-bags_n_5241854.html

Summary

     Chicago recently approved a ban on plastic bags, meaning stores with over 10,000 ft² cannot distribute plastic bags. The fine for breaking this law runs $300-500 for each occurrence. While this law will not be installed until August 2015 it was passed with flying colors by the City Counsil. It will be expanded to smaller stores within a year of it’s passing. While some worry about the additional cost paper bags pose and the determent of grocers to the area many agree that it a step in the right direction.

Personal Reflection

     Personally I think this will be very beneficial for the city of Chicago and other cities that have adopted this and predict seeing similar bans throughout the world sometime soon. Plastic bags are incredibly harmful to the environment (as we learned in class they can take decades to decompose). Not only do they retain their materials (meaning the materials cannot be reused) but they can also collect as litter and clog stormdrains.

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