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Save the Plastics, save the planet

By
Real Estate Agent with Realty Texas

As a progressive city, Austin is really making an effort to swim with the latest trends.  No smoking anywhere, parks totally off limits for smoking or pooping dogs, back in parking on major streets which has only made things worse (traffic wise), all kinds of weird rulings, stay exactly 3 feet away from bicycles, walk only on the right side of the street on odd numbered days (just kidding) but the list goes on and on.  The slogan for Austin is "Keeping Austin weird."  No problem there.  

So, today in the paper, it says the City MAY ban MOST paper and plastic bags.  This is to start in 2016, hopefully by then some of the weirdness from our City Council will be gone.  Now, don't get me wrong, I am all in for the plastic, I recycle faithfully.  I do... I use the plastic bags to pick up dog poop and cigarette butts in the park or when the neighbors don't have the courtesy to pick it up, I use them to put garbage in, I take some back to the store so they can reuse them. I get it... but I don't want to be told what to do with stuff. Especially when it comes to dragging in those tacky green grocery bags to and from our cars.  I honestly have to be reminded to drag those in and out of my car, my home and the grocery store.  ARGH!! 

Maybe instead of employees to assist us, we can go thru the self-checkout lines and then have monkeys carry out our groceries in non-paper/plastic bags. Thats good right, keeping costs down by doing it all yourself. Then let the city council figure out how to pick up the Monkey poop.     

Matt Listro
National Credit Fixers - Matt Listro - Vernon, CT
Your Credit Repair Expert

Suzanne,

I agree more people need to learn to re-use but most people seem not to want to do it without being forced to. Unfortunately, things like this have to become law before they are taken seriously.

:)

Matt

Dec 12, 2011 02:19 AM
Judith Sinnard
SMARTePLANS; Houston, Texas - Houston, TX
The SMARTePLAN Lady

Suzanne, glad you cleared up the dog pooping part --- I had a visual of dogs walking around the parks with their legs crossed --- apparently they are ALLOWED to poop, the owner needs to bend over and pick it up... and free plastic bags from the grocery work pretty well for this. I hardly ever remember to take my eco-friendly bags into the grocery store with me -- they're in the car -- they just don't always make it into the store.   I also usually cast a wary eye on hyper-zealous legislation ...but then again Austin DOES pride itself on these sorts of things... go figure.  Fun post, thanks for sharing. 

Dec 12, 2011 02:45 AM
Ralph Janisch ABR CRS Broker
Janisch & Co. - Conroe, TX
Selling Northwest Houston to good people like you!

Man..... I am really glad I don't live in a city that is as Politically Correct as that.  I believe too many of our personal freedoms are being eroded by lack of common sense and courtesy thus allowing PC to run roughshod over the populace.  

Dec 12, 2011 02:54 AM
Wanda Kubat-Nerdin - Wanda Can!
Red Rock Real Estate (435) 632-9374 - St. George, UT
St. George Utah Area Residential Sales Agent

Suzanne, When laws are made they need to keep in mind whether it will work for the masses. If they do ban paper and plastic bags, I would suggest becoming an Eco-bag producer / distributor and make some serious money!

Dec 12, 2011 03:12 AM
Christine Reams
Austin Title Company (512) 459-7222 - Austin, TX

Funny post Suzanne! I do my best to reuse, recycle but sometimes we just need a little help. I hope the City takes this into consideration.

Dec 12, 2011 09:38 AM