Several people from across the world are fighting to save the environment from plastic in their own way. Sample this – a small town Greenfield resident has submitted two proposals - one to prevent the use of plastic bags and the other to stop the sale of single-use plastic bottles.

Considering the Proposal on Polyethylene Terephthalate Bags

70-year old Garrett Connelly, is a Congress street resident and a member of Greening Greenfield, besides being a concerned citizen and father. He has proposed two ordinances - one banning the use of plastic bags at check-out counters and the other prohibiting the sale of single-use plastic water bottles in Greenfield.

The first proposal, regarding the ban of nonrecyclable plastic bags at check-out counters, states that while plastic bags can still be used to bag items like grains, vegetables, and meat, they cannot be allowed at check-out counters. Stores should instead offer customers the choice of buying/using paper or reusable polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bags. The proposal gives stores a time frame of 4-6 months to effect this change.

The second proposal, regarding the sale of single-use plastic water bottles, states that people should re-establish the old habit of drinking tap water and reusing PET bottles that can be filled and carried around.

The two proposals are currently under review by the Town Council Appointments and Ordinance Committee. Committee Chairman, Keith Zaltzberg, feels both ordinances are of immense environmental value and that the Bottle Bill should be extended to juice, soda, and beer bottles as well. However, the town council is keen to gauge public opinion and support before passing the ordinance. Meanwhile, Connelly is rallying people's support behind this ordinance. He has already gathered some 400 petition signatures in support of this not only from Greenfield, but from places such as California, Switzerland, and even Singapore.

How Polyethylene Terephthalate Bags Can Help?

The use of reusable, recyclable polyethylene terephthalate bags instead of plastic needs to be examined and explored. People need to be encouraged to reuse recycled PET bags instead of buying cheap plastic bags each time they shop. These bags, being extremely environment-friendly, can be manufactured from discarded plastic bottles. What is more, businesses can use reusable bags for advertising as each time a bag/bottle is reused the company brand gets proliferated.

Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) bags and bottles are the way to go – economical, durable, as well as gentle to the environment. Reuse and recycle PETs to leave an uncluttered, healthy environment for generations to come.

Source: http://www.wwlp.com/news/local/franklin/greenfield-looks-at-plastic-bag-ban