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| | Why are Roplast's bags allowed where bag ordinances exist if they are plastic, and plastic was banned?
It is important to distinguish between "single-use" bags and "reusable" bags. To date bag ordinances have only banned single-use plastic bags, aka t-shirt and light weight bags. The type of bag that Roplast makes is specifically defined in bag ordinances as reusable.
Why are Roplast's bag considered reusable?
The short answer is, because our bags ARE highly reusable. They are made well, they are strong and depending on the gauge, you can use them over and over and over...........The long answer is, each piece of legislation defines what a "reusable" bag is. Heavy gauge polyethylene is specifically included in each piece of legislation (as it should be) as a "reusable" bag. For the State of California a plastic bag is defined as reusable if it is "specifically designed and manufactured for reuse and at least 2.25 mils thick." Other ordinances have strength and walk test requirements and parts of Texas calls for at least 4 mil.
Roplast reads each piece of legislation and makes sure that bags you order meet the requirements of that ordinance. We specifically manufacture our bags to the required specifications.
In California ordinances, why are single-use plastic bags banned and single-use paper bag are not banned but a fee is placed on them?
Good question! This is confusing. California's AB2449 prevented local governments from placing a tax or a fee on plastic bags, but does not address paper bags. To get around this law, local governments have decided to not allow single-use plastic at all. Contrary to popular belief, when you eliminate plastic bags you do not increase the rate of reuse. What happens is a near 100% switch to paper bags and double bagging, so they don't break. As you can imagine, this is expensive and worse for the environment. It took a long time, but local governments finally caught on to this. They are now putting a nominal fee on paper to prevent this behavior and encourage reuse.
California Made & California Jobs! Do heavy gauge polyethylene bags actually support the California economy?
Totally! In fact heavy gauge PE is the nearly the only reusable bags that can be made in significant quantities to support reusable bag needs in California and the United States. Roplast manufactures from resin to finished bags all under one roof in Northern California and employees 120 people. Everyday the manufacturing of our products supports thousands of jobs. Think of all the other jobs that exist because we make bags in California; truck drivers, box manufactures, plate makers, graphic designers, tools and parts support, office supplies, banking, and all the other support services that keep California moving. Manufacturing keeps Californians working!
Many ordinances refer to Europe as a model for reusable bags. What is the most common type of bag in Europe?
Heavy gauge polyethylene is the number one bag of Europe and South Africa. Stores like Sainsbury, Waitrose, Carrefour, Aldi, Woolworths and many more all sell durable, low cost PE reusable bags. When you hear politicians and some "environmental" groups reference European habits and then discount that heavy gauge plastic is a viable option as a reusable bag, look for a hidden agenda. At the very least these people are undereducated on what type of bag is really used around the world.
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