Once again, both daily newspapers are chastising you while ignoring their own contributions to a real problem.
You’ll remember that St. Pete Times columnist Sue Carlton denounced using single-use bags at the grocery store, and supports banning them. But a recent DEP report suggests a public education campaign is as good as an outright ban, and she is disappointed. Still, she is hopeful you will take it upon yourself to bring your own reusable bags to the grocery store.
Not surprisingly, a Tampa Tribune editorial is happy government isn’t banning plastic bags. And 
even though we pointed out that your newspaper subscription is delivered in a plastic bag every single day, the focus is always on grocery stores:
Chances are, when you go to the grocery store today you’ll chose plastic, and the bags will end up in the trash or littering the landscape, creating trouble for Florida’s natural resources, wildlife and public infrastructure.
Like our friend Sue, the Trib goes on to tell us that these plastic bags are pure evil:
… bags have become a nuisance, especially plastic ones. They have caused equipment malfunctions at recycling facilities and landfills, according to DEP. People thoughtlessly litter the landscape with them and the wind blows them away from landfills. And, alas, the plastic bags are durable, making them a persistent polluter.
They can harm animals that eat them and clog stormwater ponds, lines and ditches, creating drainage problems.
But the Trib tells us we don’t need a ban, we simply need YOU CONSUMERS and YOU OTHER BUSINESSES to man up and take care of this:
… merchants and consumers can address this environmental offender without a ban, requiring customers to pay “deposits” for bags or enacting fees, which were among the options DEP gave the Legislature. Lawmakers also should consider substantially increasing fines for littering… Concerned citizens and motivated retailers can solve this problem without government dictates…
“Motivated retailers” can clean it up? How about hypocritical businesses, such as the St. Pete Times and Tampa Tribune? What are these corporations doing to help?
My family chooses to use reusable bags, and I don’t know if a ban on single-use bags is the right idea or not. But I’m certainly tired of newspaper people scolding us without even acknowledging their significant part in the problem.
To think I used to want to write for a newspaper
6 months ago
[...] next day, Tommy Duncan of esteemed Tampa-area blog Sticks of Fire called out the St. Pete Times and the Tampa Tribune for their hypocritical statements regarding disp…. According to Tommy, articles in both papers have denounced the bags whether by calling for their [...]
Curious
5 months ago
What do you suggest newspapers use as a replacement for the plastic bags? One of the reasons the plastic bag ban at grocery stores is realistic is because there are other simple options to use instead.
tommy
5 months ago
Hey Curious!
In many communities, there is a box under each person’s mailbox for newspaper deliveries. The newspaper could simply give these away for subscribing. But there’s an even cheaper way, too.
I would put the news on the internet. Would be a lot less expensive.
Bob
4 weeks ago
You wackos were down on paper bags then plastic and keep using the environment etc. All bunk and nothing wrong with either one. It is all control you want. Never satisfied and want people to pay for solutions/cloth bags that are filled with bacteria and cost the consumer. If you don’t like how I carry stuff home too bad. You can do whatever but leave me alone. Same for food. Stop trying to control my life and steal my freedom. Stop lying using phony reasons and kids to get your way. You do what you want but leave me and companies alone. St. Pete Times has an extreme Progressive/leftist agenda. I don’t even use their paper to walk on or catch spills when frying. it is not allowed in my house even for that.