Plastic Baggage

Mayor pushing to ban plastic bags at Austin stores <Coppola, Sarah. "Mayor Pushing to Ban Plastic Bags at Austin Stores." Austin News, Sports, Weather, Longhorns, Business | Statesman.com. 25 July 2011. Web. 27 Oct. 2011.>

        Mayor Lee Leffingwell recently proposed a ban on plastic bags provided at checkout counters. The reason for the ban is that plastic bags are a non-biodegradable waste that clogs up sewer pipes, pollutes waterways, and fills up landfills. He quoted statistics from the Austin Solid Waste Services Department which said Austin uses 263 million plastic bags a year and costs the city $850,000 annually to clean up the litter.

        I am leaning against this proposal. On one hand, I realize plastic bags as they are presently manufactured are non-biodegradable and therefore not good for the environment. However, retailers have a large supply of plastic bags and larger retail stores have contracts with companies to provide them. This could potentially cause an economic hardship to suddenly stop using the bags.

        In 2008, retail stores started offering at a modest price recyclable bags and routinely offered recycling of used plastic bags. This reduced the amount of plastic bags by only 20%. Presumably, buying the recycling bags was cost prohibitive to some lower-income households. Perhaps the city did not educate the public and solely relied on retailers to market and sell the concept of recyclable bags. Clearly more education will be needed if plastic bags are to be outlawed.

         Plastic bags are used for other things besides carrying groceries. When packaging meats, plastics will prevent leaking and contaminating other foodstuffs. Some households will use plastic bags to line their trashcans and clean up after pets. Buying separate biodegradable bags may prove too expensive for lower income families. Crafters use plastic bags to stuff their pillows and other projects.

         If plastic bags are to be banned, manufacturers could consider using a more eco-friendly material that are biodegradable. Before plastics, there was wax paper. Perhaps this could be made into bags and distributed at retailers. This would be biodegradable and relatively inexpensive.

Water Recycling

Blog - <Kuffner, Charles. "Re: Recycling Water." Web log comment. On The Kuff. 8 Oct. 2011. Web. 10 Oct. 2011.>

Article from Blog - <Goodwyn, Wade. "Recycled Water Quenches San Antonio's Thirst : NPR." NPR : National Public Radio : News & Analysis, World, US, Music & Arts : NPR. PBS, 01 Oct. 2011. Web. 13 Oct. 2011>

Texas has been in the midst of a severe drought for the past twelve months. In the past, cities have been using the aquifers to supply new water and using up precious resources. Twenty years ago, San Antonio was using up the Edwards Aquifer. The Sierra Club sued the city in federal court, claiming San Antonio was endangering the Blind Salamander. Since San Antonio was unable to use fresh water from the Edwards Aquifer, over the last twenty years, they have perfected a recycling system to reuse water. Although this water is not considered drinkable or potable, it is pure enough to be used in the River Walk, in the Toyota manufacturing plants, and municipal golf courses. Sea World has even made their own water recycling system. Instead of using 8 million gallons, it now uses only 4 million gallons over the last 3 years.

One of the ways San Antonio has been able to preserve their water supply is to take water from the Edwards Aquifer during times of plenty and store this extra water in the Carrizo Springs. This can then be used during times of drought and not drain water from the Edwards Aquifer.

Part of this recycling system involves the city laying over 60 miles of pipeline throughout San Antonio that collects used water and sends it to a treatment plant. This innovative program was 20 years in the making, but has stood San Antonio in good stead during this historic drought.

I believe other cities in Texas and Oklahoma (areas that were severely hit during the Dust Bowl) should set aside funds to build underwater pipelines and treatment plants. This conservation would provide a whole new source of jobs.

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