that said, my opposition to this from the start has been that i don't expect it will actually succeed. i want meaningful action that actually works, not empty gestures designed to win votes.
but, point-by-point:
- i agree that more needs to be done to maximize the amount of plastic actually being recycled. i would suppose this would likely mean more strict regulations on the kind of plastic being produced, to ensure that it is actually properly recyclable. so, that would mean (as one example.) putting an end to the kind of black plastics you see all over the place, still - and that i've been able to avoid almost everywhere, except the government-run marijuana industry, which sells you a product you can't examine before purchasing, from behind a counter. if i were to propose substantive legislative changes, they would be in the form of enforceable regulations on the supply side, not in terms of modifying habits on the demand side.
- i would oppose a consumption ban on plastic bags, for the reason that it won't work. let us remember that we moved to plastic bags to reduce the amount of trees being used for groceries, and that concern is no less relevant, today. paper bags are generally flimsy and don't hold groceries well. people will do things like buy plastic garbage bags at the checkout, or bring plastic bags from home, instead. so, this is stupid and won't work and should be opposed explicitly on those terms. instead, the government should regulate the distribution of single use plastic bags by grocers, stores and restaurants to be limited to biodegradable items made out of plant fibres, like hemp.
i walk to the grocery store, because i refuse to use a car, because i'm concerned about emissions. so, i need something to put food in. while i prefer to use my knapsack for groceries, and that is broadly sufficient, i generally have to take a few bags for sanitation reasons (you can't put items like strawberries in a bag) and to maximize the use of my hands, to minimize the number of trips. i then use those bags as garbage bags (and collect about a grocery bag worth of garbage every 2-3 months). what i want is for the grocery store to give me something i can responsibly use as a garbage bag, i.e. something made of a plastic-like material that will breakdown in a landfill, and not to go back to cutting down trees. but, i would also like to see regulations that ban those tracking devices on shopping carts - because if you let me cart it home, i wouldn't need any bags at all.
- i don't use straws, plastic cutlery or stir sticks, unless they're given to me without asking. i can't say i've never used them, but it's exceedingly rare, to say the least. maybe once a year? but, again - people will find a way around this, if you just ban it. instead, the government should seek to find ways to mandate the use of biodegradable plastics made from vegetable plastics, like hemp. banning things feels good if you're an authoritarian, but it's not a real-world solution to a complicated problem. you need to offer people real alternatives - and, as it is, we actually know what they are.
and, to exacerbate the point - there's things you can do to a landfill to help the materials biodegrade more quickly, like introducing the right kind of bacteria into the pile.
- those six pack rings are actually already regulated to be biodegradable in sunlight. banning them is not helpful. we've actually already solved that problem. but, it demonstrates the point that this is for show, not for serious action.
- i would support regulations to ensure that only recyclable plastics are offered for restaurant take-outs, but there should be a special care to ensure that you don't just see a return to styrofoam, instead.
so, the general idea is that i support positive regulations, and not blanket bans. if this is done properly, i will support it in the end; if it's not, i will oppose it.
but, this is not a replacement for emissions reduction legislation, and the opposition needs to ensure it's not presented as one.