Plastic Bag Ban Will Soon Become A Way Of Life

One of my favorite movies of all-time is The Graduate which came out in 1967 and featured a relative unknown in Dustin Hoffman who played a recent college graduate with little idea of what he wanted to do.  One of the classic scenes takes place at his graduation party when a family friend takes him aside and says, “I just want to say one word to you, just one word.  Are you listening?  PLASTICS.” Hoffman’s character replies, “Exactly how do you mean” and is told “there’s a great future in plastics, think about it…will you think about it.”

Why am I quoting a movie from 55 years ago?  Well it is one of my favorites and it honestly came to mind Tuesday during my morning coffee stop at QuickChek.  As I approached the register with coffee and newspaper it hit me….plastic bags are gone. It was not a big deal for me but others were loaded down with items and I guess did not want to spend the 29 cents for a reusable bag.

New Jersey’s plastic bag ban officially takes effect on May 4 and simply bans plastic bags everywhere with some exemptions.  The ban is on the store providing plastic bags as you can bring your own with you and fill them up.  Of course the move is all about protecting the environment which is a good thing and also reducing litter which is a very good thing.

Most people do want to protect the environment for their children and grandchildren but because we are basically selfish don’t want it to be inconvenient for them either.  Well this new ban will be just that, especially the first time you go into your food store and realize you forgot to bring your own bags.  Suck it up and pay for the reusable ones because before you know it this will just be the latest change in our lives and we’ll get used to it.

By the way Hoffman’s character did not go into plastics…at least I don’t think so.