Letter to the Editor: California's Plastic Bag Ban

Dear Editor,

California’s new ban on plastic grocery bags is unnecessary and will most likely hurt the economy.

Where is California going to find an extra $2 million laying around to give to plastic-bag businesses in loans? California can hardly manage or balance its own budget now, as shown by the tax rates, and inefficient use of tax payer funds.

I personally have read many articles about the lack of sanitation of reusable grocery bags. Research conducted by Loma Linda University has revealed that, “reusable grocery bags can serve as a breeding ground for dangerous foodborne bacteria and pose a serious risk to public health.”

If this new law regarding the ban of plastic grocery bags is going to be implemented, will the public also be educated about the necessities of disinfecting the bags frequently and thoroughly? A notable increase in the use of reusable grocery bags without a rigorous public health education campaign will most likely have a profoundly unfavorable affect on public health. The consequences should have been researched and examined more closely.

With respect,

Danni Oldenburg