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February 20, 2013

Letter: Recycling key to paper/plastic debate

Gloucester Daily Times

To the editor:

I am writing regarding the Manchester proposal that may ban markets and stores from using and/or distributing plastic bags with handles.

Having only one good hand, I patronize only those merchants that offer bags with handles, be they paper or plastic.

Those little loops allow me to hang the bags on my arm.

The larger chain markets offer plastic bags that are recyclable, as are the paper bags with handles. I am just careful to recycle the plastic bags in a manner that they will not get entangled in the recycling truck’s mechanism.

Now, the smaller merchants only offer unrecyclable plastic bags with loops that enable me to carry them; however those plastic bags do end up in the trash.

In my opinion, in as much as those looped bags make it easier for me to carry groceries, the decision on what bags to use should be left to the economics of the merchant; cheap helps the bottom line, whereas the choice of paper or plastic is a help to the consumer.

Like the larger markets, merchants ought to offer the same choices, thereby increasing their foot traffic.

Finally, anonymous fast-food merchants should do away with their styro-foam packaging and cups, and go back to the way things used to be, with waxed paper bags and paper cups, to help remove the non-biodegradables from the environment.

GERALD MAHIEU

Langsford Street, Gloucester

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