THE SALESMAN • Central, Eastern, Heart O’ Lakes & Western • October 19, 2014 • Page 16
From the Editors of E/The Environmental Magazine Dear EarthTalk: What’s the latest on efforts to ban plastic bags? How many U.S. locales have instituted some kind of ban, and have these initiatives made a dent in the amount of plastic li�er? -- Melinda Clarke, New York, NY California made big news
recently when it announced the first statewide ban on plastic shopping bags set to kick in during the middle of 2015. Beginning in July, large grocery stores, pharmacies and other food retailers in the Golden State will no longer be able to send shoppers home with plastic bags, while convenience markets, liquor stores and other small food retailers will join the ranks a year later. Back in 2007, San Francisco became the first U.S. municipality to ban plastic shopping bags. In intervening years upwards of 132 other cities and counties in 18 states and the District of Columbia instituted similar measures. Of course, Americans are late to the party when it comes to banning plastic bags: The European
Union, China, India and dozens of other nations already have plastic bag bans or taxes in place. But the trend here toward banning plastic shopping bags comes in the wake of new findings regarding the extent and harm of plastic in our environment. Since plastic isn’t biodegradable, it ends up either in landfills or as li�er on the landscape and in waterways and the ocean. Plastic can take hundreds of years to decompose and releases toxins into the soil and water in the process. Li�ered plastic is also a huge problem for the health of wildlife, as many animals ingest it thinking it is food and can have problems therea�er breathing and digesting. The non-profit Worldwatch Insti-
LEASE FOR LESS 2014 CHEVROLET ET CRUZE LT LOW MILEAGE LEASE FOR QUALIFIED IED E LEASEES LEAS E EES E
159*
$
PER MONTH H
36 MONTHS, 10,000 MILES PER YEAR $ 1300 DUE AT SIGNING AFTER ALL OFFERS
stk. # 13179
2014 CHEVROLET CAMARO 2LS LOW MILEAGE LEASE FOR QUALIFIED LEASEES
219*
$
PER MONTH
36 MONTHS, 12,000 MILES PER YEAR $ 2080 DUE AT SIGNING AFTER ALL OFFERS
stk. # 12907
2014 CHEVROLET IMPALA LT LOW MILEAGE LEASE FOR QUALIFIED LEASEES
269*
$
PER MONTH
36 MONTHS, 12,000 MILES PER YEAR $ 2450 DUE AT SIGNING AFTER ALL OFFERS
stk. # 12855
WWW.CHEVROLET.COM Plus tax and fees. See dealer for details.
1201 W. Michigan Ave., MARSHALL
866-781-5154 w w w.thechev yspot .com
Hours: Mon. 8:30-8; Tues.-Fri. 8:30-6; Sat. 9-3 Service & Parts Hours: Mon.-Fri. 7:30-6
Tim Rowe
Kipp Caron
Darrin Rinehart
Dave Elwell
Lydia Hurley
Dave Tagliamonte
tute reports that at least 267 species of marine wildlife are known to have suffered from entanglement or ingestion of marine debris, most of which is composed of plastic; tens of thousands of whales, birds, seals and turtles die every year from contact with ocean-borne plastic bags. A recent European Commission study on the impact of li�er on North Sea wildlife found that some 90 percent of the birds examined had plastic in their stomachs. Another reason for banning plastic bags is their fossil fuel burden. Plastic is not only made from petroleum—producing it typically requires a lot of fossil-fuel-derived energy. The fact that Americans throw away some 100 billion plastic grocery bags each year
means we are drilling for and importing millions of barrels worth of oil and natural gas for a convenient way to carry home a few groceries. It’s hard to measure the impact of pre-existing plastic bag bans, but some initial findings look promising. A plastic bag tax levied in Ireland in 2002 has reportedly led to a 95 percent reduction in plastic bag li�er there. And a study by San Jose, California found that a 2011 ban instituted there has led to plastic li�er reduction of “approximately 89 percent in the storm drain system, 60 percent in the creeks and rivers, and 59 percent in City streets and neighborhoods.” Environmental groups continue to push for more plastic bag bans. “As U.S. natural gas
production has surged and prices have fallen, the plastics industry is looking to ramp up domestic production,” reports the Earth Policy Institute. “Yet using this fossil fuel endowment to make something so short-lived, which can blow away at the slightest breeze and pollutes indefinitely, is illogical—particularly when there is a ready alternative: the reusable bag.” CONTACTS: Worldwatch Institute, www.worldwatch. org; Earth Policy Institute, www.earth-policy.org. EarthTalk® is wri�en and edited by Roddy Scheer and Doug Moss and is a registered trademark of E - The Environmental Magazine (www.emagazine.com). Send questions to: earthtalk@emagazine.com.
Calendar of events - week of October 19
October 19 • 22nd Annual Land of Falling Waters Traditional Pow Wow - “Honoring All Nations’ Elders and Anishnabe Traditions” Middle School at Parkside, 2400 Fourth St., Jackson. • Sunday Morning Breakfast - 8-11am, Jackson County Outdoor Club, 3550 Hart Rd., Jackson. • Ernie Haase and Signature Sound: The Inspiration of Broadway 7pm, Potter Center, Jackson College, 2111 Emmons Road Jackson, 517.796.8600. $ October 20 • U-Pick - 3:30-5pm, kids and teens pick each week, JDL’s Concord Branch 108 S. Main St., Concord. 517-5246970 • Senior Euchre - lunch: 12pm, play cards: 12:302pm, St. Aiden’s Church, 361 Grove St., Michigan Center, 517-783-1179. • Senior Yoga - 9:30am, JDL’s, Meijer Branch, 2699 Airport Rd., Jackson. 517788-4480 • Al-Anon Meeting 10:30am, 12-step program for anyone affected by someone else’s drinking, First Presbyterian Church, 517-937-9503. • Clint the Welsh Corgi 11:30am, come read a story with book lover Clint, JDL’s, Spring Arbor Branch, 113 E. Main St., Spring Arbor. 517750-2030 • eReaders at East w/ Erin - 3-4:30pm, must schedule appointments for these one-onone sessions, JDL’s, Eastern Branch, 3125 E. Michigan Ave., Jackson. 517-788-4074. • Storytime - 7-7:30pm, children of all ages are invited to visit the Library wearing their pajamas for stories, crafts, songs, Albion District Library, 501 S. Superior St., Albion, 517-629-3993. October 21 • Jackson Breakfast Rotar y - 7-8am, Steve’s Ranch Restaurant, 311 Louis Glick Highway, Jackson, 517 796 9823. • Artist Presentation by Mike Palmer - 6pm, The Ella Sharp Museum of Art and History, 3225 Fourth St., 517-787-2320. • Tuesday Morning Explorers - 9am, natural history tour, The Dahlem Conservancy, 7117 S. Jackson Rd., Jackson, 517-782-3453. • A Taste of Tech - 12pm, bring your digital device and cords, JDL’s, Carnegie Branch, 244 W. Michigan Ave., Jackson. 517-788-4087 • Food Addicts in recover y anonymous (FA) Meeting - 6:30pm, 1st Church of the Nazarene, 3737 Clinton Rd., Jackson, 517-796-2054 or
517-630-0144. • Book Group - 6pm, Albion District Library, Albion. 517-629-3993. • Harmonica Club Meetings - 7-9pm, Boos Center, Loomis Park, 21 Gilbert St., Jackson. October 22 • Senior Euchre - lunch: 12pm, play cards: 12:302pm, St. Aiden’s Church, 361 Grove St., Michigan Center, 517-783-1179. • Irish Hills Crafters 9-11:30am, knit and crochet items for needy children, veterans and other organizations that can use their items, Columbia Township Hall, 8500 Jefferson Rd., Brooklyn. • Senior Yoga - 9:30am, JDL’s, Meijer Branch, 2699 Airport Rd., Jackson. 517788-4480 • Knitting - 1pm, Knitters and crocheters of all ages, JDL’s, Henrietta Branch, 11744 Bunkerhill Rd., Pleasant Lake. 517-769-6537 • Preschool Play - 1-1:30pm, children near or at preschool age and their adult, Albion District Library, 501 S. Superior St., Albion, 517-629-3993. • Craft Night - 5pm, families with kids of all ages are welcome to create wildly imaginative works, JDL’s Hanover Branch, 118 W. Main St., Hanover. 517-563-8344 • Knitting Group - 7pm, in the Meeting Room, Marshall District Library, 124 W. Green St., Marshall. 269-781-7821 ext. 23 • Games Galore! - 7-8pm, Marshall District Library, 124 W. Green St., Marshall, 269-781-7821. • Land of Falling Waters Traditional Pow Wow planning meeting - 7pm, volunteers needed. Held at the Otsego Apt. community room, 102 Francis, Jackson. 269-781-6409 • Lords of the Gourd12:15 pm, Albion Library’s Naomi Lane Room, 501 S. Superior Street, 517-629-3993. October 23 • Bingo - 11am, Michigan Center Auxiliary, 302 Fifth St., Michigan Center. $ • Drop-in Playgroup 11am-12pm, ages 0-5, and their grown-ups, Albion District Library, 501 S. Superior St., Albion, 517-629-3993. • Sit n’ Stitch Group 1-3pm, Forks Senior Center, 1418 Cooper St., Albion. 517629-3842. • Jackson Duelist Yu-GiOh - 3pm, JDL’s, Carnegie Branch, 244 W. Michigan Ave., Jackson. 517-788-4087 • Alzheimer’s Association Caregiver Support Group - 2:30-4pm, learn, offer and receive helpful tips, and meet others coping with Alzheim-
er’s disease or another dementia, First Church of the Nazarene, Room 119, 3905 Clinton Rd., Jackson. 800272-3900 October 24 • Senior Euchre - lunch: 12pm, play cards: 12:302pm, St. Aiden’s Church, 361 Grove St., Michigan Center, 517-783-1179. • Sit n’ Stitch - 12:30pm, JDL’s, Eastern Branch, 3125 E. Michigan Ave., Jackson. 517-788-4074 • Bingo - 6pm, FOE 3634, 302 Fifth St., Michigan Center. • “The Addams Family” 8:00 p.m to be performed in the Baughman Theatre, Potter Center, at Jackson College. 2111 Emmons Rd, Jackson. (517) 787-0800 $ October 25 • Fall Festival - 2pm, Refuge Bible Church, 2155 S. Portage Rd. Leoni Township. • Albion Farmers’ Market - 8:30am-1pm, located in Stoffer Plaza, 211 Market Place, Albion, is open for the season. • “The Addams Family” 8:00 p.m to be performed in the Baughman Theatre, Potter Center, at Jackson College. 2111 Emmons Rd, Jackson. (517) 787-0800 $ • Crazy Creations - 12pm, children of all ages, JDL’s, Hanover Branch, 118 W. Main St., Hanover. 517-5638344 • Scrappin’ & Craftin’ Monthly Gathering 9:30am-5:30pm, Universalist Unitarian Church, 2231 Jefferson Rd., Liberty, 313-3873201. • Annual Fall Craft Show - 9 am to 4 pm, Columbia Middle School, 321 School St, Brooklyn. A donation of a canned good or a $1.00 entry fee. 517768-0963 October 26 • Sunday Morning Breakfast - 8-11am, Jackson County Outdoor Club, 3550 Hart Rd., Jackson. • Annual Pig Roast Sunday - 12-2pm, Pope United Methodist Church, 10025 N. Parma Road, Springport. 517-857-3655 • Halloween Carnival 3-5pm, The Universalist Unitarian Church of East Liberty, 2231 Jefferson Road, Liberty Township. (517) 7402629 • Jackson Youth Symphony Orchestra - 3pm, Michigan Theatre 124 N. Mechanic St., Jackson, 517-783-0962. • “The Addams Family” 3:00 p.m to be performed in the Baughman Theatre, Potter Center, at Jackson College. 2111 Emmons Rd, Jackson. (517) 787-0800 $