Plastic bags just first step for environmental fanatics

In less than two weeks, every plastic grocery shopping bag will disappear from every grocery store and supermarket in Thurston County.

And, unless you bring your own bag, you’ll have to pay five cents for every paper bag you use.

Thanks to a handful of environmental fanatics, on July 1, Thurston County will become the only county in the state – – and maybe the country – – to ban plastic shopping bags.

The City of Seattle banned plastic bags, but not King County.   Here, in Thurston County – – with the exception of Yelm and Tenino – –  we will soon be free of that evil product.

You are encouraged to bring your own reusable bags, but if you don’t you will be charged five cents for every paper bag.

It’s not a choice, the law, as written, requires grocery and supermarkets to charge the fee.   Most stores would prefer not to do so, but the law is adapted – – word for word – – from the Seattle ordinance – – and requires markets to charge the fee.   The purpose is to further encourage you to use reusable bags.

The next move by these environmental fanatics is to require mandatory composting.   They’re even received a state grant to do so.

Don’t think it can’t happen.   It’s already happening in Seattle and that’s the environmental throne our local fanatics worship at.

So, in a couple of weeks, be prepared to pay more for your groceries and keep a close eye on your kitchen.  These fanatics are now lurking by the garbage can watching what you throw away.

UPDATE – County staff say the current state grant has nothing to do with mandatory composting and is just designed to educate us on how much food we waste.