California Future Changes

I think those are very good changes! I don't eat out very often because I have to control my calories and not knowing the nutritional values can really throw a monkey wrench into my fitness plan. Balloons are great but they should be kept under control. And the bag fee is just self-defense..think about the oil it takes for plastic bags, and you just throw them away if you're not frugal. I have so many it's ridiculous!! I take a few bags to the store but sometimes I get more than my bags can hold. California is usually considered a "whacko" state where I'm from but in this case I think they're right. It's a few good moves for the environment and conservation and there's nothing wrong with that or with making people aware of what they're putting into their bodies.

Hmmm, that was news to me about those balloons causing power outages. Regarding shopping bags, here in Australia they are doing similar things and I think it's a great idea. For the last five years large stores have been offering alternatives to plastic bags in the form of fabric bags either for sale or free with purchase. I believe there is to be a charge on plastic bags in the future but am unsure when. I think they need to take things further though since many people use those bags for garbage which means they will simply start buying garbage bags instead. Consequently I think they need to make all garbage bags biodegradable to lessen their impact on the environment. The interesting thing is that a couple of years ago a major hardware retailer (Bunnings) decided to start charging 10 cents per plastic bag. It was expected that the charge would result in a 50% reduction in plastic bag usage. The actual reduction was around 90% because us Aussies are too tight assed to pay for plastic bags LOL. Working in a grocery store I get a lot of customers commenting that they forgot their enviro bags. Honestly, if I received $1 for every person who said that I'd be earning at least 30% extra each week LOL. I guarantee though that when we start charging for bags people will stop forgetting to bring them.

hello fishmomma,I would definitely bring a bag to the store and also to help the environment!

Iwould love to see all restaurant chains here in Ca list the fat, calories and carbs and sodium of each meal. I would be so helpful for those of us who are trying to live a healthy lifestyle. also the helium filled metallic balloons that would be great to outlaw them too.I dontlikethe charge a quarter for each bag thats outrageous. hope it does not pass.

Ms Fish.. Rest. should post that info sure would help me decide to order healthier items then.. No Mylar will soon put the balloon people out of business.. I already take my own bags here in Texas to the store and soon it will be necessary since they will charge here too..I say its about time!

Yeah when we lived in Tahoe the stores had something set up. I can't remember how it went but I think they charged you for bags or they gave you a credit if you brought your own. I can't remember which I just remember taking our own bags to the store.

sure I would bring my own bags, because bags are expensive and the plastic never breaks down for thousands of years, we really do have to start going green

First of all, these all sound like changes I would support. The dollar store here sells the helium balloons and while they are cute, what a waste of plastic and where do they go once they get lost in the air anyway, power lines, break and litter the landscape. I imagine the companies manufacturing these won't be pleased. As far as bringing my own bags, I would. On the other hand here - naturally - , I don't know if you have Aldi stores near you, but they have been selling their bags for years now. They charge per paper bag and a little more for plastic. I have to admit when we lived in Ohio and shopped there, I forgot to bring bags 50 percent of the time and ended up paying. At the least, I sometimes kept their bags in the car and reused them in my more efficient days.

These seem all good changes but I would like you I would like to see all resturants list fats, calories, carbs and sodium for every item or at least have a info sheet for anyone who asks. I do take my own bags as much as possible to shops and I noticed last Saturday that Marks and spencers have already started charging 5 pence for a bag. I don't have a problem with shops doing this as it will encourage people to use less.

I think restaurants should have to spill the beans about what they're serving. I think we'll all be surprised. Mylar balloons? California must let loose lots of balloons for it to be causing problems with power outages. I've never heard that in states where I've lived - PA, MI, MO, TX, FL, OH. Weird. Of course, I don't see many mylar balloons here (or in the other places I lived). We certainly don't release them often. Hmmm. I think there should be a charge for grocery bags. Those plastic things do cause problems. In FL and TX, that was a problem in the Gulf. Not good for fish or the birds that swoop down to the water for food.