Paper or plastic? The option might not last much longer, as an increasing number of cities worldwide phase out the use of free plastic bags. Concerns about the environment and the economy have already led to a ban in large grocery and drug stores in San Francisco, the first city in the US to mandate paper or earth-friendly bags.http://www.newser.com/2008 - Newseren-usNewser Feed GeneratorWed, 19 Nov 2008 12:08:04 CSThttp://www.newser.com/story/42361/gray-smog-conceals-a-greening-china.html?refid=rss_all_defaultThe world's attitude toward China's environmentalism is "hypocritical and decidedly unfair," writes Fred Pearce in Yale Environment 360—this coming from someone who has "literally held my nose at the foul air." Yes, China's "development zeal" has it doing "the bad things that most of the world does," but it's also the world's leader in green innovation, waste recycling, and alternative energy sources.http://www.newser.com/story/42361/gray-smog-conceals-a-greening-china.html?refid=rss_all_defaultTue, 11 Nov 2008 14:37:43 CSThttp://www.newser.com/story/41963/in-tough-times-aldi-promises-cheap-thrills.html?refid=rss_all_defaultIt may not stock Coke or tempt shoppers with fancy end-aisle displays, but bare-bones grocery chain Aldi fits these tough economics, reports Time . With Americans downgrading to cheaper stores, Aldi's generic, spartan approach is attracting customers eager to save a buck, or more, on a gallon of milk. The chain cuts costs by offering staples—ketchup, cereal, olive oil—in one brand in one size.http://www.newser.com/story/41963/in-tough-times-aldi-promises-cheap-thrills.html?refid=rss_all_defaultFri, 07 Nov 2008 8:44:08 CSThttp://www.newser.com/story/42031/bloomberg-calls-for-plastic-bag-fee-in-nyc.html?refid=rss_all_defaultAfter an ad campaign urging New Yorkers to use greener alternatives to plastic shopping bags, Mayor Michael Bloomberg wants to impose a 6¢-per-bag charge, the Times reports. While environmentalists approve, and the city’s coffers stand to gain, many think the measure will be unpopular with shoppers, and critics say the charge will hurt those who can least afford to pay.http://www.newser.com/story/42031/bloomberg-calls-for-plastic-bag-fee-in-nyc.html?refid=rss_all_defaultFri, 07 Nov 2008 11:06:20 CSThttp://www.newser.com/story/38509/reusable-bags-a-tricky-shade-of-green.html?refid=rss_all_defaultReusable shopping bags are this year's “it” giveaway, but they may not be as green as their feel-good slogans—like “Save the world” and "I used to be a plastic bag"—claim. The problem is that old habits die hard—many people simply forget to reuse them, the Wall Street Journal reports. And that's troublesome because the trendy bags take 28 times more energy to produce than a traditional plastic bag, decompose slower, and often arrive on oil-powered transport from China .http://www.newser.com/story/38509/reusable-bags-a-tricky-shade-of-green.html?refid=rss_all_defaultFri, 26 Sep 2008 13:01:12 CDThttp://www.newser.com/story/33668/seattle-slaps-20-fee-on-all-grocery-bags.html?refid=rss_all_defaultSeattle has staked out its spot atop the greener-than-thou pecking order by approving a 20-cent-per-bag fee that applies to both paper and plastic, the Seattle Post-Intelligencer reports. The move is expected to cut disposable-bag use in half. "The best way to reduce waste is not to create it, and today, we have made that a little easier in Seattle," said the mayor.http://www.newser.com/story/33668/seattle-slaps-20-fee-on-all-grocery-bags.html?refid=rss_all_defaultTue, 29 Jul 2008 15:46:01 CDThttp://www.newser.com/story/33075/baltimore-opts-against-plastic-bag-ban.html?refid=rss_all_defaultA law that would have made Baltimore America’s second plastic-bag-free city got a resounding thumbs down from the city council last night, the Baltimore Sun reports. The council ixnayed the bill, 11-3, citing concerns over the cost and environmental impact of paper bags. “I know there has been a lot of pressure on this bill," said the measure’s main sponsor. "I think they're wrong about this."http://www.newser.com/story/33075/baltimore-opts-against-plastic-bag-ban.html?refid=rss_all_defaultTue, 22 Jul 2008 12:08:53 CDThttp://www.newser.com/story/21598/plastic-bags-getting-the-sack-across-us.html?refid=rss_all_defaultThe party's over for plastic bags, USA Today reports. A San Francisco ban on petroleum-based bags already has imitators from coast to coast. Massachusetts is eyeing a bill that would "nudge" consumers with a 2-cent tax on each bag; Connecticut could slap retailers with a $1,000 fine for using non-biodegradable sacks.http://www.newser.com/story/21598/plastic-bags-getting-the-sack-across-us.html?refid=rss_all_defaultFri, 14 Mar 2008 13:16:39 CDThttp://www.newser.com/story/18010/tax-helped-the-irish-bag-plastic.html?refid=rss_all_default"Paper or plastic?" is perhaps the last question you'll hear on the Emerald Isle, thanks to a 33-cent tax on each plastic bag that cut Irish consumption by 94% within weeks of its 2002 enactment, reports the New York Times . Cloth bags have become downright fashionable since, but strong manufacturer and merchant opposition has hindered similar efforts in Britain and LA, and laws elsewhere have met mixed results.http://www.newser.com/story/18010/tax-helped-the-irish-bag-plastic.html?refid=rss_all_defaultMon, 04 Feb 2008 16:12:25 CSThttp://www.newser.com/story/58551/city-thinking-of-plastic-bag-ban.html?refid=rss_all_defaultMadison could be the next city to adopt a worldwide trend of banning plastic grocery bags. The city%u2019s Commission on the Environment discussed ideas to decrease plastic bag and plastic water bottle use at a meeting Monday evening.http://www.newser.com/story/58551/city-thinking-of-plastic-bag-ban.html?refid=rss_all_defaultThu, 31 Jan 2008 9:52:54 CST