Re: B.C. Views (Gazette, April 11)

Once again I am left B次元官网网址榝illing in the gapsB次元官网网址� for one of Tom FletcherB次元官网网址檚 B次元官网网址榚nvironmental rantsB次元官网网址� B次元官网网址� this time his B次元官网网址淏ag ban may make things worseB次元官网网址� column.

Fletcher is correct that substituting a cotton bag for disposable plastic bags requires the cotton bag be used many times before the environmental impact equals that of the disposable plastic bags per use. The 7,100 number from the Danish study he cites is higher than most, which put it at under 1,000, but the point is well taken.

The problem with FletcherB次元官网网址檚 take, however, is his usual one; he suffers from binary thinking. The choices are not either a disposable plastic bag or a cotton one. The vast majority of reusable bags out there are made of new or recycled plastics. That same Danish study indicates using those bags only requires reuse between 35 and 84 times (depending on which plastic and manufacturing process) after which their impact will be less than the equivalent number of disposable plastic bags (and, by the way, the researchers assumed each disposable bag gets reused at least once B次元官网网址� for trash). However, many bags are just disposed of in the trash, because too many accumulate.

The Danish study mentions the above numbers are based upon the cumulative environmental impact for each bag type. If oneB次元官网网址檚 principle concern is climate change impact, those reusable plastic fabric bags only need two to eight uses before their climate change impact falls below that of disposable plastic bags. Then again, Fletcher doesnB次元官网网址檛 believe in man-caused climate change.

ThereB次元官网网址檚 a pattern in FletcherB次元官网网址檚 columns. He picks and chooses his statistics and facts and leaves behind the meaningful ones which disprove his premise thus misleading the reader. In some circles thatB次元官网网址檚 called lying by omission.

Arthur Entlich

Metchosin

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