The view from the Idea Center

Cleveland City Council is considering a one-year opt-out from an upcoming countywide ban on plastic bags. Council President Kevin Kelley thinks the city can come up with another way to reduce single-use bags. He wants to take the time for “community building” and “stakeholder buy-in.”

That’s a fancy way of saying he is looking to appease retailers, who aren’t happy about the ban, and soothe shoppers like me, who are secretly fretting over what it will mean to carry reusable bags everywhere.

I have a stash of plastic mesh and cotton bags in the trunk of my car. I never remember to bring them into the store.

Here’s a fun fact from a 2011 study by the United Kingdom’s Environment Agency: I’d have to re-use a cotton bag 131 times before the climate-warming effect of its production is lower than that of a little white plastic bag. The number goes up to 173 if I reuse (reduce, reuse, recycle!) that plastic bag to line my trash can.

If I really want to reduce my climate-altering footprint, I should focus on the groceries I’m putting into those blue plastic Heinen’s bags.

“A  pound of beef bought at the supermarket will have roughly 25 times the global warming impact as the disposable  plastic bag it’s carried in,” according to the New York Times.
 

Have a great Thanksgiving and
I'll see you bright and early on the radio Friday morning,
Amy Eddings

Need to KnOH

Headlines from Northeast Ohio and Beyond

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• Study Finds Male Fertility Supplement Claims Rarely Backed By Evidence
• The Greater Cleveland Food Bank Reflects on 40 Years of Volunteers
• New Housing Help For Cuyahoga County Renters With Disabilities
• Ohio Takes Steps To Ensure Cyber Security At The Polls

Your ideas

Yesterday, we asked about a recipe or ingredient that makes your Thanksgiving meal special. On our Public Square Facebook group, Sarah Nolan Dobransky said, "Sweet potato casserole. I am required to make it for every holiday, not just Thanksgiving." She even shared the recipe!

And now that we know what you and yours do love to see on the holiday table, we're wondering what you don't (maybe even secretly). What dishes do you not actually like but eat anyway because it's a Thanksgiving tradition? Call us at  (216) 916-6476 or comment on our Facebook page. We'll feature some of your thoughts and comments here in Noon(ish) and on Morning Edition.