I couldn’t agree more with Victoria Hugo-Vidal’s article on throw-away plastic bags handed out in stores (“Republicans should stop whining about plastic-bag ban,” Aug. 15). They are detrimental to both our financial and our environmental economies.

I would, however, go one step further. I’m talking about all those items sold in grocery stores, big-box stores and even small convenience stores. When I was using the “free” plastic bags handed out in all stores (though I’ve been using reusable bags for years most times) I noticed that many of the items in the bag were packed in very thick, heavy plastic containers. In almost all cases, those plastic containers far outweighed the throw-away bags those items were held in.

I’m talking toys, tools, produce, pastries, pencil and just about anything else you can name. Yes, it does help to eliminate the very light disposable bags. It would be far more beneficial to everyone if we eliminated all this heavy, thick plastic  these items are packaged in.

An added bonus is that we would eliminate the frustration of having to be a civil engineer to figure out a safe way to open these plastic-clad items. My own granddaughter even noticed this foolish packaging idea. She asked my wife, “Meme, can we go the toy store that doesn’t have toys wrapped in packages?” She was talking about the thrift store that puts nothing in the hard plastic containers. Smart kid.

Peter P. Sirois

Madison