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Recent Research and Commentary

Boulder, Colorado Weighing Banning or Taxing Disposable Bags

October 10, 2011, 11:00pm

Harris Kenny

On the front page of today’s Daily Camera is a story about how the Boulder, Colorado City Council is weighing banning or taxing plastic and paper bags. Moves like this appeal to policymakers during economic downturns because it’s easier to kick the can down the road than make difficult budget decisions.

California Ordering Takeout Containers “To Go”?

August 31, 2011, 12:36pm

Harris Kenny

California lawmakers are considering a bill that would ban polystyrene containers used by food vendors to serve takeout meals by 2016. The bill, Senate Bill 568, is cruising through the legislature and appears likely to become law this fall. According to the The Sacramento Bee, more than 50 cities and counties in the Golden State already have similar laws in place, but if SB 568 passes it would be the first statewide ban of polystyrene in the U.S.

Privatization and Public-Private Partnership Trends in Local Government

Local Government Privatization Chapter of Annual Privatization Report 2010

February 23, 2011

Leonard Gilroy, Harris Kenny, Samuel Staley, Adam Summers

This section of Reason Foundation's Annual Privatization Report 2010 provides an overview of the latest on privatization and public-private partnerships in local government. Topics include:

• Privatization of municipal parking assets,
• Georgia's evolving contract cities,
• Zoo privatization in Dallas and Tulsa,
• Privatization of public libraries in California,
• Market-based land development in Houston,
• Updates on privatization in public safety, solid waste/recycling and animal shelter operation,
• Privatization updates from Chicago, San Diego and Milwaukee County and more.

Larimer County Officials Can’t Have Their Cake and Eat It Too

January 25, 2011, 7:28pm

Harris Kenny

Monte Whaley of The Denver Post recently reported on the decrease in garbage at the Larimer County, Colorado landfill saying, “Less garbage is flowing into Colorado’s landfills extending the life of dumps but cutting into the revenue stream that allows them to keep running.” In order to address this problem the county is considering changing its fee structure to lure business from private landfills. One major idea is implementing tiered fees to give better rates to customers who generate more trash.

Plastic Water Bottles Won't Hurt You

Ignore the junk science and follow the facts.

October 28, 2010

John Stossel

Canada has announced it will ban the chemical bisphenol A—known as BPA—which is used to make plastic water and baby bottles. The head of the Canadian environmental group Environmental Defence is thrilled:

"Kudos to the federal government. ... We look forward to seeing BPA legally designated as 'toxic' as soon as possible."

But the evidence doesn't actually show that BPA is toxic.

Nashville Implements Trash Pricing

August 18, 2010, 12:08pm

Adrian Moore

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