Racked is no longer publishing. Thank you to everyone who read our work over the years. The archives will remain available here; for new stories, head over to Vox.com, where our staff is covering consumer culture for The Goods by Vox. You can also see what we’re up to by signing up here.
If North suburban Evanston gets its way, plastic and paper bag options might be eliminated at the market check out line some time in the near future. The city’s alderman Ann Rainey was not so shy about voicing her detest for these disposable items at a recent City Council meeting, adding that she would do "whatever it takes" to end grocery baggers asking customers whether if they prefer “paper or plastic.” Another proposal by fellow Alderman Coleen Burrus would impose a 5-cent tax on the bags. The logistics of how to implement a “bag ban” are not exactly clear at this point; however, Evanston officials plan to further discuss with small-business owners, national chain store reps, and locals before revisiting the topic at a May 23 committee meeting. [Chicago Tribune]