San Jose Bag Ban one and half year later what is there bragged about "success"

This is a common sight all around San Jose, large amounts of junk alongside road, largest being a broken doghouse 

San Jose Bag Ban one and half year later define "Success"

This is a common sight all around San Jose, large amounts of junk alongside road, largest being a broken doghouse 

The controversial ban on plastic and free paper shopping bags had drawn a lot of negative public reactions. There has been notable shift to shopping elsewhere for city residents. Of course this is denied by those pushing for these bans. Though a year later through a city report concludes the ban is successful however the question is what do they define success?

Reduction of litter in the city, reducing urban blight, less trash on the streets? From my observations and through photographic evidence it appears non of it is the case at least in San Jose.


Taking trips around the city I noticed that streets gutters, empty lots and creek beds are still littered by mountains of garbage including plastic film that resemble plastic bags. As well as plenty of paper and other hazardous trash.

These pictures below are taken in Las Palmas Ave between King Road and Educational Park Dr. near Independence High School August 26, 2013

August 26, 2013 on Las Palmas Ave. This is a common sight all around San Jose, large amounts of junk alongside road, largest being a broken doghouse 

More garage at least some are bagged preventing it from spreading. 

Pieces of paper, plastic, and clothing

Large amounts of trash beside parked car

large amounts of plastic fast food cups alongside gutter 

Wood board covering large amount of  takeout related trash

This is a common sight all around San Jose, large amounts of junk alongside road, largest being a broken doghouse 

Hubcap along with many trash

large amounts of paper and plastic and other trash of all types at gutter alongside van.

These will all end up in the storm drain and where ever it drains to if a rain storm pours

This is on Murillo Ave around were I live, I photographed the area between Quimby Rd and Grosbeck Hill Park

All photos taken January 22, 2013

Trash along side springbrook Ave. Appears to have fallen out of the garbage truck at least that ones bagged and not all over the place

Random pack of trash along Murillo ave.  

Random trash along Murillo ave

Sidewalk Murillo Ave. where it ends up at Grosbeck park 

Fast food  wrapper

 Tires and bag of trash and other rubbish

This stretch of Murillo Ave between Norwood av/Mt Pleasant Road and Tully Ct, Murillo for some unknown reason back in the 1990s had been configured to dead end 2000 feet to the north. The configuration leads this secluded stretch to often become a hot spot for residential dumping 

Fortunately this dumper did bag his garbage preventing the mess from spreading and easing cleanup 

This signs although common around the city means pretty much nothing and often  its surrounded by a sea of garbage. 

Capital Expressway between Quimby rd and Aborn Ave

July 2013

 Random Bag along Capital Expressway isn't this what the ban is supposed to prevent

bag ban does nothing to stop such issue

Shopping cart from Walgreens in Evergreen Village Square two miles down hill pushed this far from the store miles up a hill between Quimby Rd and Murillo Ave. actually I bet this would cost supermarkets and stores big bucks to retrieve them.  

Is this what we call Success? 

Now I wonder what is the success supposed to mean? Stores profiting from bag ban. People, homeless or otherwise, using unhygienic reusable bags with spoiled spills and even insects in them, increased shoplifting that requires stores to add chains between the check stands, people dropping groceries in the parking lots and leaving them there, paper bags breaking on their way out of the checkout counter? Consumer buying similar yet larger bags for every day needs for plastic bags instead of reusing store bags, rude cashiers becoming ruder, unbagged  garbage blowing around the wind like confetti?   In the end it is all liberal facist scheme to change behaviors not actually to improve the environment. We the people say repeal it or at least put it unto public vote.