Pollution and Packaging

There should be a tax on consumer packaging.

I don't know the specifics but my young daughter likes to get dolls and what not (way too many which is a whole different issue). The process of unpacking a doll is a science that all parents have to learn to master. So that the item stays displayed properly in the box with a clear plastic front for proper viewing and child enticements every component of the toy is attached to the back of the box.

The body is strapped on, the arms and legs are positioned in a welcoming manner and strapped down. The hair is spread out and stitched to the back. Accoutrements

such as shoes, dresses, hair brushes, etc are all laid out for visual inspection and attached as well. To unpackage this item one has to undo twisty ties, cut tiny lines and extract the product from these bounds. In order to improve the image you may find small plastic tabs that the ties are fed through designed to keep the ties spread open instead of pulling tight as well reduce possible tearing of the cardboard box. Metal ties do not remove easily as they holes they are fed through are just right for the straight ties to be inserted into - post twisting they are anything but straight and are amazingly resistent to straightening.

Once you fight through all of this and have removed the product you are left with an amazing amount of packaging and associated materials which must be disposed of. Perhaps the tax should be in direct proportion to the volume of the product versus the volume of the packaging material. Milk cartons are fairly efficient, there isn't a lot of wasted material there so the tax would be low to non-existent. Bratz and other dolls should be charged $10/package.