Plastic shopping bags are one of the largest wastes we have today.
Those plastic bags that seem to pile up and pile up. My Mom has a cute bag that hangs in her kitchen that is specifically made to hold these bags so she can reuse them for sending home food with relatives or packing my Dad's lunch in when he goes fishing. Still they inevitably wind up in the trash. There is NO need for this when these bags can be recycled.
Reduce reuse recycle.
My parents still aren't getting it. I keep trying though.
At our local store there is a recycle bin just for these bags. Most stores that use these bags now have these recycle bins. You would be amazed at what can be done with these recycled bags. Most plastic bags are recycled into composite lumber but can also be reprocessed into small pellets, or post consumer resin, which can become feed stock for a variety of products such as new bags, pallets, containers, crates, and pipe. Each ton of recycled plastic bags saves the energy equivalent of 11 barrels of oil. Want to find a recycle bin near you? Check here :D http://www.plasticbagrecycling.org/01.0/
What else can you do to help reduce this waste? Use the reusable bags! Many stores now offer Reusable bags for sale pretty cheap near their registers! There are also many places online that you can buy these. Check GreenFeet for a great selection. These are a wonderful alternative. Be sure to keep them in the car or one in your purse so you don't get caught without one at the store and have to but a new one every time LOL. These can ALSO be recycled. Like anything it will at some point wear out and throwing it away sort of defeats the purpose of the reuse reduce recycle mantra. ChicoBags will recycle reusable bags. Read HERE about the great program they have that not only helps the environment but helps people by working with their partner Greatful Thread supporting victims of domestic violence.
Now this wouldn't be my blog if it didn't take an artistic view on recycle reuse reduce :D
Check out what some great Etsy artists have made with those wasteful plastic bags!
DaniellesDesigns
Lovely earrings
Cute purse
PlaSchtick
Yoga mat
kimquilts's shop
Lunch bag
Also REUSABLE BAGS!!
Reusable bags!!!
zJayne
olivebrown's shop
GreenBaggingIt
Great way to get the word out! So many choices too. There is something for everyone and every style.
ReplyDeleteProud to be included. We've sold over 1,000 tShirt upcycled bags. Kind of like the golden arches:
Over 1,000 Sold!
That's a drop in the bucket to the number of plastic made a minute! BUT, making a difference one bag at a time.
Thank you! You rock!
Jane aka zJayne
Great post!
ReplyDeleteDo you know about that parts of the ocean are totally blocked by a shell of plastic? Life cannot develop anymore under and everything is dying. We really need to react right now.
The main problem is the progression of plastic use in under developp countries. How can you run educational campaigns in such countries where people are fighting on a daily basis for basic needs?
This is such a complicated problem.