5 MINUTES OF CARING

TUESDAY, AUG. 1, 2006

Take the Bag Back By Sam Davidson

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500 billion. That's the number of plastic grocery bags consumed worldwide each year.

[500 billion][]. That's the number of [plastic grocery bags][] consumed worldwide each year. While handy and able to hold your [fair trade coffee][] and [local radishes][], plastic bags are often [used once][] before they end up in a [sea turtle's stomach][]. In other words, these things are used for ten minutes and then take a million years to disappear. Next time you go shopping, take your old bags with you. Buy a unique bag holder for your pantry, and grab a few sacks to reuse (or recycle) at the checkout line. Find out how durable these things really are.

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Monica commented on Monday, September 10, 2007 4:34 p.m.
In Crowley Texas, the local Brookshires grocery store sells very nice reusable grocery bags for $1. I have seen similar bags at Whole Foods for $5. They are very strong and hold tons.
Susan commented on Monday, October 1, 2007 3:59 p.m.
Thank you for sharing this information.

I recently learned that the plastic bags we so often receive at grocery and department stores can be recycled at WAL-MART ... recycling boxes can be found in the entry way to the store. (I've seen them in Michigan and Tennessee and assume it's something all the Wal-Marts are doing.)

Even better than having to recycle plastic bags is to use canvas shopping bags or ask for paper bags whenever possible.
Rich commented on Saturday, October 13, 2007 12:29 a.m.
So, plastic actually takes about 1/20th the energy to recycle that paper does, so if you're planning on just plain recycling, then go plastic. Make sure not to put it in your curbside recycling because most recycling plants actually throw out plastic bags. So either return to grocery stores, who will make sure that the bags are recycled, or even better, reuse. As little energy as recycling takes, reusing takes none.
Julia commented on Monday, December 10, 2007 2:04 p.m.
I keep a couple canvas bags in my car and use them when shopping instead of plastic bags. They hold a lot and are easier to carry. If I do end up with a plastic bag, it will probably end up as a trash can liner in my home. You can even use the plastic packaging used for toliet paper as trash can liners...if you open it in the right way!!!
Bryan commented on Friday, December 14, 2007 2:54 p.m.
Anyone out there with experience using these bags for insulation? I'm thinking about finishing a studio, and have considered using them in between the wall and the drywall to insulate. I'd need to collect a bunch, but that would keep them out of the landfill if they were already on the way there...
Russanne commented on Thursday, November 20, 2008 10:07 p.m.
I wish I could remember where it was but somewhere I have traveled lately (and I believe it was out of the country) has outlawed platic bags. Any clues on this?

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