53 replies to this topic

[gherine]

Let's promote the No to Plastic Bags to the whole world.

[Evilsprinkles]

Sure, but in order to encourage people not to use one thing, you need to offer them an alternative. What would you suggest? We have a re-use policy here which works well, but I can't see people giving them up completely. I think it's going to be more about how to recycle and reuse, than cease and desist entirely.

[FamilyTreeClimber]

Plastic bags will be banned in my country starting January 1st.  We reuse our plastic bags and those that are beyond repair are recycled by our waste management company.

I'm glad we are cutting down on them.  But, it leaves me with a problem.  Because of my arthritis, I have little strength in my hands and can't really bend from my back.  I have a special dog pooper scooper that uses plastic garbage bags.  It's really easy for me to manipulate.  Once they stop using them here, I'm going to have to buy them or find another scooper that I can use without much effort.  I've tried some different ones, but you usually have to bend over or you have to have the coordination and strength in your hands (a shovel is difficult for me to handle).  I'll figure something out in the end.

[BuddhaStarlight]

I use them, because I need them as garbage bags and for other purposes. I just use the cloth bags most of the time and when I'm in need of plastic bags I bring a bunch home from the store. I don't know what I'd use for trash bags otherwise.

[Sandra Piddock]

I'm all for cutting down on plastic bag use, but banning wont serve any useful purpose. As long as people re-use and recycle bags responsibly, they do have their uses. After all, if you didn't have reusable bags for your garbage, animal poop and countless other things, you'd have to use something else instead. So let's not ban - let's reduce consumption.

[adam_a]

There is a great documentary called Bag It (here is the website) that looks at plastics, both bags and other types, and how it affects us. I’m trying to get my local library to screen it on one of their movies nights where they play independent films, kids’ films, and documentaries. It is streaming on Netflix at the moment as well.

[BuddhaStarlight]

Sandra Piddock, on 11 October 2012 - 04:36 AM, said:

I'm all for cutting down on plastic bag use, but banning wont serve any useful purpose. As long as people re-use and recycle bags responsibly, they do have their uses. After all, if you didn't have reusable bags for your garbage, animal poop and countless other things, you'd have to use something else instead. So let's not ban - let's reduce consumption.

Agreed! :)

[Hardison]

There was a move to ban grocery plastic bags in my city, but it's seems to have been stalled. Some grocery stores charge you a nickel or quarter if you don't bring your own bag. Most of the stores here have some type of plastic bag recycling. You can bring in your extra bags and they will recycle them.

[E3 wise]

this is a huge issue for Lois and I,  we bought lots of reusable bags years ago.  I have several in the car, I even have a couple that I take in my suitcase for travel, they actually fold up so small they go in a pocket so I never have to use plastic.  Every time someone gives me a weird look I tell them about the Pacific Gyre that mass of mostly plastic twice the size of texas off the California coast and how it is killing sea creatures.

[Shortpoet-GTD]

Grocers and other retailers may stop (or will be forced to stop) offering plastic bags for purchases, but bags
will not go away.

They will still be available for purchase in the plastic bag aisles of the stores. They won't stop manufacturing
them; they can't. People still need them for trash. 100% of the population of every country are not going
to compost and recycle; so there will be trash.

It will cut down on the number of them floating into the oceans perhaps, but we'll always have them.

But for store purchases, just get reusable bags. I don't see what the big deal is. They're sturdier, washable
and last for years.

[fancyfingers]

Years ago, there was a big push to quit using paper bags because of the way it was depleting all the trees and we all should use plastic bags. Now, it is a push to not use plastic. I say, we should wean ourselves off both paper and plastic. It will take time, but once we get used to carrying cloth bags. It also will take time to make bags from clothes that couldn't be donated to be worn by someone else. Stained clothing will make great bags and keep them out of landfills.

[R. Paradon]

FamilyTreeClimber, on 10 October 2012 - 11:09 PM, said:

Plastic bags will be banned in my country starting January 1st.  We reuse our plastic bags and those that are beyond repair are recycled by our waste management company.

I'm glad we are cutting down on them.  But, it leaves me with a problem.  Because of my arthritis, I have little strength in my hands and can't really bend from my back.  I have a special dog pooper scooper that uses plastic garbage bags.  It's really easy for me to manipulate.  Once they stop using them here, I'm going to have to buy them or find another scooper that I can use without much effort.  I've tried some different ones, but you usually have to bend over or you have to have the coordination and strength in your hands (a shovel is difficult for me to handle).  I'll figure something out in the end.

My suggestion may or may not be suitable to you regarding on finances or kids in the neighborhood.  One of the jobs that my son had when he was growing up was a "Pooper-Scooper".  He would go door knocking and ask people if he could clean up the dogs mess for  a couple bucks and had a few customers he would service once or twice a week.  Depending on your location it may be feasible to offer a teen a crappy job.

[R. Paradon]

Plastic bags are convenient for sure but not good for the environment.  I have a small back pack that I use when I go shopping.  I have been using it for years.  It only cost a few dollars and not only does it eliminate the use of plastic bags but it makes walking home a lot easier than carrying bags.  The market I usually go to is only about three or four blocks from my home so I just toss it on my shoulder and get a little exercise as well.

[BuddhaStarlight]

How do you fit everything into one bag? When you eat the way we do, we have about 10 bags and we go shopping every few days. It takes a lot when your diet is mostly produce.

[steph84]

I have been significantly reducing my plastic bag usage, but I find it hard to not use some plastic liner in my bathroom trash can. Does anyone else have some suggestions for this? Are there other eco friendly options for this can?

[adam_a]

We keep several reusable bags in our vehicles that way we are always ready if we see something we want while we are out. We don't limit the reusable bags to just groceries either; everything we buy goes in a reusable bag. If I don’t have a bag with me and see something I want, I just carry it. We also have reusable produce bags so we don’t have to take any plastic bags that are for produce.

After recycling and composting we don’t actually make much trash (about an eight gallon bag a week and it isn’t always full). We found that we can get away with not using liners in our bathroom trashcans, but we do have to wash them out every now and again. Much of what goes into bathroom trashcans can be composted.

We are also trying to get away from all the packaging that comes with other things we buy. It seems stupid that we go through so much effort to avoid a plastic bag and end up with so much other plastic and cardboard that gets thrown away or recycled. I did a recent blog entry on this for those who are interested (there shouldn’t be any pop-ups and I’m not selling anything): Thinking outside the bag

[adam_a]

BuddhaStarlight, on 11 October 2012 - 04:15 AM, said:

I use them, because I need them as garbage bags and for other purposes. I just use the cloth bags most of the time and when I'm in need of plastic bags I bring a bunch home from the store. I don't know what I'd use for trash bags otherwise.

Just thought of this.

I'm sure you know someone who also gets plastic bags when they go shopping: a friend, neighbor, or family member. If they just throw them out or recycle them, ask them if you can have the bags and use them as you have been. It may seem a bit odd at first but half of my family saves all kinds of strange things for me now.

[R. Paradon]

adam_a, on 15 October 2012 - 06:38 AM, said:

We keep several reusable bags in our vehicles that way we are always ready if we see something we want while we are out. We don't limit the reusable bags to just groceries either; everything we buy goes in a reusable bag. If I don’t have a bag with me and see something I want, I just carry it. We also have reusable produce bags so we don’t have to take any plastic bags that are for produce.

After recycling and composting we don’t actually make much trash (about an eight gallon bag a week and it isn’t always full). We found that we can get away with not using liners in our bathroom trashcans, but we do have to wash them out every now and again. Much of what goes into bathroom trashcans can be composted.

We are also trying to get away from all the packaging that comes with other things we buy. It seems stupid that we go through so much effort to avoid a plastic bag and end up with so much other plastic and cardboard that gets thrown away or recycled. I did a recent blog entry on this for those who are interested (there shouldn’t be any pop-ups and I’m not selling anything): Thinking outside the bag

Very nice blog!  Happy you went outside the bag here and posted it!  i like your use of pictures and not just text!

[Evilsprinkles]

We don't really throw plastics out in this house, everything gets reused. I use them to line bins in the house, wrap up used cat litter, I've used them as stuffing to mail things to people that needed padding out, they're great to put open bags of grains and flour in to help prevent spillages, and I also use them to pick up dog mess when I'm out walking about with them. I believe if the bags are biodegradable, you can bury them and they'll just disintegrate, but I get lots of use out of the ones we get, before they're discarded entirely.

I've actually kept a few bags aside before, just to see how quickly they start to break down. They seem to degrade into flakes, which further degrade into dust. I'm OK with that if I've repurposed them sufficiently.

[adam_a]

R. Paradon, on 16 October 2012 - 07:01 PM, said:

Very nice blog!  Happy you went outside the bag here and posted it!  i like your use of pictures and not just text!

Thanks for the kind words. I try to keep it interesting as I log all of the green things I do. And it gives me excuses to go on all the green mini-adventures.