The situation has reached critical....

[Shawn]

Everyone on earth should see this. It's that important.
And please pass it on-


PoconoRecord.com: Slideshow: The dangers of plastic bags

[gracefulone]

My friend and I are both really eco-aware, so we've talked about this before. We usually use paper bags and then recyle them or use some of the cloth bags we have.

[Robindq]

Wow thanks for sharing that!

My family also no longer uses plastic bags. Wherever we go shopping we bring our cloth bags.

[Shawn]

I'm guilty of using the plastic bags and thought I was doing okay because we recycle most of them (we use some to empty small trash cans and such). But now that I know the expense of recycling, I think I at least need to switch to paper bags. Those will at least break down in the rain and water.

[AmyCollins]

the easiest way, I have found, to keep from using plastic bags is to purchase the reusable cloth bags at the grocery store. I have about 15 kroger reusable bags.They only cost $1.00 each. i use them all the time at publix and target and no one seems to mind that they say a different store on them. I just love them. if they get dirty I just throw them in the washing machine and problem solved!

[Shawn]

Excellent idea! I'll have to look into that.

[Robindq]

I agree with amycollins on the cloth bags vs. paper bags idea. I hear reusable cloth bags are much better for the environment than paper bags (or plastic of course). Paper bags may be easily broken down but they ARE made from trees which is another problem in itself .

[NYgymfan]

We always use cloth bags. I know NYC is trying to make itself a "green" city and they started promoting these ideas a long time ago, and I talked my mom into it. I think the grocery stores like it because they don't run out of bags so quick when more people have cloth bags.

But cloth bags aren't for all people at all times. Poor people might not be able to afford them. And sometimes when I make a "surprise" trip to the store I won't think to get the cloth bags from home, and I still like having something to put my food into! But I will always try for paper bags instead of plastic.

[KBT]

There's a spot in the ocean - can't remember where off the top - where the currents meet that's about 8 square miles filled with plastic bags and containers. Some floats, some is suspended in the water for miles down. Icky.

In terms of recycling, plastic is much more expensive to recycle than metals or glass. I try to buy things in metal/glass containers rather than plastic when I have the option.

The trouble with throwing things away into landfills is even biodegradable items don't degrade in that kind of high pressure, no oxygen environment. Things like fully intact apple cores and banana peels have been found in 100-year-old landfills. [Insert plug for composting here....]

A great way to remember to bring cloth bags is to leave them in your car so they're always there when you go shopping. While you're "training" yourself to always bring them in, you can refuse to use store bags, load all your stuff back into the cart individually after checkout, then load individually into your car. A good reminder not to forget!

The one dilema I still have is the produce bags so I even reuse these because they don't get that dirty. You kindof have to use them for some things, although I have stopped using them for things like a single cucumber or peppers. Apples, though, you need something to put them in. And I have food allergies and don't want to put my veggies directly into the cart and the checkout belt in case they get contaminated.

[KBT]

Quote:
Originally Posted by NYgymfan But cloth bags aren't for all people at all times. Poor people might not be able to afford them. And sometimes when I make a "surprise" trip to the store I won't think to get the cloth bags from home, and I still like having something to put my food into! But I will always try for paper bags instead of plastic.

True, there is a small expense. But even those who can't afford cloth bags can still reuse paper bags many times before they wear out.