Living :

Question: Paper or plastic?

09.07.2006

Submitted by idealbite on Thu, 09/07/2006 - 5:00pm.
The Bite:
Answer: Neither. Shopping bags create an insane amount of waste for something that's often in our lives for fewer than 5 minutes (store to car, car to house). Next time you grocery shop, BYOB (bring your own bag).
The Benefits: 
  • Save oil and/or trees. In the US, about 12 million barrels of oil and 14 million trees go to producing plastic and paper bags each year.
  • Reusing makes cents. Stores like Albertsons and Wild Oats offer a 5-penny discount if you bring your own.
  • Be a role model. Other shoppers'll watch and learn.
  • Make sure plastic bags don't harm sea creatures. They're one of the 12 most commonly found items in coastal cleanups.
Personally Speaking: 
Jen's been bringing her own since early on, when toting a canvas bag to the store wasn't so popular - garnering her a bunch of weird looks. She still gets the weird looks, but for various other reasons.
Wanna Try: 
If you drive, keep these handy in your car for unexpected grocery store stops:
  • Mimi Shopper - oh-so-Euro-hip ($45).
  • b. happybags - these are Jen's fave because they are sassy, sturdy, and extra wide - perfect for a six pack of organic beer and chips ($20).
  • Blue Lotus - handbag-happy Sara likes these best, especially because 10% of their profits go to protecting sea turtles harmed by the use of the bags ($5-15).
  • "BYOB" Reusable Shopping Bag - made from hemp ($10).
  • "Plastic Bags Blow" Activist Kit - spread the green word ($3).
  • If you can't get around using plastic bags, tie them into knots before you toss them in the recycle bin. That way they won't balloon up into the air and end up as litter.
Tina Landry.

Cocktail Fact

In 2002, Ireland introduced a 15-cent levy on plastic bags, resulting in a 95% decrease in their use.

Bang For The Bite

If 10,000 Biters use canvas totes instead of plastic grocery bags, we'll keep about 9 million bags from ending up in landfills every year.

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Vermela  on October 22, 2009 at 02:19 AM 6
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