Little did we know, back in 1977, that those first plastic bags to arrive in our retail and grocery stores would eventually be the bane of our society. In mass production, their expense is minimal, making them highly dispensable. While most are now recyclable, only a small percentage are actually recycled.
Many more of these toxic products end up in dumps and waterways. Their damage to the environment and many animals has been well-documented. We know their production emits toxic chemicals into the environment that has only begun to damage our eco-systems, yet we continue to cling to their convenience. Why?
When the first examples of reusable bags began to hit our stores, I did a double take and went home to clean out my closet. After years of attending conventions, where tote bags of all sorts are given away, I had a collection that any grocery buyer would be proud of. I continue to get comments at the grocer's on my unique, publishing-themed bags that are sturdy, reusable and non-toxic.
So, why is it so hard for others to do this? If you, like me, don't have a closet full of cast-offs from previously attended conventions, pick up a few reusable bags when they're on sale. At a couple of dollars each, they will last you years while not endangering the wild animals we so vehemently state we want to save.
Since the average plastic bag is estimated to take a thousand years to decompose in a landfill, these nasty commodities are collecting in landfills everywhere, only to sit, seemingly forever.
There are some who have done their part to mitigate the damage. Some plastic bag producers are using more and more recycled plastics in their bags, and companies like BioBag are producing 100% biodegradable and 100% compostable bags made from cornstarch. I've tested the latter product and found them to be rather easy to tear, often dropping their load at my feet. Sigh. I wanted so badly to support their product, yet how strong did I think cornstarch could really be?
With the surge in popularity of bamboo fibers, I have anticipated a paper bag replacement made of bamboo, yet still have not seen this come to fruition. While this grass is touted to be highly eco-friendly and sustainable, all the while fast growing, I hope to see more of this product moving forward.
While there is no disputing the usefulness of plastic in so many applications, we did manage to get along without it for thousands of years. Why now is it so indispensable? The answer to this, of course, is that we are a convenience-driven society. Plastic is convenient.
Some might say that waxed paper is also not Eco-friendly, therefore cannot be a suitable alternative. Yet companies are getting on that bandwagon and making food grade waxed paper with no petroleum derivatives in them. These are now my choice for food storage, when a container is not suitable.
Additional substitutes are now available. Reusable sandwich wrappers are a brilliant idea and recycled aluminum foil is now the only kind I buy. For certain jobs, foil is very useful, and now less hazardous to our environment. Let's just hope the plastic-buying businesses will begin to see the error of their ways. This major change is squarely in their hands. Government is making few inroads to banning these toxic tagalongs, so it's up to us to do the right thing. Now go clean out your closet and find those cast-aside tote bags from Aunt Louise and your last convention. Put them in your car or by your door. Use them!
When all else fails, surely we can use our plastic bags from purchases for doggie poop bags and trash can liners in our bathrooms. Sadly, the price of this great book is testament to our lack of motivation to reuse plastic bags:
Subscribe in a readerFollow me at Twitter
.jpg)
Posts
0 COMMENTS:
Post a Comment