Paper or Plastic?

How about next time you're asked this question say “neither.“ I know it’s instinct and probably easier at the moment to watch silently as the cashier stuffs plastic bags full of your weekly groceries. But when you’re standing in line, take a second and think about what they are doing to the world you live in. I understand if you’re not an environmentalist; but what about the air you and your children breath or the chemicals in the plastic that seep into your food as you drive home. It’s time to trade in those disposable bags and opt for a reusable one - plus it might just be cheaper…

Countries around the world like China, Kenya and Ireland have already banned the use of plastic bags in grocery stores and convenient shops. Some US cities like San Francisco have done the same, while others are taking steps to charge shoppers for each disposable bag they use. According to a article in the Washington Post; the District of Columbia legislation recently unanimously approved a bill to ban the use of non-recyclable paper and plastic bags as well as tax .5-cents per recycled bag used (each store will keep .1-cent and .4-cents will go into a fund to clean up the Anacostia River which consumes 20,000 tons of trash each year!). Read the entire article here: DC to Ban Free Use of Plastic Bags Other states such as California, Washington, Texas, Connecticut and Maine have similar proposals on the table.

So what can you do? First be aware of what these materials are doing to our world:

• Between 500 billion and 1 trillion plastic bags are used worldwide each year



• Approximately 60 - 100 million barrels of oil are required to make the world’s plastic bags each year



• It takes a gallon of water to make one paper bag



• Approximately 14 million trees are cut down in 1 year to produce 10 billion paper grocery bags for the US alone



• Find more of these facts at: http://www.natural-environment.com/ and http://www.reusablebags.com/

Now that you are aware, it’s time to make a change. Most grocery stores now sell reusable bags at the checkout counters for a very reasonable price. Whole Foods - a well known “Green Action” advocate has stylish bags for only $1.25. My new favorite brand is Flip and Tumble (http://www.flipandtumble.com/). Their brightly colored, sporty bags are only $9 each - $7 if you buy seven of them. But also, be creative with bags you might already have at home. For example, try using the big black totes from Steve Madden to carry your things.

A hurdle in my own life - what to pick up my dog’s poo with if not a plastic bag? Yes a scooper right into the trash might work, but living in a city apartment doesn’t really allow for an outdoor space to keep the golden scooper after its been used. Nor do I think my fellow runners would appreciate me carrying the scooped poop around until I found a trash. I’m looking into biodegradable bags…