According to National Geographic,plastic bags are so cheap to produce, sturdy, plentiful, easy to carry and store that they have captured at least 80 percent of the grocery and convenience store.As a result, the totes are everywhere. They sit balled up and stuffed into the one that hangs from the pantry door. They line bathroom trash bins. They carry clothes to the gym. They clutter landfills. They flap from trees. They float in the breeze. They clog roadside drains. They drift on the high seas. They fill sea turtle bellies.
Millions of the plastic bags end up as litter. Once in the environment, it takes months to hundreds of years for plastic bags to breakdown. As they decompose, tiny toxic bits seep into soils, lakes, rivers, and the oceans.
Yes,plastic bags are part of our everyday life.From malls,markets,groceries,schools,sports venues and almost everywhere.But the questions are,are we trying to minimize having plastic bags in our everyday living,and are we trying to maximize the usage of plastic bags?
Almost every home have plastic bags.That means almost everybody are using plastic bags.
Let's take for example a mother from a family.Whenever she goes to a grocery and she will carry nothing but herself and her wallet she will use plastic bags for sure.She'll buy frozen goods and will use a plastic bag for that.Then,again,another plastic bag for dry goods.Another plastic bag for cosmetics including detergents or any house-cleaning agent.Or she may use another plastic bag for other items she will buy.That means she will use four plastic bags.If she goes to a grocery,not including malls and market,let's say two times a week,shell gather eight plastic bags in a week from grocery alone.Where will she put all those plastic bags?More often these plastic bags end up as litter.
Can we do something about these?
Yes,we can do something about this.We can always apply the 4R's.Recycle.Reuse.Reduce.Rebuy.
- Plastic bags are sure can be recycled.We can sell these plastic bags as long as they are clean and can still use to those whose businesses is recycling.We can donate them.
- Reduce so you don't have to recycle too much.If one or two plastic bag can carry all the things you are buying,why use four?It's in the organization of the items.Organize the things inside the plastic bag to have more space.The more space,the less plastic bags.And you will prefer to carry two plastic bags than four.
- Reuse is easier to accomplish than to reduce.Plastic bags are not just carrier.They can use as cover,not only to books,also to your windows to protect from getting wet from the rain or any harmful things that our windows are expose.Imagination is the key.Little kites can come from colorful plastic bags.Or you can make little parachutes as a toy.Or whenever your family take a trip always carry plastic bags as trash holder.And they can be use as decor.I have seen Christmas lanterns that's made from plastic bags.
Now,this is where my question goes.How heavy is a plastic bag and you can't carry it?
- The most practical way of reusing plastic bags is to carry some of these when buying stuff.Before leaving the house and going to any grocery,malls or any establishments that you know you will need to use plastic bags make sure you are carrying at least one plastic bag.These things are so light so we can always bring even a bunch of them.We can carry these the way we wanted or just simply fold and put these in our pocket or purse.In this way we can say "no" to a new plastic bag.
- Then rebuy.We should buy recycled plastic bags to reduce manufacturing of new plastic bags.
