Plastic grocery bags, the kind that millions of us have tucked into kitchen cabinets, stuffed in our purses and hiding under couch cushions are NOT recyclable. That's right. They don't biodegrade, they photodegrade. This means they break down into smaller and smaller pieces of litter but they never dissolve or completely go away. This is bad news to those of us who strive to recycle and make the world a better, cleaner place. Since I began learning the
true facts about plastic grocery bags, I have switched to using cloth bags for groceries and toting about my mountains of stuff. However, I still have entire kitchen cabinets filled with these plastic atrocities and am not sure what to do with them. Fortunately, I have found some great ideas and have come up with a few of my own. In no particular order following are some hints on what to do with the pesky bags so that they are no littering the road side or ocean:
- Many grocery stores have receptacle to accept the return of the bags. This is an easy, painless way to reuse them.
- Store them in pill bottles for easy use in the car or purse. Many pill bottles are not recyclable and this is a great way to get multiple uses out of the bags and bottles.
- use as shoe protectors in a messy situation. Simply tie them over your regular shoes and avoid a yucky clean up.
- Stuffing the bags with shredded newspaper makes for great packing buffers or stuffing for storing purses.
- Tie one to your car antenna in case you break down and have to leave your car on the side of the road. It will give an indication that you meed some assistance.
While the above uses are handy, it is best to keep in mind that these bags are not good for the environment. The next time you are at the store and are asked paper or plastic just tell them you have cloth and avoid the situation all together.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
9-07-2007 @ 12:05PM
Francesca Clarke said...
Thanks for the tips Heather! I try to use cloth bags, but you'll still find plastic ones crammed all over my kitchen. They accumulate so quickly! I like the idea of storing them in pill bottles. This would be a great way to have one handy.
Also, the Salvation Army Thrift Store and others I'm sure, ask people to bring in bags so that they can be reused in the store.
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9-07-2007 @ 12:57PM
Chad said...
I put the baby diapers in them.
...
That may not help the green person.
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9-08-2007 @ 1:50AM
Tim said...
They can be recycled:
http://www.plasticbagrecycling.org/01.0/
You can easily find plenty of other sources stating that recycled grocery bags are used to make composite lumber, so don't dismiss the above just because it's an industry-sponsored web site. Even articles about the proposed ban in SF (or maybe it is in place already?) usually mention that the bags can be recycled, it's just that there's only a small percentage of them which are returned for recycling.
That said, I agree reusable cloth bags are the best bag to use, and for more than just waste reduction. They are very durable, and it would take a lot for one to split or tear suddenly -- something that neither plastic nor paper can claim.
Of course, most people don't bring their own reusable bags, so be sure to educate and encourage everyone to recycle those plastic bags!
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9-08-2007 @ 12:25PM
carol christiano said...
Why not use them for garbage, saves buying garbage bags.
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9-08-2007 @ 12:29PM
carol christiano said...
Why not use them as garbage bags, rather than buying trash bags?
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9-08-2007 @ 7:41PM
Christy said...
Recycling your plastic grocery bags at the grocery store is better than you may realize... There are "composite" decking products on the market (for example, Trex Decking) that are manufactured via recycled plastic grocery bags and various additives, such as saw dust from lumber remnants. This material is used much like good old fashioned lumber for backyard decks, boat docks, stairs, and on and on. The good thing is that these composites make use of recycled materials that previously had no use to any industry, and the structures built with it last virtually forever. Decks, for example, never need to be varnished, refinished, or replaced, as composites are virtually indestructible by the elements and are naturally waterproof.
A "fun fact" - Trex offers a decking product that comes in a color called "Winchester Grey" - this color material was created due to the vast amount of blue Wal-Mart bags being recycled!
(I do not work for Trex or any other composite manufacturer; I do, however, work in the building industry and have been very impressed by this eco-friendly use of everyday items to vreate sustainable products).
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9-09-2007 @ 7:01PM
jan said...
Donate your plastic bags to a food pantry. They sometimes double bag and use them for grocery items, fresh produce, etc. I also use them in small wastecans that are emptied frequently. Many grocery stores now have bins to collect your used bags.
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9-10-2007 @ 3:16PM
Dolores said...
use them to store your summer shoes in in the winter and winter shoes in the summer so other stuff won't get dirty. Also what do the stores that collect bags do with them?
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9-10-2007 @ 6:28PM
TheJalAbides said...
Of course they're recyclable. They're made from HDPE (Resin ID code #2 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hdpe) .... just READ the bottom of the bag. Feel free to recycle them with your bottles and cans, so long as your town recycles RID code 2. I actually like to use them as the bags for my bottles & cans, saving me the expense of buying those designated clear recycling trash bags.
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9-11-2007 @ 9:12AM
Liz Kelley said...
stuff pillow covers,make braided rugs,shower caps,rain hats,recycle at grocery store,stuff zippered hassock,store clothing and shoes,double up for freezer bags,cut in strips to make crocheted anything,stuff clothing (to hold its shape)be inventive and use your imagination!
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9-11-2007 @ 7:32PM
A said...
I SELL books on amazon.com. I use plastic bags to mail the books. I did like the article says: I stuff the bags with crumbled newspaper and twist them. The Postal workers go crazy cause they don't think that I'm really mailing books!! They waste my time trying to FEEL the book!
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9-12-2007 @ 10:15AM
MCMB said...
Seriously, what is your suggestion for a large family who has tons of bags. Weekly shopping, plus daily shopping for missed and fresh food I cook alot. Does anyone think that buying one cloth bag will help? Try 4 a day plus the rest from the huge once a week shopping. I save them, do use them for many things, but had NO idea they could not be recycled.
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