Comments on: Plastic Bags–A Primer and a Guide http://www.theearthconnection.org/blog/2009/08/plastic-bags-a-primer-and-a-guide/ Nourishment and inspiration for those who love the Earth Thu, 09 Sep 2010 04:50:01 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7.1 hourly 1 By: Kathy http://www.theearthconnection.org/blog/2009/08/plastic-bags-a-primer-and-a-guide/comment-page-1/#comment-1092 Kathy Thu, 27 Aug 2009 15:29:27 +0000 http://www.theearthconnection.org/blog/?p=1430#comment-1092 These suggestions on reducing plastic use really pushed my sense of complacency and my limits. I thought I was doing so well to reuse plastic bags, wash them out, put them in recycling, and generally being conscientious about reuse and recycle. But it was good to be challenged to realize there are ways I could much more seriously withdraw from the plastic world. I'm not there yet, but it was good to see how much farther some folks are thinking. These suggestions on reducing plastic use really pushed my sense of complacency and my limits. I thought I was doing so well to reuse plastic bags, wash them out, put them in recycling, and generally being conscientious about reuse and recycle. But it was good to be challenged to realize there are ways I could much more seriously withdraw from the plastic world. I’m not there yet, but it was good to see how much farther some folks are thinking.

]]> By: Kathy Fitch http://www.theearthconnection.org/blog/2009/08/plastic-bags-a-primer-and-a-guide/comment-page-1/#comment-1065 Kathy Fitch Thu, 20 Aug 2009 08:15:08 +0000 http://www.theearthconnection.org/blog/?p=1430#comment-1065 We have the same problem in Spain - garbage must be bagged before we can throw it away. Although we do have a separate bin for recycling plastic and metal items, it is unclear to me what really happens to these materials. Wouldn´t the answer be biodegradable plastic bags? I know research has been done in this area. The problem is particularly acute in some parts of Africa which are inundated with these unsightly and everlasting pollutants. We have the same problem in Spain - garbage must be bagged before we can throw it away. Although we do have a separate bin for recycling plastic and metal items, it is unclear to me what really happens to these materials. Wouldn´t the answer be biodegradable plastic bags? I know research has been done in this area. The problem is particularly acute in some parts of Africa which are inundated with these unsightly and everlasting pollutants.

]]> By: marianne lepczyk http://www.theearthconnection.org/blog/2009/08/plastic-bags-a-primer-and-a-guide/comment-page-1/#comment-1064 marianne lepczyk Wed, 19 Aug 2009 19:28:50 +0000 http://www.theearthconnection.org/blog/?p=1430#comment-1064 The garbage collectors where I live will refuse to empty the large bins with unbagged garbage. The garbage collectors where I live will refuse to empty the large bins with unbagged garbage.

]]> By: April http://www.theearthconnection.org/blog/2009/08/plastic-bags-a-primer-and-a-guide/comment-page-1/#comment-1063 April Wed, 19 Aug 2009 14:42:24 +0000 http://www.theearthconnection.org/blog/?p=1430#comment-1063 Thanks for the good news from Nova Scotia! It's encouraging. Thanks for the good news from Nova Scotia! It’s encouraging.

]]> By: April http://www.theearthconnection.org/blog/2009/08/plastic-bags-a-primer-and-a-guide/comment-page-1/#comment-1062 April Wed, 19 Aug 2009 14:25:37 +0000 http://www.theearthconnection.org/blog/?p=1430#comment-1062 Marianne makes some very interesting points. I too have often had trouble reading the numbers inside the triangle on the bottom of bottles, leaving me uncertain whether I can recycle them. I'm sorry to hear that limits on plastic bags have resulted in people buying them anyway. True, many of us do find uses at home for the plastic bags we've brought home from the store. But I would hope we could find other ways to line our wastebaskets ands pick up dog poop. And I wonder if there is an alternative to the garbage collection issue. I live in a rural area where we take our own trash to dump sites. But in cities where residents are issued big trash cans, does all the trash in the cans have to be in bags? Marianne makes some very interesting points. I too have often had trouble reading the numbers inside the triangle on the bottom of bottles, leaving me uncertain whether I can recycle them.

I’m sorry to hear that limits on plastic bags have resulted in people buying them anyway. True, many of us do find uses at home for the plastic bags we’ve brought home from the store. But I would hope we could find other ways to line our wastebaskets ands pick up dog poop.

And I wonder if there is an alternative to the garbage collection issue. I live in a rural area where we take our own trash to dump sites. But in cities where residents are issued big trash cans, does all the trash in the cans have to be in bags?

]]> By: marianne lepczyk http://www.theearthconnection.org/blog/2009/08/plastic-bags-a-primer-and-a-guide/comment-page-1/#comment-1061 marianne lepczyk Tue, 18 Aug 2009 23:26:31 +0000 http://www.theearthconnection.org/blog/?p=1430#comment-1061 Several observations: I have been trying unsuccessfully for several years to require the manufacturers of plastic bottles to make the recyclable numbers large enough to be read easily. An unintended consequence documented in communities with stringent limitations on plastic shopping bags is the increase in purchases of plastic bags for home use. Most muicipal garbage services will not accept unbagged garbage for health and safety of the garbage collectors. Several observations:
I have been trying unsuccessfully for several years to require the manufacturers of plastic bottles to make the recyclable numbers large enough to be read easily.

An unintended consequence documented in communities with stringent limitations on plastic shopping bags is the increase in purchases of plastic bags for home use.

Most muicipal garbage services will not accept unbagged garbage for health and safety of the garbage collectors.

]]> By: Todd Waymon http://www.theearthconnection.org/blog/2009/08/plastic-bags-a-primer-and-a-guide/comment-page-1/#comment-1060 Todd Waymon Tue, 18 Aug 2009 19:12:30 +0000 http://www.theearthconnection.org/blog/?p=1430#comment-1060 Hi April, Here in Nova Scotia I've just come from the grocery store with my canvas grocery bag. Yes, they charge for plastic - it's worth walking back to the car if I forget. They have the most sophisticated recycling system. We (gladly) separate trash into separate kitchen-corner bins with different color (plastic - I assume they recycle these too) bags: white for paper/cardboard, blue for cans/bottles etc that do recycle, black for non-recyclables, and a green outdoor bin for compostables (some of which goes into my own garden compost pile). It works for everyone and everyone participates. Todd Hi April, Here in Nova Scotia I’ve just come from the grocery store with my canvas grocery bag. Yes, they charge for plastic - it’s worth walking back to the car if I forget. They have the most sophisticated recycling system. We (gladly) separate trash into separate kitchen-corner bins with different color (plastic - I assume they recycle these too) bags: white for paper/cardboard, blue for cans/bottles etc that do recycle, black for non-recyclables, and a green outdoor bin for compostables (some of which goes into my own garden compost pile). It works for everyone and everyone participates. Todd

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