I've been using reusable grocery bags for some time now and it always astounds me when I am in the checkout and people have their groceries packed in gobs of those thin plastic bags. Data released by the EPA says that somewhere between 500 billion and a trillion plastic bags are consumed each year and less then 1% of those are recycled.
Check this out:
---From http://www.squidoo.com/reusablegrocerybag
* To make a plastic bag takes non renewable resources such as petroleum and natural gas. Not only does this have a big environmental impact, but it also increases our reliance on foreign suppliers.
* The energy used in the manufacturing on plastic bags contributes to global warming and releases toxic chemicals into the environment.
* Hundreds of thousands of animals and marine life each year are affected - they suffer a painful and slow death when they accidentally ingest or become tangled in plastic bags .
* Plastic bags can contaminate the food chain. Toxic chemicals from plastic bags may leach into foods, the sea and the environment which then in turn contaminates the food that we eat.
* Estimates say that over one billion plastic bags are handed out per day. You can make a difference. Easily. Get a reusable grocery bag and say no to plastic!
* Plastic bags go to landfill sites. What you have used for maybe 30 minutes will be with the earth for over 1000 years.
Hello!
It is so easy to bring your own bags to the store. The website http://www.bagsontherun.com/ sells reusable and recycled bags for about $1.20 each. You can pick out different colors and even have them custom printed.
I believe that plastic bags should be banned. I bring my bags to every store that I frequent from the grocery to a little baby boutique, it's really easy folks. Keep the bags in your trunk and you'll never be without them. It's a simple way to reduce your carbon footprint, so in the words of Nike, "Just Do It!"
