August Plastic Bag Challenge - Week 1
So it has been a week of the plastic bag challenge - for me, to reduce the number of plastic grocery bags I have from 60 to 10. I am excited by all the suggestions and tips I received in the first post, and I am compiling all of them into a list for the end of August.
As far as how I did, as I mentioned in the comments on the initial post, I made an error and didn’t bring my reusable bag into Walgreens with me, so I collected another plastic bag. That was technically in July, but since it added to the number I had on August 1st I think it counts. So, 61. But I did find a new use for the ones I have that I hadn’t already been doing. My son is in the midst of potty training and without going into gross details, the bags have come in handy disposing of some accidents. That is (hopefully!) not a continual source of disposal but I think it may get rid of a few more than I would like. Combined with the ways I was already using the bags (trash liners, diaper pail liner for my daughter, raw meat transport from the store) this has helped me get my overall count down to 55. Which is not on pace to get to 10 by August 31st, but I am making progress. The key is not to bring any new ones into the house, which I am doing okay at.
So if you are eliminating plastic bags from your stash, how are you doing? How much progress have you made? Have you found any new uses for them? Share in the comments!
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August 7th, 2008 at 7:28 am
I love that you’re trying to get rid of your excess plastic bags without throwing them away. I’m trying to phase out plastic bag use, but making the switch to reusable is so overwhelming! For now, I bring a canvas bag with me when I’m getting one or two things, and I use my plastic grocery bags as small trash bags for the bathroom.
Here’s a list of unconventional uses for plastic bags from Real Simple. Hope it helps:
http://www.realsimple.com/realsimple/gallery/0,21863,1097755,00.html
August 7th, 2008 at 8:35 am
Potty training, you say? Check out this giveaway!
August 7th, 2008 at 8:58 am
I used to have trouble getting rid of plastic bags… until I went to a Dog-Walk-in-the-Park event and met a woman giving away bag-holders. Basically, if you’ve seen the big cloth plastic bag storage items, this is a miniature one with a cord that attaches to a dog leash. Fill it with plastic bags (it will hold about 10), then use the bags to dispose of dog poop while you’re walking. If you live in the city and have a dog, this is a frugal & easy way to get rid of your bags… and if you haven’t been picking up after your dog, you may find this has your neighbors liking you more!
August 7th, 2008 at 9:30 am
I use several bags each week when I clean out the litter box. And I use the bags to hold tupperware containers of leftovers that dinner guests take home. These two things keep my supply to a minimum!
August 7th, 2008 at 11:03 am
I still use plastic bags to clean the cat box out. I haven’t found a better alternative.
However, I ask the store clerk not to give me a bag if I have only a few items. I am trying to cut back on usage, not completely eliminate my use.
August 7th, 2008 at 11:08 am
In most places you can recycle them too. We’ve been tossing big bags full into our recycling container.
They’re also good packing material–I put them around breakables before sending.
August 7th, 2008 at 11:50 am
I keep some on hand, I first flatten and roll them into little packets and then ‘tuck’ in the end so I have these little bag packets that fit easily in a basket near our car key rack. This means they’re easy to grab for whatever I need them for. I also use them to line bathroom trash cans. My extra bags I either take to Aldi and leave for other customers to use or I take them to the libary I work at and we give them to our patrons who need to bag up their books. I don’t see them at all as a nuisance but as great free stuff.
August 7th, 2008 at 2:17 pm
I took all my plastic bags back to Safeway and put them in the recycling container just inside the door. My wife made several re-usable bags out of some durable upholstery type material she had and we bring those with us whenever we go grocery shopping. We will still, very rarely, have to get one or two plastic bags, but then we just recycle them the next time we go to the store.
August 7th, 2008 at 3:28 pm
They are great…as long as they get recycled…if not, all that plastic ends up in the landfill…not good for Mother Earth.
August 7th, 2008 at 8:54 pm
I also use them in the bathrooms & the kitty litter. We have the recycle bins outside of our grocery store too. All good ideas.
August 7th, 2008 at 9:22 pm
I absolutely loath plastic bags. My tip, do what I do - simply refuse to take plastic bags from grocery stores and shops and such. I remember one time a store clerk was insisting on giving me a plastic bag for my groceries because of “company policy” (!), I told her “you better not give me that f**king piece of earth killing trash, or I’ll have a work with your manager”. She took the plastic bag back
As for other uses? Recycle them as garbage bags in small bins and such, instead of using new garbage bags. I’ve reused and disposed of many plastic bags this way. I say, if you’re gonna throw that plastic s**t, at least make the most use out of it.
August 7th, 2008 at 9:57 pm
I walked into Wal-mart today and for the first time I noticed that they had a “plastic bag recycling” bin outside their front door. I don’t know if this is a national trend, but I’d check your local Wal-mart.
I use plastic grocery bags to carry my lunch, line small trash bins, and I use them to bag up my shoes when I’m packing a suitcase so that the bottoms of my shoes don’t get my clothes dirty.
August 7th, 2008 at 10:55 pm
JM2C.
I think it makes more sense to either reuse them multiple times or take them to the store to recycle. Throwing them away (even if they’re full of trash) is still adding to your waste. I can only think of a very few amount of things for which you really really need the plastic bag (scooping dog poop comes to mind). Yes, they’re convenient, but they’re also ruining the Earth you’re leaving your children. Plastic bags decompose into toxic chemicals that leak from the landfill and contaminate groundwater. Not ideal.
Okay, off my soapbox. I realize they are hard to give up… but it’s not impossible. And it might soon be necessary.
All that being said - the other part of the equation (not bringing more bags into the house) is probably the most important part!
August 8th, 2008 at 8:58 pm
One thing that concerns me about bringing bags back to the store to be recycled is the persistent rumor that most stores simply toss these into the trash. Wouldn’t hurt to ask an employee if they know where the bags end up.
August 8th, 2008 at 10:57 pm
@deepali - I agree about reusing them multiple times - and we do that as much as we can (small trash bin liners, for example).
The new use I have come up with for disposing of underwear that has been destroyed… it has to be contained in something. it’s horrid
. So it might as well be my plastic bags I am trying to find uses for instead of a plastic bag I bought. I tried cleaning it up the first few times to save the underwear and honestly, I wasted more water and cleaning supplies than I could imagine.
Underwear is just not designed to be pooped in. Oh, the joys of potty training. I kind of think of it as equivalent to cleaning up dog poop as far as the bag is concerned
August 9th, 2008 at 12:40 am
Well, PaidTwice, hopefully this’ll only be a short term use
August 9th, 2008 at 1:13 am
BTW, if one is concerned about plastic bags in the absolute (i.e., NO MORE plastic) consider using BioBags or their equivalent, for gushy messes and paper for the dry stuff. I was pretty skeptical (about bags made from cornstarch) but have been impressed with their durability. They could tear a bit more easily than plastic, but contain liquids and odors perfectly. With a bit of research you can find them pretty cheap online, especially bought in bulk.
We learned quickly to have separate receptacles for food and dry waste when our city offered curbside collection of food waste for commercial composting. Those who do their own composting know all about this. It’s not difficult and cuts way down, along with the usual recycling, on what heads to the landfill.
My only complaint locally is when they dump our garbage bins they’re messy and unless stuff is in a bag it scatters everywhere
Using saved boxes for carting stuff is another alternative to plastic bags.
August 9th, 2008 at 1:47 am
Interesting double use for that plastic bag:
http://www.greendaily.com/2007/11/09/dump-your-left-over-drugs-in-with-the-kitty-litter/
August 9th, 2008 at 5:06 pm
I have beeen using plastic bags for years for cleaning up the mess my dogs leave behins…..I have three.
Given the fact that most supermarkets are now trying to reduce the number og bags given out, I have to resort to buying nappy sacks…..another use for plastic bags.
August 11th, 2008 at 1:58 pm
I can recycle them at the grocery store, but I also use them up.
We use plastic bags to clean out the cat’s litter box, and I use them for lunches. (obviously different bags) I also use them to store old shoes, like snow boots, currently not in use.