Time to Declare War on Plastic Bags

[redbirdjazzz]

I know the recycling center at Truman State University recycles plastic bags; maybe others do too.

[TheoSqua]

At the Wal-Mart I worked at, the box at the entrance that you could put plastic bags in to be taken for recycle were promptly taken to the trash compactor and thrown away.

Stuff like that is purely PR.

[ghostrunner]

You can sometimes throw plastic bags in with your regular recycling. Most of them have the number saying what kind of plastic they are. I think WalMart's are #2 plastic, which we can throw in our bin. Target's bags aren't, but those are pretty good quality bags and come in handy on the re-use end of the spectrum. We use our shopping bags for a lot of things.

[redbirdjazzz]

At the Wal-Mart I worked at, the box at the entrance that you could put plastic bags in to be taken for recycle were promptly taken to the trash compactor and thrown away.

Stuff like that is purely PR.

That may be true some places, but not at the recycling center I worked at. We had separate containers for the plastic bags; trash we just tossed.

[StatmanCrothers]

plastic bags are a scourge. i never just throw them away, if i have a plastic bag that i no longer have a use for, i usually will just recycle it by hooking it onto a hedge or a branch or maybe a park bench, anywhere along a sidewalk where pedestrians or motorists can see it, so that anyone passing by who needs it can have it handy

[Radio_Bugtussle]

Austin city council came close to banning plastic grocery bags already, and I wouldn't be surprised if it eventually happens. Whole Foods, I believe, only offers paper now.

That'll last until the enviroloons figure out that trees (a renewable resource BTW...) are cut down to make those paper bags.
These environmental goofs are so hilarious...

[maddash]

Austin city council came close to banning plastic grocery bags already, and I wouldn't be surprised if it eventually happens. Whole Foods, I believe, only offers paper now.

That'll last until the enviroloons figure out that trees (a renewable resource BTW...) are cut down to make those paper bags.
These environmental goofs are so hilarious...

Outside of the hyperbole (which honestly makes someone else look like the real goof/loon), the choice between paper and plastic still isn't exactly cut and dry. Paper takes far more energy to produce (about 4 times as much BTUs) and recycle (about 80x BTUs) than plastic, paper also creates a great deal of water pollutants. At the same time though, plastic is a product of oil and because of that it's more toxic when it breaks down. If you use plastic, be sure to reuse/recycle. The more use you get out of it the better off things are.

Of course, simply not getting a bag when you don't need it, or using your own bag(s) is the best way to go.

[G. Keenan]

I bought the green bags today. I think I felt mother earth get a little happier as I walked home with my groceries in an environmentally responsible shopping bag. I also felt emasculated.

[Radio_Bugtussle]

Austin city council came close to banning plastic grocery bags already, and I wouldn't be surprised if it eventually happens. Whole Foods, I believe, only offers paper now.

That'll last until the enviroloons figure out that trees (a renewable resource BTW...) are cut down to make those paper bags.
These environmental goofs are so hilarious...

Outside of the hyperbole (which honestly makes someone else look like the real goof/loon), the choice between paper and plastic still isn't exactly cut and dry. Paper takes far more energy to produce (about 4 times as much BTUs) and recycle (about 80x BTUs) than plastic, paper also creates a great deal of water pollutants. At the same time though, plastic is a product of oil and because of that it's more toxic when it breaks down. If you use plastic, be sure to reuse/recycle. The more use you get out of it the better off things are.

Of course, simply not getting a bag when you don't need it, or using your own bag(s) is the best way to go.

Entertainment is where you find it and I find this to be hilarious.

[Simbagal23]

I use my plastic grocery bags to pick up dog poo..... I guess I should look for a pooper-scooper shovel and use a paper bag, however, paper bags are not always condusive for some of the nastier dog poo.