topic One use plastic bags in Community Chat

One use plastic bags

bonnielu — Sun, 05 Jan 2020 14:40:20 GMT

Just curious, does anyone know why the small plastic ONE USE PLASTIC BAGS are being eliminated. In my case the so called one use is not one use.

1. Line my trash cans

2. wrap wet clothing

3. secure items that could melt or drip

4. wrap items to travel with in my luggage

AMONG OTHER USES

One wonderful afternoon my Milk was not wrapped in one coming from the grocery store. The milk fell over in the trunk after a quick stop and you guessed it. That was a fun way to spend part of the afternoon. Had it been wrapped... problem solved.

I don't improperly discard them. I don't toss them out my car window to the wind. No idea why they are such a menace. What is next?

Re: One use plastic bags

CelticCrafter — Sun, 05 Jan 2020 14:46:40 GMT

One use, two uses - doesn't matter they are still ending up in the regular trash.

Unless you take them back to the store and put them in the bins they provide for them no other recycling service wants them.

Re: One use plastic bags

Cakers3 — Sun, 05 Jan 2020 15:07:03 GMT

@bonnielu They are being eliminated because of this:

And these are just the tip of the iceberg.

Re: One use plastic bags

Havarti — Sun, 05 Jan 2020 15:05:33 GMT

@bonnielu

Are you talking about shopping bags, or are you including things like Zip-lock bags, Hefty garbage bags, dog poop pick-up bags, etc.? I had heard many places were working to eliminate the shopping bags, but am unaware that it goes beyond that point. Has it expanded to all one-use plastic bags? What other options are being sold to deal with containment & disposal of garbage, dog poop, cat litter, etc.?

Re: One use plastic bags

Cakers3 — Sun, 05 Jan 2020 15:06:06 GMT

@bonnielu You can get crates to store your items that may spill to keep them safe and stable.

How did we manage with just paper bags? We did.

And now reusuable bags are wonderful; a quick wipe if something leaks and good to go again.

It's all about convenience now; people really need to understand that these bags have caused serious harm to our environment; to wildlife; and even to humans.

A little extra effort will benefit all of us.

Re: One use plastic bags

Cakers3 — Sun, 05 Jan 2020 15:11:06 GMT

@Havarti There are biodegradable bags for cat litter and dog poo.

There are alternatives to the plastic zip-lock bags out there, too.

If one must use the plastic ones, they can be recycled.

It's all about taking the effort to find the alternative and/or recycle what you will not longer use.

Re: One use plastic bags

Still Raining — Sun, 05 Jan 2020 15:20:57 GMT

I am VERY proud that they are totally banned in my state. We also usually have a small charge for paper.

Get over it and buy your own bags. Joanns has a cloth ones that can be washed.

Re: One use plastic bags

KingstonsMom — Sun, 05 Jan 2020 15:33:07 GMT

All of our grocery stores sell reusable 'cloth' bags with their logo for next to nothing (.99-$1.99).

I haven't used plastic grocery bags in years.

Paper grocery bags are still available here at no charge, you just have to ask for them.

At least the paper ones are biodegradable.

Re: One use plastic bags

tucsongal — Sun, 05 Jan 2020 15:35:09 GMT

I wash and reuse Ziploc type bags but I’m starting to see bags that I think are made of silicone that last forever. Does anyone use these and do you like them?

Re: One use plastic bags

Cakers3 — Sun, 05 Jan 2020 15:43:08 GMT

@KingstonsMom wrote:
All of our grocery stores sell reusable 'cloth' bags with their logo for next to nothing (.99-$1.99).

I haven't used plastic grocery bags in years.

Paper grocery bags are still available here at no charge, you just have to ask for them.

At least the paper ones are biodegradable.

@KingstonsMom And you can reuse the paper ones; we have a stash we bring each time we shop. Eventually handles or other wear makes them unusable but they also do not have to be one-use.

Re: One use plastic bags

Cakers3 — Sun, 05 Jan 2020 15:52:57 GMT

@tucsongal wrote:
I wash and reuse Ziploc type bags but I’m starting to see bags that I think are made of silicone that last forever. Does anyone use these and do you like them?

@tucsongal I've seen the brand Stasher at market. They are expensive but I guess with the reuse the cost evens outs.

I looked at them but some reviews said that the zip-lock doesn't always seal properly.

I use glass containers myself with non-BPA lids.

I might give them a try but I want to research more on how the production affects other factors and how safe silicone really is.

Re: One use plastic bags

Annabellethecat66 — Sun, 05 Jan 2020 15:50:07 GMT

It's always bothered me that we went from paper bags to plastic bags. While paper bags are not as good as reusable carry your own bags, it's still a product that will designate and trees can be grown.

My ex-son-in-law (phew a lot of dashes) and his family own a huge tree farm in the US. There's a science to growing trees, etc.

Anyway, no one seemed to think about what is/was driving this plastic bag thing. Oil is needed to make plastic bags..Duh! Pick one!........

https://search.yahoo.com/search?p=is+oil+used+in+making+a+plastic+bag&fr=yset_widemail_chr_win&type=default

The problem I have with using bags I bring in is that my food gets squished, well..you name it. As they try to fit these groceries into the bag, I stand there and TRY to rearrange them so the groceries aren't destroyed before I get home.

I've bought so many different bags to use....nothing works well. I think it's because they don't have square bottoms (like making it easy (easier) to pack the food. Another subject/another time.

Most of the baggers I talk to have never been taught how to bag the food. The young males have no idea what's cold and where to put various items.

So, I feel like I always have a choice...do I want to bring my own bags and have the groceries thrown in them...do I want to end up with as many as 10-15 (yes, that many) plastic bags?

Lots of time people think things can be recycled, but they'd be surprised at how many thing ARE NOT recyclable.

Re: One use plastic bags

on the bay — Sun, 05 Jan 2020 15:51:53 GMT

My daughter started using snack bags made of cloth for her little ones

that can be washed, instead of plastic snack bags.

I thought what a great idea!

But what are biodegradable bags for dog and cat stuff? That is what I use

the plastic bags for. If they are put in trash aren't they burned like everything else?

I would like to know alternatives.

I do use metal straws when I need a straw which is never.

Well I'll go off and google it.

But I bet some have some good answers we can all use.

Re: One use plastic bags

lovesrecess — Sun, 05 Jan 2020 15:52:35 GMT

I much
prefer sturdy reusable to thin, one-use plastic ones. The ones they use in grocery stores can hold only a few items so you end up using more...the problem gets bigger instead of smaller. The reusable ones hold more and are great for bringing in from the car in just one or 2 trips. I dislike any cloth bags as they don’t have flat bottoms or gussetted sides so everything ends up in a pile in the bag. They banned the one-use plastic bags here last year but ended the ban within a few weeks. People would forget to bring their own bags and go nuts when they were charged a dime for the regular ones. Sprouts even gives you a credit if you have your own bags...doesn’t QVC sell reusable bags in sets? I have seen them in the past.

Re: One use plastic bags

Cakers3 — Sun, 05 Jan 2020 15:56:45 GMT

@on the bay wrote:
My daughter started using snack bags made of cloth for her little ones
that can be washed, instead of plastic snack bags.
I thought what a great idea!
But what are biodegradable bags for dog and cat stuff? That is what I use
the plastic bags for. If they are put in trash aren't they burned like everything else?
I would like to know alternatives.
I do use metal straws when I need a straw which is never.
Well I'll go off and google it.
But I bet some have some good answers we can all use.

@on the bay You can find the biodegradagle bags for cat litter etc on-------you guessed it.........Amazon.

We do not have pets anymore so I cannot attest to which brand works the best. I'm sure there are plenty of reviews.

Re: One use plastic bags

Snoopp — Sun, 05 Jan 2020 15:59:03 GMT

What alternative would you use for disposing of human waste, for example, diapers. They usually are put in plastic bags, like medical supplies that are not a biohazard. The small dog poop bags are too small for that task.

I find that I reuse plastic bags but I see the recycle bin at the grocery filled all the time, so some people are recycling. If you can make a dog waste bag biodegradable, why not a grocery bag?

Re: One use plastic bags

fthunt — Sun, 05 Jan 2020 16:03:36 GMT

Have you checked Amazon? I couldn't find the little ones called Baggie(s)...........good for bread from drying out.....

Reviews on "A" all said the same thing....where did they go? No stores carry them anymore. I bought a case.

Re: One use plastic bags

on the bay — Sun, 05 Jan 2020 16:05:19 GMT

Ok I just read that biodegradable bags decompose without oxygen creating a methane gas that has a higher warming (21%) which contributes even more to "global warming,"

Some sites say biodegradable can decompose in salt water and others say that they Do Not decompose in marine environments.

Jeez, what to do?!

Re: One use plastic bags

RollTide2008 — Sun, 05 Jan 2020 16:06:17 GMT

It’s more difficult to make a biodegradable grocery bag than a biodegradable dog poop bag because groceries are heavier than a standard pile of dog poop.

I find the excuses for not using reusable shopping bags laughable. I’ve been using them for at least 15 years with no adverse effects.

Re: One use plastic bags

Cakers3 — Sun, 05 Jan 2020 16:15:06 GMT

@on the bay wrote:
Ok I just read that biodegradable bags decompose without oxygen creating a methane gas that has a higher warming (21%) which contributes even more to "global warming,"
Some sites say biodegradable can decompose in salt water and others say that they Do Not decompose in marine environments.
Jeez, what to do?!

@on the bay That is why we stick to glass containers and reuse paper bags from market along with some "designer" store bags.

There are quite a few studies out there that conclude the emission of gasses from biodegradable bags are less than those of plastic bags.

They are not the cure-all but less is always better.

Since we don't use them I cannot attest one way or another.

Unfortunately while we may be controlling the problem, the BILLIONS OF TONS of plastic already out there causing damage will take a long, long time to reverse.