We hear it everyday - the environment needs our help! Our governments are dealing with environmental issues in various ways and with varying degrees of success, but don’t you often wonder what you could do to help? I do. So, in an attempt to do my part, I gave myself a goal this year - to reduce the number of plastic bags I brought home from the grocery store. It’s a small step, but if more of us took these small steps, we could begin to make a big difference. It is my hope that some ’simple green ideas’ will remind us all to reduce, reuse and recycle. With that hope in mind, here is Simple Green Idea #1.
- Use plastic bins that can be purchased at the grocery store. Three of the bins fit easily into the shopping cart. Items can be sorted in each bin as you shop to make it easier for unpacking at home (eg. canned goods, produce, frozen foods). Carrying straps mean heavier loads are easier to move. These bins become very useful for many other purposes, so don’t forget to stack them back in the car as soon as they are emptied so they are ready for the next shopping trip.
- Shop at grocery stores that require you to use your own containers or recycled cardboard boxes.
- Buy some of the cloth bags that most stores are now selling. These bags hold about as much as two plastic grocery bags. I like to pack my own to distribute the weight evenly and protect fragile items. When I unpack at home I stuff any plastic produce bags back into the cloth bag to reuse. These bags have proven to be quite sturdy, are washable and can be returned to the store for recycling when they wear out. Hang them close to the door, roll them up and put them in your purse or return them to the car after unpacking. These cloth bags can be used for carrying your purchases at other stores as well.
- Just say “no bags please” and put small, single items in your purse or tote bag. Some cashiers have actually thanked me. Keep receipts in a safe place just in case.
Although some recycling programs do accept plastic bags, there are many who do not. If you live in an area where plastic bag recycling is not offered, please consider implementing Simple Green Idea #1 the next time you do your shopping.
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