Paper or Plastic? Neither please.
I’m sad to admit that my attempts at being eco-friendly are mostly a bit lame. I don’t shower in a pan, and reuse all my water ten times like some people. But I have been making an effort to take baby steps toward helping Mother Earth. (Where I grew up in Southern Utah “environmentalist” was a dirty word much more vile than “feminist”, so the path is a long one.)
Disappearing Polar Bears, no more Glacers in Glacer National Park by 2020, Hurricanes, Floods, and Drought! Oh my.
So yesterday, in honor of Earth Day, and following my new resolution to be “just subversive enough”, I took all my Visiting Teachee’s some sturdy reusable grocery bags and had my kids sing them a little “Happy Earth Day” song. Followed by a few disturbing facts about the one-hundred billion one-use plastic bags given away in the US every single year.
Anyway, if you like this idea and would like to take some baby steps with me, here in Boise, Albertsons, Fred Meyer, and the Grocery Outlet, are all selling reusable bags for ONE BUCK! There are also a lovely variety of reuseable bags available online, including these compact and very pretty ones that Artemis gave me, and I use almost every day.
(The biggest challenge for me has been forming the habit of actually taking the bags into the store.)
Tonight, I’m going to do an Earth Day FHE (ideas, anyone?) I wish I would have written up a lesson plan and taken it with the bags, but live and learn eh?
I have some of the $1 reusable bags, too. I like them a lot, but I also sometimes forget to bring them. If I’m going on a planned shopping trip, I remember to take them, but if I just stop by the store on my way home from work or something, I don’t often have them. I keep meaning to store them in my car so that they’ll be available whenever I need.
I usually shop at a store where I have to bag my own groceries, so it’s really easy to use the bags. When I go to a store that bags for you, I usually use the self-checkout because then I can still bag my own. I think I would feel a bit funny asking the checker/bagger to use my own bags. I know it’s a silly reason. (I even live in CA, where it’s cool to be green.)
Comment by Keri — April 23, 2007 @ 10:20 am
In Austria we have to buy bags (plastic or paper), so everyone re-uses them (just one of the many eco-friendly things they do here!)
Amri’s done a great post at BCC about eco-saving ideas too, that are simple but effective.
Comment by Rebecca — April 23, 2007 @ 10:23 am
I felt a little weird asking the checker/baggers to use them too, but I’ve only had positive experiences. They actually seem to like the $1 storebrand one’s a lot (and so do I) because they stand up so nicely and they’re really easy to fill. Plus, it’s been a teaching experience too, since they often ask about the bags and you can share some of those disturbing facts.
One of the nice things about the bags Artemis gave me is that they’re compact enough that I can keep one in my purse for all those “spur o the moment” trips. Plus they’re pretty.
Comment by fMhLisa — April 23, 2007 @ 10:30 am
Well, the online ones you link to are sold out now. If anyone notices them come back online, please post a reminder here.
Comment by Paula — April 23, 2007 @ 10:42 am
Lisa, I love that you love the bags. I love mine too!! And Paula, there are other string bags on that website, different colors & even organic cotton ones that you can buy. Or you can try www.ecobags.com, the place that manufactures Lisa’s particular bags. There’s been a run on them lately–they’ve been so backed up they’ve had to increase their manufacturing of them. Good luck! Another option, too, is to use old book totes or buy them from a thrift store. Or get the fmh tote and contribute a dollar to our fund drive.
Lisa, one place that has some fun ideas is www.KiwiMagOnline.com. I get their magazine and they have some downloadable things that are great for kids. “Raising kids the natural and organic way” or something.
I might be able to link some other places, but I’ve gotta run. Be back later.
Comment by Artemis — April 23, 2007 @ 10:48 am
Here, Trader Joe’s has a daily raffle and anybody who brings their own bag is entered to win a gift card. It’s never awkward, the checkers expect to find empty bags in your cart as they scan your food. they sell the $1 ones too.
Comment by cchrissyy — April 23, 2007 @ 10:59 am
When I lived in SoCal, the supermarkets gave you money back for using your own bag. I think it was .05 for each reused plastic and .10 for each cloth bag. So you really are being charged for the bags in an invisible way. I had a plethora of free canvas bags from publishers, political organizations and other sources — my mother made some for all us kids for Christmas one year — and kept them in the car.
Comment by Norbert — April 23, 2007 @ 11:38 am
You could crochet plastic grocery bags into a shopping tote . . . I’ve got that blog site around here somewhere that’s been showing different things to crochet w/these bags, and even VCR tape, and stuff . . .
Comment by sarebear — April 23, 2007 @ 11:42 am
Earth Day FHE should be pretty easy; I mean, the creation alone, plus the admonition to take care of the Earth could be enough. Then there’s the 11th article of Faith. Heck, you could throw in Responsibility, Charity, Gratitude, and Service –they all could apply to taking care of our World and helping to make a difference…
Good luck!
Comment by cheryl — April 23, 2007 @ 11:46 am
oh, and I think you can get 10% off at EcoBags.com by using the coupon code: KiwiMag
Comment by Artemis — April 23, 2007 @ 12:23 pm
Lisa, for a future FHE, I’ve listed some some Earthday books at my children’s lit blog.
Comment by Deborah — April 23, 2007 @ 1:40 pm
Lisa, for a future FHE, I’ve listed some books in honor of Earth Day at my children’s lit blog. The first one (If the World Were a Village) is fantastic!
Comment by Deborah — April 23, 2007 @ 1:41 pm
I used to use cloth bags in Germany - it’s really easy to make the switch. Now, I don’t know what I’d do for trash bags if I used the cloth, since we don’t buy trash bags. Ideas would be welcome.
Comment by SilverRain — April 23, 2007 @ 1:44 pm
Also - my first paid job was as a bagger. We loved the use-your-own bags, for the most part.
Comment by SilverRain — April 23, 2007 @ 1:45 pm
As our local grocery store, they will give you a 5 cents discount for each re-used plastic bag. While we use quite a few during the week, my wife is very good about reusing them as often as possible.
Comment by Chris H. — April 23, 2007 @ 2:30 pm
You say the bags are “single use,” but I re-use them for all sorts of things.
Even ignoring that, I would estimate that a year’s worth of my use of plastic grocery bags creates a smaller amount of waste than one month’s worth of the free newspapers that get thrown on my lawn that I don’t even want. Why do people focus on eliminating the small, convenient, usefull bags instead of the useless, bothersome, bulky newspapers?
Comment by ed — April 23, 2007 @ 3:04 pm
ed, the difference is control.
How much control do you have over the trashy newspapers? None.
How much control do you have over the bags? Total.
Why don’t people focus on the small changes they can make, rather than ranting for other people to make changes?
Comment by fMhLisa — April 23, 2007 @ 4:26 pm
Amen FMhLisa. That’s all I have to say.
Comment by Arya — April 23, 2007 @ 4:36 pm
another thing ed,
you can collect those newspapers and then recycle them. win/win!
Comment by mfranti — April 23, 2007 @ 5:30 pm
SilverRain, lots and lots of people here in Australia use the excuse, “But I use them for trash bags, so if I don’t get plastic bags, I have to buy trash bags.” I used to use that excuse, too. But if you look at where you use them, chances are, very little waste that goes into that trash can is dirty. Mine were used in the office and in the bathroom. Office waste tends to be quite clean – no need to line the bin, because it doesn’t get dirty. Bathroom waste can be dirtier (used pads, etc.) but I haven’t used a bag in mine for about 2 years now, and it’s still clean. After all, you tend to fold the pads on to themselves. (Besides, insisting on keeping your trash can clean is a bit like saying, “Your toilet may have germs!” Well, of course your toilet may have germs, look at what goes in there. And of course your trash can may get dirty, after all, it’s used for garbage.) We use a bag in our kitchen – I really want to phase this out, but I can’t convince my husband, and since he’s the one who empties the trash, it’s kind of his call. A neat alternative to using a bag in your kitchen bin is to wrap your waste in newspaper – and that also gets rid of all those papers ed’s complaining about. Also, I’ve been composting for a few weeks now, and giving the meat-scraps that can’t go in the compost to the dogs; now there’s practically no “dirty” waste going into the kitchen garbage, anyway, hence eliminating the need for a bag in your kitchen waste.
Comment by Quimby — April 23, 2007 @ 6:20 pm
Plus, if you use The Keeper or the Moon Cup, you won’t have messy pads either….
Comment by Artemis — April 23, 2007 @ 8:20 pm
I’m sorry Artemis, but the keeper and the mooncup are scary and aren’t going to happen for me, personally. However, for my birthday, a friend once gave me some eco-friendly cloth pads that you wash and reuse. It sounds gross, but they were really great, and you could make them yourself out of a thick old flannel nightgown. The weirdest thing was that these were a birthday present. I was kind of amazed and thrilled at the same time. Most unique present I’d ever gotten, and I loved it!
Comment by meems — April 24, 2007 @ 12:29 am
meems, this will probably gross you out, but if you rinse out your cloth pads in a bucket of water, that water is supposed to be the best fertiliser around for your pot plants. (pot plants as in houseplants, not pot plants as in weed!)
Comment by Quimby — April 24, 2007 @ 12:34 am
I’ll put my plug in for the Diva Cup, but give yourself a few months to really figure any of those products out.
And I LOVE my reusable grocery bags (http://kwawdesign.com/). I had them sent from Australia, as they’re easy to come by there. I’ve wanted to order some for all my friends, but minimum orders are 5000. Sigh… I love these because you can fit SO MUCH STUFF in them. I only have 4, but it’s rare that I can’t fit my groceries in them.
Comment by Mindy — April 24, 2007 @ 12:50 am
I should totally set up an e-bay store selling those bags Mindy mentions. They really do rock, and (at the risk of ruining my non-existant, unlikely-to-ever-exist business) you can pick them up for as little as 79 cents Australian, which, even at the current exchange rate, is about 65 cents US. Green is the most popular color, but I’ve also got some in red, orange, blue, and grey.
Comment by Quimby — April 24, 2007 @ 5:30 am
Quimby, it doesn’t gross me out too much. Well, okay, a little. My daughter’s teacher last year was Australian and she came home talking about pot plants, and the kids needed to bring a pot plant to school. Luckily I’d heard this term before, but my husband and I could help but laugh a little!!
Comment by meems — April 24, 2007 @ 7:55 am
Hmm - well, since I don’t have dogs, don’t get these annoying extra newspapers (or any newspaper,) can’t have a compost heap and don’t use a can for garbage (the bag is it) I, personally, am still in a bit of a quandary. Those are good ideas, though I was hoping for a sort of bag-like something that was more eco-friendly.
For the record - if I were merely trying to excuse myself, I wouldn’t have brought it up here.
Comment by SilverRain — April 24, 2007 @ 8:00 am
I once had a career as a grocery store checker. The only time we minded reusable bags was when the owner of the bags had extended their ecofriendliness by not wasting water and never washing the things. Sometimes they really were foul. Sometimes it helps to have the bags color coded…red for meat, green for veggies.
I recently switched to cloth pads, not for ecofriendliness but because they are so comfortable. I sewed my own.
Comment by Becky..Absent Minded Housewife — April 24, 2007 @ 10:13 am
lisa, you are an earth goddess queen! ♕
artemis, i’m BLOWN AWAY that i’ve never ever heard of the concept of a diva cup. somehow, in all the classes/conversations in my life, yours was the first mention of this alternative. i guess i’m sheltered or something, but i’m all gung-ho excited now about this option! thanks! ☆
Comment by blue — April 24, 2007 @ 10:31 am
thank the moon god for the Murena IUD.
no pads ever!
Comment by mfranti — April 24, 2007 @ 11:47 am
meems & Becky,
how do you manage cloth pads with garments (if you do)? All the designs I’ve seen are intended to be used with panties. I like the concept and they sound really comfortable, but I just don’t see how they’d work with mormon underwear.
I used NaturaCare before getting pregnant with Marigold and to catch the postpartum bleeding, but was planning to get a keeper once my periods started up again.
Comment by Artemis — April 24, 2007 @ 12:04 pm
mfranti… Have I told you lately that I love you?
Comment by G — April 24, 2007 @ 1:45 pm
I’m not a garment wearer…
I sewed mine to snap around panties. Is there not a menstruation garment exception, being allowed to wear a panty over your garments for the security or under? I’d hate to suggest the menstrual belt, but that would work too. Sewing a pad that’s intended to be it’s own panty may work as well…and I know that cloth suppliers make such things.
I stopped doing internal feminine products. It’s a sure way to keep me crampy these days. I’ve used cups before and liked them. I’ve read that some women use sea sponges but I cannot vouch for the health of such a thing.
Comment by Becky..Absent Minded Housewife — April 24, 2007 @ 1:48 pm
I sell the DivaCup. people love it. But personally I haven’t used it, thanks to a combo of back-to-back pregnancies and now the gift mentioned in #30
Artemis,
the temple matron instructed us to wear regular underwear underneath the Gs when it’s necessary for menstrual protection.
Comment by cchrissyy — April 24, 2007 @ 2:11 pm
Ya know, you’d think they’d have “temple matron conferences” or some such thing, to get all the instructions consistent and complete. Sigh. Well, if the keeper doesn’t work, I’ll think about investing in some period panties. But, seriously, do we need yet another layer? And in the summer? Panties, bottoms, tops, bra, pants, shirt. Just to get started! Very Big Sigh….
On the other hand, there’s more room for wiggling when there’s all this grey area….
Comment by Artemis — April 24, 2007 @ 2:25 pm
come to think of it…I haven’t been told that you love me in a while!
thanks (wink)
ok. how did we get started on this topic? notice the lack of testosterone on this thread?
to add salt to this open and bleeding wound of a thread…I still find lots of stashes of feminine products all over the house, car, backpacks, ect. and i just can’t bear to remove them. I have this idea that they are necessary for an emergency. what emergency!? haven’t had a damn emergency for close to two years! old habits die hard I guess. or I”m just a cheap skate.
Comment by mfranti — April 24, 2007 @ 2:27 pm
ok, i just reread that and there was absolutely NO PUN INTENDED on that “open and bleeding” sentence.
Yikes!!!!
Comment by mfranti — April 24, 2007 @ 2:29 pm
Oh powers that be, feel free to delete.
Comment by mfranti — April 24, 2007 @ 2:35 pm
SilverRain, excuse wasn’t meant as a derogatory, sorry if it came out that way. Personally, the number of times I get plastic bags with holes in the bottom, I wouldn’t trust them to hold my garbage! Maybe your bags are made of tougher stuff.
Comment by Quimby — April 24, 2007 @ 5:19 pm
Quimby - Some get holes, but not too many. We just watch our messy garbage level and make sure it gets into something that can hold it that is already in the garbage. I’d love to get back to cloth bags, I just haven’t found a good alternative for garbage bags.
Comment by SilverRain — April 24, 2007 @ 7:08 pm
Silverrain, i only use the plastic liners in the kitchen, I find that if I have a mess in other bins, a simple wipe out after emptying is sufficent. In the kitchen I still use the standard 30 gallon plastic liner (purchased in bulk from Costco). And generally I put the trash from all the other bins into that bag when I empty it. And I dump the overflow directly into the outdoor bins. I also tend to stuff non-recyclable plastic bags, like bread bags and such with garbage. (and sorry about the “excuses” thing, it wasn’t tactful)
******************
And so long as we’re getting personal, Here’s another challenge for you all. Even though I have the mirena, I I do still use a pad most days for excercise-enduced incontinence. (yippee childbirth!) So I’m wondering, would the wash and reuse pads be sufficently absorbant to handle jumping jacks, trampolines, and hitch kicks? Do they have a water-proof wrap-like lining, perhaps?
Comment by fMhLisa — April 24, 2007 @ 7:09 pm
SilverRain, have you thought about using a banana box or a similar heavy cardboard produce box for your rubbish? It’d hold more than a plastic bag and it may be neater, too, although I know you have a little one about the same age as mine so keeping her out of it might be a problem. Depending on how messy your garbage is, when it’s too gross to use, you could probably chuck it in the recycle bin.
Comment by Quimby — April 24, 2007 @ 10:33 pm
Er..back to Quimby’s original theme of bags for me!
For the record Maxine uses cups and wears panties against the skin.
Anyway, Quimby there is a progressive requirement in Uk for Supermarkets to reduce the number of plastic bags. As an interim they have to increase the percentage of recycled plastic in their manufacture and increase both box schemes and reuseable shopping bags. I believe that this is European Union directive so that Europe wide landfill reduction is achieved.
In Britain we are a very messy littering nation and as farmers/growers we spend inordinate amount of time clearing plastic shopping bags from hedgerows, fences etc blown there by wind and antisocial people who throw refuse in fields.
Supermarket boxes are all recycled and recyclable plastic and supermarket trolleys are adapted to take 6 boxes. This entirely removes need for bags. We rarely shop at supermarkets but bulk buy and store (Costco) Food storage if practised in group buying can also reduce plastic waste, but we keep complaining about plastic packaging which cannot be recycled.
supermarkets need to increase the collection bins for used plastic bags. Quimby I’ll email you for FHE ideas, some prayer and inspiration needed first!
Comment by Max C — April 25, 2007 @ 12:39 am
Doh! I meant Lisa in the last post not Quimby, sign of ageing I guess!
Comment by Max C — April 25, 2007 @ 12:41 am
Lisa - don’t worry about it. I wasn’t at all offended, just wanted to let people know I was sincerely looking for other options, not just defending myself.
Some of the options have given me a bit to think about, anyways - though our house is so small, I can’t think of a good place to put either a trash can or a cardboard box. What’s worse, we have no recycling options at our house, so we’d have to drive somewhere to recycle. Does it ever seem to anyone else that conservation efforts are lose-lose?
One thing that I’ve noticed reduces bad waste is to eat as many fresh foods as you can. That way, you avoid bulky glass, plastic and paper. Speaking of which, getting some produce bags for the supermarket rather than using the free flimsy produce bags would be helpful, as I don’t use those for trash anyways.
Comment by SilverRain — April 25, 2007 @ 7:07 am
SilverRain, you can get reusable produce bags here.
As for recycling, well, we didn’t have it either (one of very few hamlets in the SLC valley who didn’t), so I got stubborn with the mayor, presented to the city council, grass roots organized, and now we have residential curbside recycling. You could always at least call the city or county waste management dept. and see how the wind blows….
Comment by Artemis — April 25, 2007 @ 8:32 am
Dear Sir or Madam:,
We are Cheung Hung Plastic Trading from Hong Kong. We are doing the Plasitc film recycle business, and looking for those material which list as below:
1. LDPE sticky Rolls, and also LDPE bales (no glue)
2. Pet sticky Rolls, any colour.
3. PP material can be roll or bales, color : white, nature
4. PA6, PA66, PA12 can be any form, material must be pure, colour: mixed, white, nature
5. PS hangers,
6. PP big bag (A, B grade)
7. HDPE bottles or HDPE oil tank.
If you have ,could you provide to us? we can offer a very good and reasonable price for this item base on the quality. Please send the detail and picture to our email .Hope we could establish good business partner.Looking forward to your earliest reply and remain,thank you very much.
Yours fainthfully,
Sally
Cheung Hung Plastic Trading
Email:sallybabyna@163.com or sallybabyna@yahoo.cn
FAX: 86-752-6386382
Comment by sally — February 27, 2010 @ 4:25 am