plastic bags

I received an email which was about the destruction to wildlife worldwide, due to the over production and non biodegradeable substance of plastic carrier bags.
It originated from America and states that it costs $4000 to process and recycle 1 ton, which then can be sold to commodities for just $32.
As a family we have moved on to using Jute shopping bags, and refuse plastic bags when offered, yet we still have quite a few left over. I know that we can, and do recycle them at Supermarkets etc. My question is, If we burned them in a bonfire, how damaging is it to the atmosphere, does anyone know please? thanks Jan

 

I would keep using them till they are really worn then take them to the supermarket for recycling. I wouldn't risk burning them as some plastics are really harmful when burning and others are really nasty when they have burnt down

 

OK yep I do agree, BUT, what does the supermarket REALLY do with them? It appears that it is cheaper to produce a new bag than to recycle them? At the figures quoted, I find it REALLY difficult to believe that the bags are all recycled, What do you think? Jan

 

Morning Jan,

I do have a few concerns myself about it. Why would they? Well, if they can sell the bags to a company then they would prefer to make something than nothing I suppose, and then just carry on making plastic carrier bags.

If that company then goes on to profit from them then it seems more in line with a capitalist country, and maybe because they are environmentally friendly actions there is a tax pay off or something, then it becomes a more attractive prospect-all for bags given back to them.

I do like the way they make you have to ask for a bag every where it seems. Even the paper shop down the road now charges for bags should it be for something you could easily carry-loaf of bread and paper for instance. There is a sign up saying due to increased costs levied by Bolton Council etc (I didn`t catch it all), we have to charge for non essential bags. I am paraphrasing but that was the gist of it.

Normally I dislike supermarkets in general, but credit where credit is due on this-I think, they are at least trying to find a way forward that suits both their shareholders and their customers.

 

I think they should be banned.

They introduced a Tax on them in Ireland, several years ago, with the intention of using the money raised for Green projects.

Once they had to pay for them the Irish immediately stopped using them ... so no Green tax money to spend, but no plastic bag waste either.

We use big stout [long life] shopping bags, rather than the supermarket give-away ones, and we put them in the car as soon as they are unloaded - so if we stop-to-shop on an impulse we have our bags with us.

Sadly plastic carrier bags are cheaper to make than paper ones, but bringing back the old fashioned brown paper bags would be a good solution IMHO

P.S. my Tesco home delivery now only has plastic bags for chilled / frozen goods, it always seemed ridiculous to me to have everything delivered in crates, and then put each couple of items in a plastic bag as well

 

I think it would be a lot better for people to use those permanent bags for their shopping, at the moment it's just too 'easy' for people to take free plastics bags and then throw them away. When all you really need to do is to remember to keep bringing your permanent bag back in when shopping.

 

And where are all the baskets our elders and betters carried with them when they went shopping?

I agree Kristen, they should be charged for, paper bags are more expensive to make but a perecptible shift is taking place, at long last, and I think most people would be quite happy to pay a little more for the right thing. And besides, carrier bags aren`t free the cost is absorbed by the slightly higher price you see on your shopping bill.

 

I still have some of mine! But I wouldn't use them for shopping as they don't carry much - too much packaging!

I hate taking the standard carriers. I remember years ago (maybe 1972) visiting a factory to see how medical products were made and we passed through an area where a huge machine was spewing out plastic carriers at about 1 million per day! It bothered me then and we knew nothing about the pollution that was to come, though we DID know that plastic lasts for ages.

I used the long life plastics but am shortly going to change to the jute or fabric ones. To think I used to have a box for plastic carriers that was always full to overflowing! Now it's almost empty. 'Raaaay!!!!

 

I've got an onya keyring which is a bag in a keyring thats made out of parachute material so its light and strong so when I go out I've always got a bag

 

Oh gosh - we'd you get that from? That sounds neat!

 

And presumably no worries if you fall out of an aeroplane by mistake? :D :D

 

Little Miss,

That is an excellent idea.

 

That is hilarious Kristen.:D:D:D:D:D

 

Thanks Lollipop :o