plastic bags are good because the quicker we use up the oil making them the sooner we'll run out of it to drive cars with. just don't throw them away on the ground out in the woods where little furry creatures can suffocate in them. on the other hand, the more human infants do the fewer of us there will be too. sorry bag industry. pity. we do need stuff to carry stuff in some times of course. that's what reusable stuff is for. one of many things it is. no, i don't really want to see anyone sufficate or otherwise suffer, but i would like it if fewer humans were born in the first place. =^^= .../\...
Great slideshow! I'm really glad that the whole reusable bag market is taking off so much around here...I wish a full blown ban could be put into effect immediately throughout Canada...but the reusables are a very good start and seem to be gaining popularity.
This is why I call all crocheters and knitters to action. If you can crochet or knit, you can recycle your own plastic bags. Cut one of the handles off, and open the bottom of the bag at the seams. Starting at one end of the remaining handle, spiral cut the bag into a long strip about 3" wide. Repeat on other bags. You will need a few. Tie the ends together, not pulling too tight as the plastic will rip at this stage, and wind the resulting really long strip into a ball. Knit or crochet as desired, I'm using a 6.5mm hook right now. I'm working on a reusable shopping bag for a giggle, but you can make whatever you like. I do not reccomend clothing, though, unless you can fix the whole itch factor. Other options: pillow stuffing for throw pillows. A five foot pile (several months worth) filled a square foot of pillow. Crinkly, I wouldn't sleep on it. lining for porous planters. I lined a cardboard ice cream box with plastic and grew cucumber starts. People will be using plastic bags. There's little you can do about that one, although I read that LA was banning them by 2010. The best we can do is recycle them ourselves, and by crafting we eliminate the fumes and water loss of industrial recycling.
I liked the slideshow until it got to "Bangladesh banned them?". Then it descended into propoganda. As far as I am aware China banned THIN plastic bags. Not the other types of plastic bags. Neither have they banned the endless amount of tat they produce, made out of plastic. Then it goes on to say: "Reducing plastic bags will decrease foreign oil dependancy". With a pic' of a soldier. The 'ol "war for all" bollocks... China may just save 37 million barrels a year. Which will then be used to fuel (pardon the pun) to push their economy in other ways, such as more cars on the road, an increase in energy use and again, more tat we don't really need. All that this argument needs is the effect it has on the environment and humans/animals. We don't need some political points, thanks.
here in illinois, they're getting rid of all the plastic/paper bags and you buy these cloth bags and they hold up to 2 times the food
The positive thing about plastic bags is that they are so good to put the trash in. Infected trash can be carried more safely in plastic. Also, much of the trash will get burned sooner or later, and the plastic makes sure that the trash burns well. That way, it will not pollute much except for CO2.
Some plastics can be burned safely, but others release dioxin. Worth reading -> http://www.ifenergy.com/50226711/can_you_burn_plastics.php
Plastic is one of the worst inventions in terms of the negative impact it has had on the environment. I would love if Ireland baned plastic bags because the tax doesn't really deter people from buying them...its only 15c per bag. Recently I read about the amount of plastic pollution in the Pacific and I was absolutely horrified. http://www.independent.co.uk/enviro...at-stretches-from-hawaii-to-japan-778016.html I can't see how things will ever improve....
I don't use plastic bags at all. I have a canvas bag I use if I am on foot and my messenger bag if I go by bike. I had to argue with a sales clerk at a shopko once because they wouldn't let me take my stuff without a bag. Finally I grabbed the bag with my stuff, took everything out, put the bag on their counter and walked off. Have never had that problem since.
Maybe we could try to use more Bio Bags instead. I have bought some different types myself, but have to find out which ones I like the most.
Plastic bags are horrible things, just another product of our own laziness. What does it take to remember to take out a reusable bag to the shops with you? It disgusts me how most of the supermarkets here still have a massive heap of free plastic bags for people to take, and most of the checkout people are always trying to push one on you Grr
I disagree. It does seem like the only companies offering a choice is supermarkets. If your supermarkets are still not offering a choice...you live in hicksville, I am afraid.
i agree too. at our local tescos they ask me if i need one and if i do, take one out for me if i do. although i always use the reusable bags. i think it was a good initiative when the supermarkets bought them in. apart from that the only other shops i know that use them are wilkinsons and topshop and waterstones offer them too. i always take a bag with me though, so just chuck everything i buy from all the shops in there. i think a lot of people are catching on too. yey! i didn't watch the initial video, but i read ur comment odon, and guess i was probably better off not doing.
I dont think Cheltenham is "hicksville". Bit in the hills maybe, but we do have shops I gree the situations got a lot better in the last few years, but there shouldnt be any shops with plastic bags splayed out everywhere, that was my point really. And in my experience some still do. So yep
