Strategies for kicking the habit 

Refuse to take it

When they try to bag your items - refuse the bag. Cashiers are programmed to keep the line moving and don't always stop to ask if you need a bag, they just stuff your stuff in one. Hand back the bag and then explain why you don't want it. If you want a little help spreading the word about the impact of plastics on our environment, hand them one of my "No Plastic Bag cards". PDF at this link.

Recycle it

If you live in a city that recycles plastic bags, put them in your bin. Even if your city doesn't take them yet, most large grocery stores have bag recycling bins near their front doors.

But don't be lulled into thinking recycling the bags gets us off the hook. The recovered plastic is not going to be converted into new packaging. Most recovered plastic packaging is made into things like textiles, parking lot bumpers and plastic lumber - all unrecyclable products. Recycling plastic bags does not reduce the use of virgin materials or the energy it takes to manufacture them. It only temporarily keeps it out of the landfill.

Ask for a cash credit

Get stores to offer cash credits if you bring in your own bags. Reusable Bags has a sample letter to send to stores you frequent. Many Trader Joes stores have a monthly raffle for reusable bag users. Ask for a ticket when you check out and you might win a 25.00 gift certificate.

Educate yourself

Educate yourself about the greater risks to our health, both personal and national, from plastic. Jan Lundberg of Culture Change has been campaigning against plastic for many years. He says:

"About 250 billion pounds of raw plastic pellets are produced annually worldwide and turned into a tremendous variety of products, from cars and computers to packaging and pens. (Wired News, June 5, 2004). People think of oil mainly as the strategic fuel for their cars, and some Americans justify a foreign policy that kills for oil. If they knew how dependent they were on massive amounts of plastic from oil and natural gas for other basic modern products, the war cry could be louder. However, health-worries during the rising cancer epidemic could counter the demand for endless plastic."

World News about Plastic Bag Campaigns 

from my blog "No Plastic Bags Please!"

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Pics of reusable bags 

Chicobags fold up in...

Neoprene lunchbag fr...

These are made of re...

hemp tote from Eco-B...

Crochet plastic bags...

handmade string bag

Easy to sew totebag

Felted wool bag from...

ReGiftable Gift Bag

Get some reusable shopping bags 

ChicoBags

I met these cool folks at the Bioneers conference. They make wonderful nylon bags that tuck up into little pouches you can fit in your purse. Strong, washable, colorful and cheap! Stick them in your glove box, backpack, bike pannier. Good holidays gifts.

HEY EVERYONE - you can now buy one of these great little bags directly from me! Only 5.00 each, contact me (under bio) for more info.

Reusable Bags

Excellent site with great products. I got one of their "Plastic Bags Blow" t-shirt. Carry all kinds of bags, including a groovy neoprene insulated lunch bag - a good alternative to vinyl bags which have toxic PVC in them. Also sell those colorful Sigg bottles, alternative to another source of massive plastic waste - water bottles.

reGiftable Gift bags

My friends Mara and Maggie make these lovely fabric gift bags. Start a beautiful tradition in your family and order a set for the holidays, birthdays, graduations, baby showers.... Great for the wrapping-challenged.

Eco-Bags

Their website says "We exist to provide products, information and inspiration that help people reduce, re-use and recycle. Starting with the simple step of bringing your own bag to shop may seem trivial, but it creates a "mindset" that has a big impact on those who make that choice. Like anything, the more people who take this simple step, the more it seems like the natural and right thing to do. "
Right on! They carry hemp bags and organic cotton bags among other good things. Based in New York.

Enviro-Tote

Based in New Hampshire, Enviro-tote sells bags made of Ecotec yarn, which is spun from the recovered scraps of newly made clothing. They also sell "bottle bags" made of Ecospun yarn, certified to be made from 100% Recycled soda, water, and food containers. These guys do custom printing and their bulk prices look pretty good.

Get Crafty - Make your own reusable bag 

Henrietta's Handbags - free patterns

Many free sewing patterns for all kinds of bags - purses, tote bags, backpacks, lunch bags .... Patterns for sale as well.

Crochet a bag out of bags!

It takes about 60 plastic grocery sacks to make one of these puppies. Calls for a big M size hook so it probably works up pretty fast.

Frankenbags

Make reusable bags from old sweaters. From the ever cool Knitty.

The craft of netting - string bag patterns

Diamond mesh netting is an ancient craft used to make fishing nets, hammocks, doilies, lace and those handy string bags like they use in Europe. Surf this whole site because it has a lot of good info for beginners and several string bag patterns. Did you know this is how basketball nets are made?

Re-use the ones you've already got 

1. Packing material when moving, storing or mailing stuff
2. Stuffing for pillows or soft toys
3. Tie up your leftovers for the fridge instead of buying more plastic in the form of ziplock bags (bread bags are especially good for this)
4. Seedling protector
5. Tape to your counter as a non-stick surface for rolling pastry, kneading bread, playing with clay....
6. Bring them to your local library. They give them to people to carry books home in.
7. Create faux finishes by using as you would a sponge: wrinkle it up, dip in paint (less is more with this technique) and apply to the surface. Rescrunch it as you go, to vary the texture. If you're just rolling a solid color, you can use them as a paint tray liner.
8. Cut bags into strips and crochet, knit, weave, or needlepoint a door mat, or a tub or shower mat.

Buy this bag and help sea turtles 

Tote Bag

from TurtleImages Online Shop

For each purchase, TurtleImages.com will make a donation to the Loggerhead Marinelife Center of Juno Beach leatherback research program (www.floridaleatherbacks.com).

Price: 16.99

More ways to re-use them! 

World's longest list of re-uses

Pat Veretto of Frugal Living has put together a FIVE PAGE list of ways to reuse plastic bags (including ideas for bread bags).

Partyworks

A bunch of kid friendly ideas, though most of them only extend the life of the bag by one use.

Emanate canopy

My friend Edith Abeyta worked on a community art project where she and many participants crocheted hundreds of plastic bags into a large shade structure. It was displayed at an outdoor art space in Silverlake, Los Angeles.

How-to tips

Here are some tips on crocheting/knitting with plastic bags.

The PlasTax Strategy 

What is a PlasTax?

In March of 2002, the Republic of Ireland became the first country to introduce a plastic bag tax, (PlasTax). Designed to rein in their consumption of 1.2 billion plastic shopping bags per year, the tax resulted in a 90% drop in consumption. The approximately $9.6 million raised from the tax in the first year, was earmarked for a green fund established to benefit the environment. Several other countries and cities around the world are now considering implementing a similar tax, including UK, Australia, New York City and San Francisco.

How does it work?

The purpose is to change consumer behavior, not to generate revenue. It's a simple market-based solution in the form of a consumption tax - individuals pay a tax of $.15 per plastic bag consumed at check out. Retailers save money since they only have to stock a smaller quantity of bags (in Ireland, on average they were spending $50 million a year on single-use plastic bags before the tax). Many retailers are also now benefiting from selling reusable bags.

What are the results?

In Ireland, consumption has dropped approximately 90%, from 1.2 billion to 230 million per year. Litter has been dramatically reduced and approximately 18,000,000 liters of oil have been saved due to reduced production of bags.

See below for more news about how the campaign to eliminate the single use plastic bag plague is spreading around the world. Through plastaxes, city programs, corporate innovation and individual commitments we will stop the flow of plastic bags.

What got me started on this 

Sea Preserves a Plastic Plague

This excellent LA Times series of August 2006 called Altered Oceans really blew my mind. Part 4 focuses on how our garbage, including plastic bags are killing fish, birds and much more.

Another Plastic Bag Lens

This is a lens by Melissa Mansfield called "How to live without plastic bags". I found this one last spring. Lots of facts with big numbers. Check out her LA GreenLiving site too: www.lagreenliving.com

Algalita Marine Research Foundation

Algalita is dedicated to the preservation of the marine environment. They made a film 2 years ago called "Our Synthetic Sea" which traces their groundbreaking research into the exponential buildup of "non-biodegradable" plastic debris in the world's oceans. Seeing this film was my first introduction to what a disaster plastic is to sealife.

Learn more 

Garbage Land: On the Secret Trail of Trash

by Elizabeth Royte

Amazon Price: $10.19 (as of 05/12/2008)

Paper or Plastic: Searching for Solutions to an Overpackaged World

by Daniel Imhoff

Amazon Price: $11.86 (as of 05/12/2008)

Cradle to Cradle: Remaking the Way We Make Things

by William McDonough, Michael Braungart

Amazon Price: $18.15 (as of 05/12/2008)

Defying Ocean's End: An Agenda For Action

Amazon Price: $30.50 (as of 05/12/2008)

Truffula Tuft Blog 

peace, justice, action alerts, eco-musings

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