DARNED IF YOU DO...

We've all done it...bought the re-cycled/re-useable bags and then forgot to take them with you shopping - or had a case of last minute shopping where you weren't prepared.

So now we're in the store and we're faced with bag or no bag? I've brought this up before, if you have just a couple of items do you really need a bag? I always so 'no bag' and watch for the response of the cashier. The responses are getting more and more less shocking but I still get an occasional "Are you sure?" from a few.

If you have several items and the need for a bag is evident the age old question of "paper or plastic?" still creeps up in some instances. So do you know the lesser of the two evils? According to Earthday.net choosing a paper bag over plastic is the better choice.

Paper bags will break down much faster than the plastic bags. In some areas/stores, paper is the ONLY choice now...however, just remember this: paper bags create 70% more air pollutants and 50 times more water pollutants when manufactured than plastic bags. Paper bags require more than four times as much energy! Yikes!

My suggestion - here's what I do...
1. I carry a (actually two) re-usable bag in my purse - the kind that fold into themselves and are quite compact. They are well-used.
2. I keep in my back seat on the floor of my car a re-usable bag with several other re-usable bags inside.
3. I take advantage of giveaways and specials on re-usable bags and use them when as gift bags in place of paper ones - I also keep them handy for when people are over for parties or what have you and they need a "bag" to take projects, laundry, left overs or what have you home. Not only am I furthering the cause by supplying them with something they can re-use, but I'm continuing my own responsibility of bag use.

Want some ideas and patterns to make your own?
CLICK HERE
Be sure to pick an idea that re-purposes or re-uses other items such as pillow cases, tee-shirts, old sheets, etc.

My sister makes some fabulous re-usable bags out of - guess what? OTHER BAGS - Plastic ones! Ha! Buh bye plastic in the landfills!