So, the obvious question is: what can we do to prevent this? I have answers. Ideally, everyone should quit using plastic bags. Many large grocery chains now sell reusable cloth bags for as little as 99 cents. These are a fabulous alternative. I’ve even seen bags that fold up and latch like a small wallet, which are perfect for carrying in your purse. If your local grocery store hasn’t caught on, check on line. There are hundreds of sites selling the same thing. For a few dollars more, you can buy some really stylish bags. Initially I just bought 3-4 bags each time I stopped by the store. Now, I have enough to carry home two weeks of groceries without needing any plastic bags.

 

If you’re not ready to make the switch, try recycling those plastic bags. Types 2 and 4 can be recycled either through your curbside recycling program, or at your local grocery store. Dark colored bags or bags with drawstrings and handles are not recyclable, and you need to make sure the bags are clean and free of debris. Recycling centers deal in bulk and don’t inspect each bag; therefore a simple receipt could contaminate an entire batch of recycled bags.

 

A final alternative is to simply repurpose the bags. There are obvious ways of using the bags, like lining a cat litter box or using them as a liner in small bathroom trashcan. But people have become truly industrious in their endeavors to repurpose those plastic bags. By slicing the bags into thin strips you can actually crochet or knit them into purses, clothing, and small area rugs. My favorite repurposing project is perfect for this time of year. The back-to-school season is upon us, which means back-to-school shopping. I don’t generally advocate shopping in malls, but they’re a great source of brightly colored plastic bags. For this project you simply cut six bags to equal size, sandwich them between freezer paper, or wax paper, and iron. Move the iron continuously across the surface for 15 seconds, then flip and repeat. The finished product is both sturdy and colorful. You can use the one piece to make belts, wallets, or placemats. By piecing several large pieces together you can make outdoor cushions for patio furniture, raincoats, purses and backpacks, or a truly avant garde mini skirt. The solutions are out there…we just have to find them and use them.