Plastic Bags are a Menace to Society. - Weeklyish Articles Of Interest

Local Limelight: Weeklyish Articles Of Interest

Plastic Bags are a Menace to Society.
By: Christy Mezzanatto, Co-Owner of Green Chic Bag Co.

It is estimated that an individual uses as many as 316 plastic bags each year! These bags end up in landfills and waterways causing havoc on the environment, because they do not biodegrade. Plastic bags break down into smaller and smaller toxic particles that get reintroduced into the environment.

San Francisco became the first in the nation last year to ban petroleum-based plastic bags in large grocery stores. In France, supermarket chains have begun shying away from giving away plastic bags and German stores must pay a recycling fee if they wish to offer them. Ireland's surcharge on bags imposed in 2003 has been credited with sharply reducing demand. China has also banned flimsy plastic shopping bags and forces stores to charge for others.

Is banning the answer? I am not completely sure. I find sometimes it is easier to get people to jump on your bandwagon with some motivation. Make the idea of doing things that are earth friendly also fun!

People are often motivated by money. Did you know that many grocery stores will actually give you money off of your purchase for bringing in your own bags? Here are just some of the stores we know will pay you:

* WinCo Stores $.06 per bag
* Safeway Stores $.03 per bag
* Fred Meyer Stores $.05 per bag
* Target Stores $0.05 per bag
* Whole Foods $.05 per bag
* New Seasons $.05 per bag
* Twenty Third Avenue Books $.05 per bag (discount only valid using Green Chic Bag Co. bags)

This movement is moving our way. Seattle is another major American city that implemented change to discourage the use of paper and plastic shopping bags by requiring grocery, drug and convenience stores to charge 20 cents per bag. In a related action, the City Council also banned plastic foam food and drink containers. Both laws went into effect Jan. 1.

It is time for us to embrace the changes for the Greener good around us. I am hoping that those around us will agree also and follow the old saying “If you can’t beat ‘em, JOIN ‘EM”.

Archive

1/01/2012 -	Ana Wyssmann Is Intels Behind the Scene
12/15/2011 -	How To Downsize Your Home Clutter To The
12/01/2011 -	Holistic Plant Health Care
11/15/2011 -	Stuffed Cabbage Recipe From Earthbound C
11/01/2011 -	Oregon Soap Company Foaming Hand Soap Ex
10/14/2011 -	Turn Your Car Into an Electric
8/31/2011 -	Portlands Build It Green Home Tour Septe
7/15/2011 -	Clayhaus Ceramics Tile Are Handmade From
7/01/2011 -	10 Tips For Better Fuel Mileage To Emit
6/15/2011 -	How To Create a Recycled Concrete Patio
6/01/2011 -	5 Steps To Organizing Your Garage
5/15/2011 -	Myra Goodman Interview n Book Review of
5/01/2011 -	Green Burial With Portland Natural Caske
4/15/2011 -	Claylin Earthen Floors in a Bag
4/01/2011 -	Portland Pedal Power Offers Catering Del
3/15/2011 -	Johnson Creek Restoration Returns Coho S
3/01/2011 -	Sustainable Preservation of Portland Ore
2/15/2011 -	Three High Risk Areas For Any Business
2/01/2011 -	Multnomah County Bans Bottled Water From
1/15/2011 -	Herbal Immune Boosting Using Echinacea A
1/01/2011 -	10 Ways to Prevent and Overcome Breastfe
12/15/2010 -	Avoiding Identity Theft
12/01/2010 -	Outdoor and Community Based Special Even
7/15/2010 -	Chai Sugar Cookie Recipe by Cookie Pedal
7/01/2010 -	Four Things We Could Do Without if We Re
6/15/2010 -	Bloom Box Fuel Cell Technology Interview
6/01/2010 -	EcoPro Realty Group Press Release
5/15/2010 -	Enviromax Is Oregons First Carbon Neutra
5/01/2010 -	Tips on What to do About a Soggy Lawn
4/15/2010 -	Spring Cleaning Tips
4/01/2010 -	Prolabro Do No Harm Sustainable Design
3/15/2010 -	Watch Your Dog For A Healthy Home
3/01/2010 -	Nurture Salon Is Portlands Greenest Salo
2/16/2010 -	Ten Natural Ways to Stay Healthy This Fl
2/01/2010 -	Elysium Events
1/15/2010 -	What is Your Breastfeeding Intelligence
1/01/2010 -	What is Health
12/16/2009 -	Home Appliance Savvy
11/24/2009 -	Giggles The Green Bean Childrens Book
11/16/2009 -	Avoiding Asbestos
10/30/2009 -	10 Great Reasons to Breastfeed Your Baby
10/10/2009 -	Reusing Vintage Buttons as Magnets
9/10/2009 -	Make A Reusable Bag Instructions Include
8/19/2009 -	How to Enjoy A Vegan BBQ
8/12/2009 -	The Compatibility of Design, Environment
8/05/2009 -	Go Green Tips In the Bathroom & Kitchen
7/15/2009 -	Fool me once: How to avoid getting green
7/08/2009 -	Three Quick, Easy Tips To Rejuvenate You
7/01/2009 -	Homeopathic Relief from Allergies
6/24/2009 -	Go Green Tips In the Yard & Office
6/11/2009 -	Eating local is the New Organic
6/03/2009 -	Refinish Wood Floors
5/27/2009 -	Go Green Tips In The House
5/20/2009 -	Weekly Watering Number
5/13/2009 -	The Soda Conundrum: Is Organic Always He
5/06/2009 -	Being Organized is GREEN!
4/29/2009 -	Go Green Tips ~ Shopping & Lifestyle
4/08/2009 -	How Reiki Energy Healing Can Benefit You
4/01/2009 -	Organic Alcohol: Wine, Beer, & Spirits
3/25/2009 -	Oregon E.Cycles
3/18/2009 -	Oregon Vineyard Winter Work
3/11/2009 -	Save The Environment: Become a Vegetaria
3/04/2009 -	Winter Tree Management
2/25/2009 -	Did a Storm Damage Your Tree
2/17/2009 -	Easy Medicinal Herbs for the Portland Ga
2/05/2009 -	Eating Your Way to a Greener Planet & a
1/26/2009 -	Four Things You May Not Know About Heati
1/14/2009 -	Hang Ten: Riding Wave Energy
1/05/2009 -	Northwest VEG
12/29/2008 -	Gifts From The Garden: Salves
12/19/2008 -	Gifts From The Garden: Herb Wreaths
12/08/2008 -	Fuel: Movie Review & Interview
12/01/2008 -	Organizers Northwest
11/20/2008 -	Befriend Your Trashcans!: Junk To Funk M
11/10/2008 -	An ode to our shared journey by bike
11/03/2008 -	Zenana Spa & Wellness Center
10/27/2008 -	Rolfing Portland
10/17/2008 -	Interview with Curt Ellis, Producer of T
10/13/2008 -	Beyond Your Closet
10/05/2008 -	Spice Road Market - CLOSED, ONLINE ONLY

YOU MUST LOGIN OR REGISTER IN ORDER TO REVIEW THIS COMPANY

Other User's Reviews

There are no current reviews for this article.