BAG THE BAGS AND BOTTLES

I am trying to cut out plastic bags from my life. We don’t need them and they’re wasteful and just plain bad… for the environment, for animals, and economically (the cost to recycle plastic bags is about 2000x more than the cost of new recycled bags from the old ones can sell for!). But bags are handy.  I replaced them with paper… but wasting trees and the energy to process trees is environmentally irresponsible. So, that’s not my bag either… yes, paper’s compostable, but why waste?  Cloth seems the most sensible answer… reusable, strong & easy.

In the kitchen, cutting out bags (and plastic wrap) has been a challenge. I like my frig organized and I like to see food that is stored in it. I’m using unbleached waxed paper bags sparingly when I need a bag, and Pyrex makes great glass containers that I can store food in. There are also corn bags and compostable plastic garbage bags on the market available in many stores with “green” things, and even Ziplock has a new line of “evolve” products that look better for the earth.

Cutting out plastic bags is easier said than done. I say “no bag, please” in so many situations and STILL find bags everywhere. If you heighten your awareness, you’ll find yourself saying no to bags often and conserving, reusing and re-thinking when you do.

As I rant about bags I can’t help but “bag” on plastic bottles too… most bottled water is the same as tap water and bottles are not recycled, take money and resources to recycle and are rarely reused. They end up in landfills. Most plastic single use bottles in the US are BPA free, but really simply put plastic bottles (polycarbonates) releases a chemical (bisphenol A or BPA) into the water the bottle is storing… when the plastic gets warm and over time the effect is heightened. The chemical acts like the hormone estrogen, but it’s not, it’s a xenoestrogen, or “foreign” estrogen, and our bodies endocrine system can be disrupted when it’s introduced to the body.  Obviously, this seems an unnecessary risk that’s solution is simple and easy… glass or metal.  Washable, recyclable and accessible. Plastic water bottles in the hot car, food heated in plastic containers (especially in microwaves)… it’s all increasing the risk of our exposure and ingestion of a potential carcinogen.

The overlying theme when I dig into conservation and consumption is to re-think our modern conveniences and figure out what makes sense and what is frivolous.

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