A few weeks ago, I read a short column in Time that left me all mumbly and grumbly. The “research” alluded to in Paper, Plastic Or Neither had me fit to be tied:
One study found that a cotton tote must be used at 131 times to be better for the planet than plastic.
Well, the research may be sound (I don’t know anything about the study), but the “implied implication” that “Therefore, plastic is better than reusable.” annoys me.
I have had the same canvas bags, bought at yard sales or given to my mom as swag at conferences, for FIFTEEN years. Yes, years. Used, abused, washed and filled.
I go to the store a number of times a week. I don’t fill ALL my bags when I run to Baby Kroger for the daily supplies, but I do tend to use them all at least once a week, on my big restocking trip. How many weeks is 15 years? 780 weeks. Plus, if used the crappy store plastic bags, I’d have to used 3-4 times as many bags.
My canvas bags have easily paid off that 131-use cost.
Alas, I do end up with the plastic bags too often. I use them in place of trash bags, especially while camping. I use them to cart stuff to Goodwill. And then I recycle the (hopefully small) remainder. But the argument that plastic bags are *better* than reusable bags? Ridiculous.
As an aside, this reminds me of an embarrassing moment from college. I was shopping on my own for the first time and the cashier asked “Paper or Plastic”. My answer? “Neither, I’m going to write a check.” (Paper = cash, plastic = credit card.)
I use them to pick up Opal’s poop. I am very careful about this health and safety measure (in spite of the fact that those damn Canada geese produce a pound of excrement a day per bird, pose significant health risks to humans, and we sometimes have more than 3 dozen visiting the lake at a time.) I also fill one plastic shopping bag up with trash/litter nearly every time I walk the dog. Someone can really dust those airplane bottles of Epic Peach Vodka! If I didn’t have a free source of plastic bags I guess I’d have to buy them for the dog waste…not sure what I’d use for the “good Samaritan” trash pickup. Years ago I used a “scissors” type scoop, when I got home I’d put the feces in a larger plastic bag which lined a dedicated outdoor trashcan, so I could go back to doing that, I suppose. But I’m still using plastic under that scenario, though. I will not drag the poo through the house to put in the toilet, that’s for sure. What do you use for Phelix poop scooping duty? Hope the kids enjoyed the snow!
As I said, I do reuse the plastic grocery bags I get for other things like you do. But if I were to *not* use my canvas bags, I would end up with so many that I couldn’t find uses for them all (though I guess maybe I could be like you and be a good samaritan and pick up litter) and would have to take them to be recycled.
How is recycling plastic bags *better* than using reuasble ones in the first place? That’s the implication that bothers me. People who get plastic grocery bags and put them to good use that they’d otherwise have to buy plastic bags for? I have no complaint against them, for sure!