Go here (Poconorecord.com) for a quick slideshow with statistics, quotes, and reasons to stop accepting plastic bags when you shop.
Here's a teaser quote from the slide show:
"There's harsh economics behind bag recycling: It costs $4,000 to process and recycle 1 ton of plastic bags, which then can be sold on the commodities market for $32."
--Jared Blumenfeld, Director of San Francisco's Department of the Environment
I know that personally, I have to be face-to-face with the reality of my actions before I can muster the willpower to stop doing something destructive. I also know that, for me, taking actions to reduce harm cannot be taken from the perspective or motivation that it will solve the problem. I am simply, personally doing less harm. If others join in, great -- if they ask questions, great -- but in the end it's for my own mental health. [if any grammatically savvy folks could email me better ways to punctuate that last sentence but keep the cadence I'd be very grateful]
Enjoy expanding your awareness, even if it pinches a bit,
Bp
[photo credit here at treehugger.com]
9 comments:
Which is why I never shop at Safeways because of their freakish plastic bag fetish. When we were able to afford gas and travelled extensively, every Safeway we went in used the things in such grotesque abundance it has to be a company wide policy.
6 items? 6 bags!
three sentences would have worked. :)
Actually, he who channels Sharky is a "professional" copyeditor. This means he is a professional pauper. But, the statement taint so bad grammaticallishly.
Pril -- I almost went that way with it, but thought it would be like robot speech or something.
Sharky -- it 'taint?
Not only plastic bags but ALL plastic should be avoided. First off EVERY BIT of plastic that has ever been made still exists. It breaks into smaller pieces but it is ALL STILL HERE. Smaller organisms eat it and choke, it dies and another eats it. It has the potential for disrupting the base of the food chain. When it does -someday- break down no one knows how it will effect the environment—our plastic is now everywhere. Analysis of beach sand in far-flung areas shows minute bits of plastic. In all your purchasing look for non-plastic (it’s really a tough search).
I have a dilemma regarding plastic bags....
the cats use an indoor litter box, which must be cleaned. The litter and waste has to be placed in something in order to place it in a garbage bin. I can't flush the litter (clogs the toilet, despite being "flushable"), I can't compost it (every tried composting cat shit?), and my apartment manager will have my hide if I put it in the dumpster loose.
It worries me to picture perfectly preserved cat shit in a landfill somewhere, but I have yet to think of another solution.
My cat mostly goes outside but the occasional litter box job goes into the compost. Maybe you need a dedicated cat-shit composer, once the worms discover it, it oughta go wild. You could layer it with the necessary green materials to keep it from massing into a lump. It will be stinky but that's life/death.
I think most people (probably even Pat) put their trash into plastic bags before they put it in their garbage can.
yeah, I have a feeling my apartment manager is not going to be ok with the "stinky" aspect. I know for a fact the busybody granny who lives next to me will pitch a fit. Maybe I should just hide the litter in her garden...problem solved all around? =)
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