Reusable Shopping Bags

You go to the store and do your shopping. You go up to the register and check out. While the cashier (whether it be a grocery store or any other store,) rings up the items you are purchasing, the items are placed in to plastic or paper bags. Many times we notice the cashier used an excessive amount of bags, or an unusually large bag for a T-shirt. However, most likely we do not realize what is actually happening as a result of this process.

Every day over a billion bags are given to consumers. So far this year well over 50 billion bags have been given out. What happens with these bags?

Every year billions of these bags end up as litter on the ground or in the water. Over time these bags break down into tiny pieces of toxic material that get into our soil and our water. As a result of these discarded plastic bags hundreds of thousands of sea and land animals die from mistakingly ingesting the bags.

Many people assume their is an easy solution to this problem. This is not necessarily false, however, the solution may not be what you think. Recycling is not a reasonable solution when it comes to these bags. Because of the insanely high amount of bags produced and given out, it would take entirely too much energy to recycle them.

The solution is to get reusable bags and bring them to the store. Also, reusable sandwich bags are available. If every consumer did this there would be a drastic change on this issue, if it were to still be an issue. Until this happens there are a few things you can do to cut down on the consumption of plastic bags. If you are at a store and you are purchasing one or a few items refuse a bag. If you can easily carry the item(s) without a bag, there is no need to waste one.
To make use of the plastic bags taking over the cabinet in your house, you can reuse them as garbage bags. Other simple things you can do to reduce the consumption of plastic bags is to open your eyes (notice how many bags you are consuming,) and finally, spread the word. Some are completely unaware of the impact the waste of these bags has on the environment. Now that you know, spread the word so that we can solve this problem.