2011 Action Step: Use Reusable Bags

Production of plastic and paper bags uses a tremendous amount of energy, contributes significant CO2 into the atmosphere, and in some cases takes centuries to decompose. Choosing to use only reusable bags can make a big difference for our environment!

 What’s wrong with plastic and paper bags?

The plastic bag was introduced to the US in 1977 as an alternative to the paper bag.  It is estimated that 500 billion to 1 trillion plastic bags are used annually world-wide. Each person in the US uses 300-400 bags per year.

The WorldWatch Institute states it takes 430,000 gallons of oil to produce 100 million plastic bags - so that comes to a staggering 4,300,000 gallons of oil to make a trillion bags.

The amount of petroleum used to make 14 plastic bags would drive a car one mile!

Over 100,000 marine mammals and sea turtles die every year due to ingesting discarded plastic bags that are mistaken for food.

When plastic bags break down, they actually break down into smaller toxic particles. These particles can enter the ecosystem and be passed from animal to animal along the food chain.

In the 1980’s and 1990’s plastic bags were rarely seen in Antarctica, but now are found in most areas.

Scientists estimate that every square mile of ocean contains about 46,000 pieces of floating plastic.

It takes over 1000 years for a plastic bag to break down in a landfill.

Recycling requires energy to collect, transport and process them and this all still adds CO₂ to the atmosphere, contributing to global warming.

Governments are taking steps to reduce the use of plastic bags:

California was the first state to address plastic bags when it passed the 2006 Plastic Bag Recycling Act. Now more than 40 states have either mandatory or voluntary recycling programs

Some cities, including Washington DC, tax the use of plastic bags.

Several African nations, including South Africa, Kenya, Uganda, Somalia, Rwanda, and Tanzania, have banned or taxed the use of plastic bags.

In China, customers must pay for plastic bags and the ultra-thin plastic bags, a major source of litter, have been completely banned.

In the following European countries customers either have to pay for the plastic bags or there is a tax on them: Ireland, Italy, Belgium, Switzerland, Germany and Holland.

Why Paper Bags Are Not a Green Alternative:

Compared with plastic bags, paper bags make a much larger carbon footprint from production through recycling.

A paper bag takes four times more energy to produce than a plastic bag.

Nearly twice as much energy is required to recycle a pound of paper than a pound of plastic.

Paper bags take up more landfill space and weigh much more. In fact, 2,000 paper bags weigh 280 pounds, compared with 30 pounds for 2,000 plastic bags, increasing the fuel consumed and air pollution generated to transport them.

Most paper comes from tree pulp, so the impact of paper bag production on forests is enormous. In 1999, 14 million trees were cut down to produce the 10 billion paper grocery bags used by Americans that year alone.

The majority of craft paper is made by heating wood chips under pressure at high temperatures in a chemical solution. The use of these toxic chemicals contributes to both air pollution, such as acid rain, and water pollution.

Please note:

There are precautions you should take to assure your use of reusable bags for groceries is sanitary -

Bags that are used for food products should not also be used for other purposes, such as carrying book or gym cloths.

Keep raw foods separate from other food products.

Reusable bags should not be stored in the trucks of cars because the higher temperature promotes bacteria growth.

Wash your reusable bags periodically.