Yesterday I was out moving soil around and unearthed a plastic child's toy from our past. How long had this toy been underground, 15 years? As I moved it over to the recycle bin I wondered; how many other bits of this and that are just below the surface, waiting to get scratched up? And where am I throwing them out too, ready to be uncovered in another 10-50-100 years.
When I was young I remember seeing my grandmother collecting bags, carefully folding them and putting them away for the next use, and the soiled plastic ones she would wash and dry. She was a product of the depression era, when nothing went to waste. I find myself following along with her mindset, "it's a perfectly good bag" I tell my girls as I stick it in my cupboard.
But now I face the reality that even reusing and recycling isn't quite enough. We simply have fewer places to send plastic, and the fact is too much is ending up buried or in the ocean. I've decided to go to the next level, not only using durable reusable bags, but also refusing bags when I can just carry in my hands. It's an unusual concept for a clerk, who is used to automatically placing your goods in a bag, no questions asked.
I'm on a mission to reduce my plastic footprint, and will continue to look for ways I can eliminate plastics from my everyday life.
There is good news, just around the corner are new types of synthetics made from plants that are completely biodegradable. I had the pleasure of seeing examples recently from a business vendor. These products aren't without their challenges, but will help to alleviate the massive plastic waste we put out annually.
Next time you're at the store join me by using your pocket, purse or hands to carry what was once in a bag. Our future generations will thank us for it!
When I was young I remember seeing my grandmother collecting bags, carefully folding them and putting them away for the next use, and the soiled plastic ones she would wash and dry. She was a product of the depression era, when nothing went to waste. I find myself following along with her mindset, "it's a perfectly good bag" I tell my girls as I stick it in my cupboard.
But now I face the reality that even reusing and recycling isn't quite enough. We simply have fewer places to send plastic, and the fact is too much is ending up buried or in the ocean. I've decided to go to the next level, not only using durable reusable bags, but also refusing bags when I can just carry in my hands. It's an unusual concept for a clerk, who is used to automatically placing your goods in a bag, no questions asked.
I'm on a mission to reduce my plastic footprint, and will continue to look for ways I can eliminate plastics from my everyday life.
There is good news, just around the corner are new types of synthetics made from plants that are completely biodegradable. I had the pleasure of seeing examples recently from a business vendor. These products aren't without their challenges, but will help to alleviate the massive plastic waste we put out annually.
Next time you're at the store join me by using your pocket, purse or hands to carry what was once in a bag. Our future generations will thank us for it!
