Bags, bags and more bags!

Grocery shopping is right up there next to having a tooth pulled or cleaning a toilet on my fun list, I don't love it. I try to keep my shopping to once a week or even longer. I avoid it like the plague. So when I spent more time than I care to admit at the grocery store this past week, I was none too happy. Chalk it up to poor planning and spur of the moment parties for the holiday weekend, but I seemed to be there almost everyday. After filling my cart each time I would proceed to the check stand to total the damage. Every time you go to check out the inevitable questions is asked, "Paper or plastic". So my friends what is the answer?

NEITHER!!

One of the easiest things to do to go a little greener is to bring your own bags with you to the store. There are all kinds of cute reusable bags out there. You just have to find some that fit your personality and/or budget. Most grocery stores sell them for $1 and they are durable and will last a good long time. I got three of mine free on Earth Day at Dans with one of their promotions. They aren't hard to find or come by.

Try these cute little numbers:
http://www.reusablebags.com/store/envirosax-mikado-pouch-reusable-shopping-bags-p-1077.html?osCsid=400874fb80d37f53c123832bd2fccef6

or these: http://www.reusablebags.com/store/envirosax-planet-green-pouch-reusable-shopping-bags-p-1564.html

Any search on google will turn up plenty of fun options.

The real trick is to remember to take them into the store with ya! Mine are nifty in that they fold up to about the size of a cd case, so I keep them tucked between my car seat and the center console. They are right there when I unbuckle and that helps me remember to take them in. I also keep one in my purse (it's very compact) for the smaller shopping excursions.

Another great thing about bring your own bag is that most stores give you a "bag credit". It ranges from 5-10 cents per bag, which isn't a ton, but hey it's better than nothing.

Some interesting plastic facts:

Plastic bags are:
-Made from petroleum, a nonrenewable resource.
-A serious litter problem since they are lightweight and hard to contain (blow around).
-Non-biodegradable, breaking into smaller particles BUT never fully disappearing.
-Mistaken for food by marine animals (particularly sea turtles).
-One of the most numerous items of litter along with cigarette butts and Styrofoam.
-A major part of waste in our landfills.
(http://www.earthresource.org/campaigns/capp/capp-sea-turtles.html)

One more thing to think about: There is what is called the Great Pacific Garbage Patch - a heap of debris floating in the Pacific that's twice the size of Texas, according to marine biologists.
The enormous stew of trash - which consists of 80 percent plastics and weighs some 3.5 million tons, say oceanographers - it floats where few people ever travel, in a no-man's land between San Francisco and Hawaii. (http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/10/19/SS6JS8RH0.DTL&hw=pacific+patch&sn=001&sc=1000) CRAZY!!

OK enough of heavy stuff. I promise to keep this "environ-light" so we don't get too overwhelmed. Small changes can make a difference is our motto.