Plastic Bags Blow

Call me a treehugger or whatever - I don't care. I've suddenly become more aware of waste, especially in the form of plastic. We know that all the plastic we put out for recycling does not get recycled. However, we put it out in the hopes that it will. And while choosing paper bags over plastic at the grocery store might seem like a good idea, it's possible that the paper (and other items we're told are biodegradable) that goes to the landfill will become so compacted that its environment will not be conducive to breaking down. Wasted paper, food, cardboard, etc. may still sit for hundreds of years or more. The solution? Reduce as much waste (ALL waste) as possible.

No, we don't have solar power or hybrid vehicles. But I take my reusable bags to the grocery store (any store, really), I avoid buying items with tons of packaging, we avoid buying bottles of drinks (the kids hate this because they want Gatorade or Powerade or whatever-the-current-product-kids-are-brainwashed-to-believe-they-must-have), and we use more containers in our lunches and fewer plastic bags and wrap. I'm even going to start using cloth bags in the produce section instead of those flitty little bags that we just throw away. V. says, "It's just one bag/bottle - it won't make any difference." He's just trying to argue with me, but he makes a point that many folks believe. That old saying could apply here: "A journey of a thousand miles begins with one step." (That sounded more profound than "It all adds up" or "Every little bit helps.")

Our one cat, Scout, loves bags. All kinds, but especially plastic. Why wouldn't she? They make an intriguing rustling sound and provide a good hideout. However, she has been known to get her head stuck in the handle and almost instantly will freak out if she can't get free. It makes me wonder how many other animals in the wild have similar experiences with all those plastic bags we see blowing around. How many animals have perished by getting caught in them? Marine animals have died by eating them. I encourage you to find ways to reduce your use of those silly bags. Please recycle them, or if you must throw them away, cut the handles first. Or, how about making a concerted effort to reduce your use. Baby steps.

See the plastic bags counter to the left. Insane, isn't it? I'm going to look for a plastic bottle counter. Probably just as scary.