As those plastic carrier bags that we put our groceries in at the checkout often appear to be and are light and flimsy, people rarely if at all think about their impact on the environment, but statistics for the UK alone show that each year:
- more than 10 billion carrier bags are produced;
- if laid end-to-end, these would stretch to the moon and back five times; one hell of a distance, is it not.
- 80% of shoppers put everything into free carrier bags at the supermarket; and
- 100,000 tonnes of plastic bags are thrown away – that’s the same weight as 70,000 cars!
Most bags are used only once for carrying goods between the shops and home, which is such a waste, especially when you consider that the majority of free carriers are made from oil - an increasingly valuable commodity. When dropped, they are an eyesore for us and can pose a danger to wildlife. While trees, decorated, with tinsel and such like, may look OK at Christmas time, when they are “decorated” with carrier bags that have gotten stuck there they do not look nice. In fact they are one of the greatest eyesores imaginable, in my view. While some websites, of the government even, make “claims” that carrier bags decompose though that is takes hundreds of years the fact of the matter is that carrier bags do NOT decompose, and nether do they biodegrade – with the exception of those that are compostable, e.g. made from corn starch or such material. Carrier bags simply break down into smaller and smaller plastic particles, like all plastic, and while doing so they leach harmful substances into the soil.
The good news is, however, that it is rather easy to play your part in reducing carrier bag waste:
- use your shopping bag as many times as possible;
- remember to take bags with you every time you go shopping;
- keep spare bags in your car or at work so you’re never without;
- invest in stronger reusable bags, sometimes known as bags for life; and
- let the check-out staff know you’ve brought your own before they pack for you!
- Don't willy-nilly dispose of them in the countryside, with or without contents. They get blown about by the wind and end up everywhere.
- Dog walkers: when you carry old shopping bags (or the dog mess bags one can buy) please endure that, when you pull one out of your pocket to pick up your dog's “do” and another comes out with it to pick it up. Thousands are left annually in Parks and Open Spaces in this way and add to the carrier bag waste blown in the wind.
Changing habits
Most people say they simply forget to take and reuse their old carriers or reusable bags at the supermarket. As a nation we need to get into better habits, but we also need to find out what works best for our nation's shoppers.
The government is talking about introducing a charge, and it would appear quite a high one, on carrier bags or even a “carrier bag tax” (this again could just be another idea of the UK govt. under Gordon Brown to raise more revenue – yes, I am always the cynic) so, get into the habit of bringing your own bags.
Don't want to invest £5 in a cotton tote bag or five for your groceries? The make your own cloth bags that you can carry with you. I am sure you have an old pair of jeans or whatever around that could be converted.
Remember to take a bag when they leave the house, along with essentials such as their keys, wallet or purse. Instead of picking up a free carrier bag, try and remember to reuse your old carriers, bags for life or a cloth bag or a rucksack.
Whatever you choose, choose to reuse!
© Michael Smith (Veshengro), March 2008
