Using recycled grocery bags are a great way to help reduce waste. There are many ways of reducing the use of plastic grocery bags or reusing them for other purposes which helps to keep the plastic out of landfills.
Plastic grocery bags are considered very much a part of life. Most supermarkets, big and small, give customers plastic grocery bags to package their groceries. Over recent years, however, the potential harm that these plastic grocery bags can cause has been recognized and there is a current move to reduce the number of plastic grocery bags that enter the system every year. Using recycled grocery bags is one way to reduce the use of plastic bags.
How Grocery Bags Harm the Environment
Plastic grocery bags harm the environment in many ways. Not only does a lot of plastic end up in landfills, but many plastic grocery bags never reach this stage as they have blown into rivers, lakes and the sea. This causes problems for marine life and sea birds as they often eat the plastic bags or get caught in them. This results in the death of many thousands of animals, fish and birds every year.
Another important environmental issue is that many plastic bags are made overseas. Therefore the environmental implications of transporting plastic bags from their point of manufacturer to their final destination also needs to be considered.
Using Recycled Grocery Bags
Using recycled grocery bags has many benefits. One of the main ones being that it reduces the amount of plastic that is produced and therefore needs to be disposed of. Reusing plastic bags also means that less energy is used in the creation of new grocery bags. The most obvious way to reuse grocery bags is to take them to the stores and use them as shopping bags. There are, however, many ways that grocery bags can be recycled. These include:
Using Grocery Bags Around the Home
One way of using recycled grocery bags is to use them to replace any other form of plastic bags that are used around the home. Using plastic grocery bags to replace bin liners is one key way to recycle grocery bags. They can also be used to clean out cat litter trays, to collect garden waste or for many other purposes. Plastic grocery bags can be sliced open to create a sheet of plastic that can be used to line garage or workshop drawers and shelves, placed under pet feeding bowls and more.
Recycling Plastic Bags in Crafts
Many crafty recyclers like to use plastic grocery bags in craft projects. Plastic bags can be cut down to create a plastic 'yarn' that can be crocheted and knitted. Plastic bags can also be fused together using an iron to produce a thick fabric that can be stitched. Plastic grocery bags are also ideal for storing craft supplies, keeping them free from dirt and dust.
Other Ways of Reusing Plastic Bags
There are many other ways of using recycled plastic bags. They can be used when traveling, for instance, to hold dirty laundry or to hold wet swim or beach wear. A couple of plastic grocery bags can be kept in a car to hold rubbish or to use as shopping bags. Many schools collect plastic bags as they can recycle them in arts and crafts activities as well as using them in other ways around the school.
These are just a few of the many ways of recycling grocery bags.
Alternatives to Plastic Grocery Bags
One of the best ways to reduce the amount of plastic grocery bags that are used each year is to look for alternatives. Reusable fabric grocery bags are a great option. Unlike plastic bags, fabric grocery bags can be used many hundreds of times. A fabric grocery bag folds flat and is easy to carry in a purse and is ideal for many different types of shopping.
Recycling and reusing grocery bags is a simple, yet important step towards green living. Reducing the amount of plastic in the environment has long term benefits that will be appreciated by generations to come.
