They love to attack us every time we open the cupboard under the sink.
I went to sort through the bags we have when I started wondering...
"Do we have too many reusable bags?"
"How many do we actually need?"
"Where should we keep them?"
"What happens if they get dirty?"
"What should we do with them when they wear out or break?"
"What does all this mean for plastic bags?"
I started doing some research to find out more about them. I know, I know. Very nerdy.
But you are about to benefit from my nerdiness.
How many reusable bags do you need?
Did you know that, in a household consisting of four family members, the suggested number of reusable bags required is EIGHT? (greenbag.com.au)
I take that as meaning eight for general shopping use because I know we have way more than that, but some are used to store clothes and things in the wardrobes.
After counting them all I discovered that we actually have at least 36!
I'm thinking I should make an installation artwork with them. That would be awesome.
The Green Bag site suggests keeping the standard reusable bags at home and for each individual to keep a compact reusable bag in their handbag or backpack for day-to-day convenience shopping. Tick!
Do you have too many reusable bags?
Yes? Mission Australia gladly accepts donations of any unwanted bags. Most op shops would happily take bags to give to customers too.
Where should reusable bags be kept?
This question had been plaguing me for a while since I am very unhappy with where they are at the moment. We access the cupboard under the sink regularly and they fall out every time the door opens. Also, our garbage bin resides in that same cupboard which can't be very healthy. Germs!
I went to the brains trust (ie, my friends and family) for some ideas:
30% under the sink
25% boot of the car
15% kitchen cupboard
15% laundry
10% on or next to the fridge
5% garage
So, really, keep them wherever they are most handy for YOU (probably not next to your garbage bin, though). I have decided on keeping a bunch in the car boot, another bunch neatly folded (I'm allowed to dream) in the laundry cupboard and a couple of compact bags in my handbag.
We'll see how that works out.
How do you clean a reusable bag?
It's inevitable that all reusable bags will get dirty. Things spill, leak, and flake into the bags.
So, it's important to keep them clean.
It is recommended that you clean your reusable bag with a damp, soapy sponge to get the longest life out of them. Occasional machine washing is ok, just don't put them in the dryer!
What should you do with old, worn out reusable bags?
Recycle them! Green Bag have a recycling program called RED to encourage the proper disposal of these bags. You may need to check with your local council to see where is the best place to drop these off for recycling in your area. Any non-woven polypropylene (NWPP) bags are classed as a #5 plastic which can be reformed into many things, like school chairs!
So, what about plastic bags?
After we started using reusable bags for all our shopping, we completely ran out of plastic bags. I then had to buy some plastic bags for the rubbish bin! I hated having to do that, but I didn't really know what else to do. Someone did mention that you can buy 'biodegradable' plastic bags but that turned out to be an even less environmentally friendly option - much to my surprise.
Research carried out for the Commonwealth Government found that, compared with ‘green bags’, the manufacture of single use plastic bags created over three times the greenhouse gas and used almost five times as much energy. And, that same report showed that biodegradable bags are an even worse option than single use bags, stating:
“Little or negative gain was found to be derived from the shift from single use bags to other single use bags such as biodegradable bags and paper bags, with potential litter gains offset by negative resource use, energy and greenhouse outcomes.”
And now...
I care about the environment. Why? Because to love God and to be like Him is to care for the things that He cares for. I care about God's creation and everything that lives in it, including the people and wildlife still to come. Having said that, though - I am not perfect. Not even close. A lot of areas in my life need improvement. This is just one that I'm working on at the moment. And, it's a no-brainer - reusable bags are the best option to care for the environment while shopping.
So, right now I'll be sticking with the regular bin liners for the household rubbish and using our reusable bags for everything else. But, I will be sourcing the bin liners from a new shop, since Aldi only stock one size: huge. I'll also keep thinking about possible alternatives for our rubbish.
A lot of the regular plastic bags are now recyclable. A lot of the major supermarkets have a special bin to put them in. They shouldn't be put in your yellow-lid bin with the rest of the recycling, though, because they jam the machinery at the recycling plant and cause a lot of other problems. I also suggest tying them in a knot if throwing them out with the general rubbish so that there is less chance of them blowing away or floating on water and being swallowed by animals.
So, after all that... even though I am currently drowning in reusable bags - they are good and they are 'green' and they are one way of caring for what God cares for.
I now feel like I have some direction. We will cull down to what we need and donate the rest. They will always live in a convenient place and will never be forgotten when we head to the shops.
It will happen. I'm determined to make this work.
I hope this info has been informative and helpful for you too.
