Comments on: Anya Hindmarch Causes Plastic Bag Manufacturers to Freak Out

By: Kirsten

Kirsten — Thu, 27 Sep 2007 16:07:50 +0000

OK, here is the deal with recycling plastic bags, which I am sure your local recycling coordinator would be happy to explain. (When you have a question about what is recycling, Please call them. They slave away trying to divert recyclable items from the waste stream and they know alot about YOUR local system.)

Most plastics are separated by mumber then shredded/chipped for shipping. The teeth in the machine that performs this process can be jammed by plastic bags. The bags get wrapped around the mechanism, and the recycling process stops until it can be manually cleared.

So, yes, they are fully recyclable, but not in the same bin as your containers/bottles. In my area there are bins in front of all the grocery stores.

As an aside, I often visit Ireland, which started charging for plastic bags a long time ago. On previous trips I had seen bags blowing along streets, caught in hedgerows, on the beach. After the 5p charge started that was completely and absolutely eliminated.

Did you know that 50% of the solids in Sea water, by weight are plastic fragments. Half of what a sperm whale filters out of the water and tried to digest is indigestable plastic. Stick with your reusable bags!

By: arv

arv — Wed, 29 Aug 2007 21:03:09 +0000

One of the comments mentioned biodegradable corn oil based bags . My answer to that is unless one composts these bags they are going to go the same way as plastic bags , into the landfill and it is a well known fact that even organic matter doesn’t degrade in landfills . So the next time you buy biodegradable plastic plates/cups for the kid’s birthday party think before you pat yourself on the back , you didn’t do much till you composted it . And I would stick to my multiple use bag .

By: Chris

Chris — Mon, 13 Aug 2007 13:24:51 +0000

I’ve seen plastic grocery bag recycling bins at the front of all the grocery stores around here, and every Wal-Mart (and I think Target). Take a look or ask next time you go. They don’t go in curbside. Also, I’m thinking of writing a note to my town’s grocery stores encouraging them to provide a small discount when people use their own bags.

By: Nick

Nick — Tue, 07 Aug 2007 15:26:21 +0000

There are plenty of ways to reuse and recycled plastic carrier bags. I have written an article about it in my blog:

http://www.recyclingsupermarket.com/household-waste/plastic-carrier-bags-tips-to-reuse-and-recycle/

By: Domenick

Domenick — Sun, 05 Aug 2007 01:36:16 +0000

Don’t grocery stores around the country have places to bring your plastic bags to be recycled? Publix does. According to their website they recycled 7600 tons of plastic in 2006. Not to mention 209,000 tons of cardboard.
Maybe other stores need to legislation to act responsibly.

By: Cindy

Cindy — Sat, 04 Aug 2007 00:43:09 +0000

I love to recycle plastic bags into reusable plastic totes, purses, and other bags. If there are any crafters out there check out my site for patterns. All my patterns are free for personal use.

Cindy
http://www.myrecycledbags.com
A website dedicated to recycling & crafting

By: Jo-Ann

Jo-Ann — Fri, 27 Jul 2007 13:18:59 +0000

Connecticut does not allow its citizens to use their recycle bins. If you put the plastic bags in the bins for roadside pick-up, they will not take any of your recycled items. Aelred should speak to issues where he has more knowledge.

By: Gypsy Girl

Gypsy Girl — Fri, 27 Jul 2007 11:14:30 +0000

Kudos for Aelred!! My sentiments exactly. We are so lazy in this country. There are many other countries where you either bring your own bags or you pay for plastic bags. Most people bring their own. Just a simple thing like asking for paper instead of plastic is HUGE help. I went to Wild Oats yesterday and got paid a nickle because I brought my own bags. But in the regular supermarkets, I get weird looks from the bag boys when I say I have my own bags.
KEEP THIG BAG THIBG ALIVE…see where we can go with it.
I also agree about the SUV’s especially the cellphone users, but that is a whole other issue to work on. I personally drive a foreign car that gets high gas mileage. if we all bought foreign.

By: Nancy

Nancy — Fri, 27 Jul 2007 01:34:32 +0000

WHERE can I bring my plastic bags to be recycled? I’ve never seen a recycling drop for plastic bags.

By: Tapia

Tapia — Fri, 27 Jul 2007 01:27:47 +0000

What a lot of people seem to be unaware of is the existence of biodegradable plastic bags, which tend to be corn-oil based. With rising petrol costs, these are fast becoming price-competitive.

Anyone interested should key word “biodegrable plastic.” You’d be amazed how much is out there.