Regrettably I had to have my groceries packed in plastic bags last night as I had forgotten my enviro bags. I felt so guilty I got to thinking - what is the best thing to do with the plastic bags I now have??
Plastic bag facts
- Australians used 3.9 billion plastic shopping bags in 2007
- Nearly half a million plastic bags are collected on Clean Up Australia Day each year. (source - CUA)
- It takes only four grocery shopping trips for an average Australian family to accumulate 60 plastic shopping bags. (source - CUA)
- Plastic bags are produced from polymers derived from petroleum. The amount of petroleum used to make a plastic bag would drive a car about 11 metres. (source - CUA)
- In 2005, Australians used 192 HDPE bags per capita. (source - Nolan ITU)
- 14% of HDPE plastic carry bags are returned to major supermarkets for recycling. (source - ANRA)
I did not realise that some supermarkets actually have a bin you can put your unwanted plastic bags in and from there they go to be recycled. (This is only for the light plastic bags not the heavier ones retail shops use.)
This is my draw full of plastic bags. I do re-use them for things such as taking lunch to uni, packing clothes to take to the op-shop and for lining our little bin in the bathroom so I will keep a few.
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| Bag drawer |
