Did you BYOB the last time you went shopping? This is a question everyone ought to ask themselves. We are halfway through 2010 and there has never been a more crucial time to bring your own green shopping bags. When you BYOB, instead of using single-use plastic or paper disposable bags, you instantaneously become a part of the solution to the massive urban waste problem linked with disposable shopping bag waste. As of July 1st 2010, it is estimated that over 240 billion plastic bags have been consumed in 2010 alone. Whats even more alarming is the impact that plastic and paper single-use bags are continuing to have on the ecosystem. The intent of this article is to look at the latest reports regarding large-scale efforts to reduce the use of plastic and paper throw-away bags along with the related litter, and discuss what alternatives are available to us individual consumers in order to know for sure we are a part of the solution to this problem.
The excellent news is that BYOB momentum is growing rapidly in this year. Provided you havent heard yet, the California legislature has written a bill; AB 1998 (to be voted on by the Senate in August), which would ban throw-away bags sold inside supermarkets, drugstores, convenience, and liquor stores and take complete effect no later than 2013. Even The Governator, Arnold Schwarzenegger, said that he would sign his name on the bill if it makes it to his desk. This would be a massive win for all friends of the natural world to have the most populated state, in the 3rd largest nation on the earth, to put in place a prohibition on throw-away plastic bags. Considering that China already cracked down on plastic bags in 2008 and Ireland lawmaking efforts to lower plastic bag consumption began in 2002, it is so wonderful to be informed that California legislators have introduced this bill to the table.
In America, metropolitan areas from San Francisco to Los Angeles to Washington DC have approved or enacted laws that either tax customers for the utilization of plastic bags or ban them overall, but California would be the first American state to take action if this bill were to be approved. Believe it or not, even lawmakers from the state of Texas have written possible legislation that would insert a seven-cent tax for each throw-away bag used. It is so exciting that there is a prospect that both Texas and California might soon have laws and regulations in place to fight the plastic bag craze. Hard work by persons and governments to shrink large-scale use of single-use grocery bags is a wonderful way to encourage people and spread the word about the overwhelmingly positive benefits of ecologically friendly reusable shopping bags.
Plastic bags might take up to one thousand years to biodegrade completely, and before that it just deteriorates down in smaller and even tinier poisonous pieces that find their way inside our food, water, and soil. Biodegradable and green reusable bags, are a good quality alternative, once discarded in landfill sites, the subjection to sunlight, oxygen, and high temperature will convert these bags into water, carbon dioxide, mineral salt and biomass. Similar to a fallen leaf, it will perish in time as well as leave NO Toxic Residue in the soil. Single-use plastic bags end up in our landfills as well as frequently get tangled and bring about permanent harm in trash management equipment. Millions if not billions of additional bags end up as urban litter and usually find their way in to creeks, large bodies of water, streams, as well as the ocean. Creatures, especially aquatic animals, get intertwined in single-use plastic bags, and/or swallow them and regularly asphyxiate or starve to death.
So the solution leads us back to BYOB, which is extremely effortless. Just remember to utilize eco friendly reusable shopping bags or recycled shopping bags, or reuse an old bag, period. Be sure to keep additional reusable bags within your vehicle or within your backpack, since you will want to make sure they are handy when you need them. Also remember to disinfect your bags after use, in particular after transporting raw foods or cleaning supplies. You may also present them to your friends as a reminder to BYOB. Of course, continually remember to recycle every time the chance presents itself, recycling is always a victory for the natural environment. Adopting a BYOB habit in our individual lifestyles and organizations is certainly the greatest way to make sure we are truly part of the solution rather than the problem. Right now is the time to go out and lead by example.
The excellent news is that BYOB momentum is growing rapidly in this year. Provided you havent heard yet, the California legislature has written a bill; AB 1998 (to be voted on by the Senate in August), which would ban throw-away bags sold inside supermarkets, drugstores, convenience, and liquor stores and take complete effect no later than 2013. Even The Governator, Arnold Schwarzenegger, said that he would sign his name on the bill if it makes it to his desk. This would be a massive win for all friends of the natural world to have the most populated state, in the 3rd largest nation on the earth, to put in place a prohibition on throw-away plastic bags. Considering that China already cracked down on plastic bags in 2008 and Ireland lawmaking efforts to lower plastic bag consumption began in 2002, it is so wonderful to be informed that California legislators have introduced this bill to the table.
In America, metropolitan areas from San Francisco to Los Angeles to Washington DC have approved or enacted laws that either tax customers for the utilization of plastic bags or ban them overall, but California would be the first American state to take action if this bill were to be approved. Believe it or not, even lawmakers from the state of Texas have written possible legislation that would insert a seven-cent tax for each throw-away bag used. It is so exciting that there is a prospect that both Texas and California might soon have laws and regulations in place to fight the plastic bag craze. Hard work by persons and governments to shrink large-scale use of single-use grocery bags is a wonderful way to encourage people and spread the word about the overwhelmingly positive benefits of ecologically friendly reusable shopping bags.
Plastic bags might take up to one thousand years to biodegrade completely, and before that it just deteriorates down in smaller and even tinier poisonous pieces that find their way inside our food, water, and soil. Biodegradable and green reusable bags, are a good quality alternative, once discarded in landfill sites, the subjection to sunlight, oxygen, and high temperature will convert these bags into water, carbon dioxide, mineral salt and biomass. Similar to a fallen leaf, it will perish in time as well as leave NO Toxic Residue in the soil. Single-use plastic bags end up in our landfills as well as frequently get tangled and bring about permanent harm in trash management equipment. Millions if not billions of additional bags end up as urban litter and usually find their way in to creeks, large bodies of water, streams, as well as the ocean. Creatures, especially aquatic animals, get intertwined in single-use plastic bags, and/or swallow them and regularly asphyxiate or starve to death.
So the solution leads us back to BYOB, which is extremely effortless. Just remember to utilize eco friendly reusable shopping bags or recycled shopping bags, or reuse an old bag, period. Be sure to keep additional reusable bags within your vehicle or within your backpack, since you will want to make sure they are handy when you need them. Also remember to disinfect your bags after use, in particular after transporting raw foods or cleaning supplies. You may also present them to your friends as a reminder to BYOB. Of course, continually remember to recycle every time the chance presents itself, recycling is always a victory for the natural environment. Adopting a BYOB habit in our individual lifestyles and organizations is certainly the greatest way to make sure we are truly part of the solution rather than the problem. Right now is the time to go out and lead by example.
About the Author:
Albert Jefferson is an accomplished writer discussing eco and sustainability issues and spreading the word to consumers and companies to utilize eco shopping bags to promote both their brand and awareness for the environment. We can help this planet with every bag we reuse.
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