Microsteps to Reducing Plastic Grocery Bags

If every household on your block– say 10 homes, used one less plastic grocery bag per week, you neighborhood would save 520 plastic bags in one year. I think that would fill up at least one large garbage bin – probably a lot more.

Now, just think, if every household in the U.S. used one less plastic grocery bag per year, we would eliminate almost 6 BILLION bags every year from our waste stream. Cool - that is just eliminating one plastic bag per week.

Three simple ways to reduce plastic grocery bag use:

1. If you only have 1-2 items, say ‘no’ to any bag and just carry it out.

2. Use a re-usable cloth bag – they are cheap and you will, over time, develop the habit of bringing them into the store with you!

3. If you have to use a bag, use paper. Yes it takes energy to make them, ship them, and they kill trees, however they are compostable, have more market demand as a recyclable material then plastic does, and they are a renewable resource.

Ordinary Environmentalist Challenge: Choose to use one less plastic grocery bag this week.

Super Environmentalist Challenge: Substitute all plastic bags with paper bags.

Extraordinary Environmentalist Challenge: Buy a reusable cloth bag and remember to use it once a week (or more)!

Have more ideas on reducing the use of plastic grocery bags? Please comment!