Action 01: Decline Plastic Bags Wherever Possible
“8 billion plastic bags, with a lifespan of 500 years, get dumped every year by Canadians.” That seems pretty unnecessary doesn’t it. Not only is it waste. It is waste the doesn’t biodegrade (or at least not quickly) and it can release toxins into our environment.
So here’s what I do:
First, I bring reusable canvas bags with me when grocery shopping. Occasionally, I will be someplace where I need to pick up a couple of small items and won’t have one of those bags on me. So instead I put my purchase in my handbag or carry out as is (just keep your receipt handy!).
Second, I politely let the cashier know that I have my own bag or simply do not need a plastic bag. “Thanks but I don’t want a plastic bag.” “Thanks but I have my own bag.”
Third, I let the cashier and other customers in line know why. Usually, this is in a simple statement like “I’m trying to do my part to reduce the amout of waste I’m contributing to landfills.”
Voila! I have no more piles of plastic bags under the kitchen sink or in the broom closet. And I am no longer contributing to the 500 years it takes for one plastic bag to biodegrade. It may seem like an insignficant action at first but you can see how this small action can have a major impact – particularly, if everyone does it.
Think about this: If even 10,000 people used reusable totes instead of plastic bags when grocery shopping, we would keep 9 million bags out of landfills every year.
Filed under: Inspired Living
