Worldwide, the use of plastic bags has created an enormous environmental hazard. Billions of plastic bags are used annually across the globe. The affects of their use are long term as they use up natural resources, consume energy to manufacture, create litter, and add to landfill waste. Discarded plastic bags are everywhere, polluting the air, water and eco system. They are in our lakes and streams, in trees, on highways and roadways, in the sewage system and in our communities. Plastic bags have taken and continue to threaten the lives of marine life and land animals that get caught in, get chocked in or mistake plastic bags for food. About 100,000 whales, seals, turtles and other marine animals are killed by plastic bags each year worldwide. While plastic bags are convenient and less expensive to manufacture than paper bags, they impose a major threat to our environment now and for generations to come.
The majority of plastic bags used in retail and grocery stores are non-biodegradable. Plastic is made from petroleum, a non renewable source which releases toxins if burned or recycled. If plastic is incinerated, poisonous substances such as dioxin and hydrocarbons are released into the air creating a toxic environment and health risk to those exposed to it.
There have been major steps to change our dependence and use of plastic bags. In other parts of the world such as Australia, Bangladesh, Ireland, Italy, South Africa and Taiwan, plastic bags are either banned or their use is strongly discouraged. The US is making some major changes to eliminate the use of plastic. In early 2007, San Francisco was the first US city to ban plastic bags in grocery stores and pharmacies. Some supermarkets and large retailers are providing recycling bins for plastic bas. It will take more than a village to rid these plastic bags from the environment and out of the hands of consumers, but tote to tote, store to door, plastic to reusable, we’ll get there.

Six Things You Can Do To Avoid Using Plastic and Become Environmentally Conscious:

1. Buy reusable bags or totes.

2. Take your plastic bags to a recycling center. Some grocery markets and major retailers such as Walmart provide recycling bins for your unwanted plastic bags. Inquire with your local stores if they provide these bins.

3. Get in the habit. Bring your re-usable bags to the store every time you shop whether at the grocery market, farmers market, retail store or wherever you purchase goods bagged in plastic.

4. If you have plastic bags in your home, reuse them or take them to a recycling center rather than throwing them away.

5. Spread the word. Encourage family and friends to go green by using reusable bags. They make great gifts!

6. Refuse a plastic bag if your are purchasing an item that doesn’t require any additional packaging or can easily be hand carried to your car.