Porch Talk…Have a quick sit
What are your plans for those pesky plastic bags?
by Kris Kolk
July 30, 2008
The city of San Francisco has banned them. So have South Africa, Taiwan and Bangladesh. Ireland imposed a special tax about them. So, what is the big deal with plastic bags?
Well, some of the main problems cited have been: pollution, hazards to marine life, amount of petroleum used in manufacturing and future environmental consequences of having them hang around.
Mainstream solutions -- these are boring…keep reading, though
I’ve noticed some stores around here asking if I even want a bag. I usually say, “no.”
It’s as easy to carry a few items in my arms as it is to swing a plastic bag from my little finger.
Of course, you’ve no doubt noticed many stores selling tote-type bags meant for repeated use. This is a win-win-win for the store. The store will spend less purchasing bags just for giving away; it is able to present a new profit-making product; and the store appears eco-friendly the entire time. Goodie for them.
Avant-garde solutions – so cool
Plastic bag shunning may be our future, but there are so many of the buggers around already. How shall we coexist?
Some out-of-the-box artists have been dreaming up all kinds of cool uses for these bags. Some have turned to bumming plastic bags from their friends and probably strangers in order make a manageable yarn. From this unusual yarn, they produce all kinds of clothes, bags, hair accessories—you name it.
Another site offers plastic chicken plans. Perhaps all of us farm girl wannabe’s could create our own plastic barnyard settings. And daydream.
Instead of bemoaning all those wads of bags in the car trunk, I have now become industrious.
Those on my Christmas list just might receive plastic raincoats in a familiar style of “smiley face” blue and yellow.
Doesn’t a red and white “bulls-eye” plastic chicken express joyeux noel to you?
Copyright 2008 Neighbors About Town