Why reusable bags

A growing movement around the country is for consumers to purchase and bring their own reusable bags to the store to use to carry their products home. While they cost a little more up front, there are many benefits of reusable bags , particularly when it comes to easing plastic bag pollution and the effects of plastic on the environment. Just why are plastic bags bad for the environment?

There are a number of reasons. Even so, paper bags are made either from trees, which are important to conserve, or from recycled material, which takes a lot of energy to produce, according to NASA. Though they seem small and light, plastic bags have a much larger environmental footprint than you may imagine, beginning with the energy required to make them. Twelve million barrels of oil are used to manufacture the plastic bags consumed in the United States each year, according to Waste Management Northwest.

Additionally, it only takes a teaspoon of water for mosquitoes to spread harmful West Nile Virus. Fewer single use plastic bags put into circulation reduces the amount of litter that ends up damaging ecosystems and posing a threat to wildlife and humans.

Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions Plastic bag litter has also been the culprit of flooding as they clog drains important to proper drainage. Reusable bags made from renewable resources help to prevent the buildup of greenhouse gases. When a reusable bag is made from materials like jute, cotton or bamboo , the environment reaps the benefits.

These are renewable materials that have a quick growth rate, so the plants can be harvested and new crops planted in quick succession. Bamboo can be harvested without killing the plant, and the bamboo plant can continue to thrive and convert greenhouse gases into breathable oxygen with no interruption. Recyclable Reusable Grocery Bags Minimize the Waste Stream When a reusable bag is made from a material that can be recycled , like RPET which is made from plastic bottles, or even reusable bags made from cotton, the bag can be recycled when it becomes worn out.

Some benefits of reusable shopping bags are:. Below are some tips that should help make it simpler for you to make the most of your reusable shopping bags. After all, they are one of the most important items on your list. So, leave them in your car. You can even find bags that roll up in tight small packages so you can fit them in your purse. Keep extra reusable bags in strategic places where you may need them.

These could be in your purse, by the front door, or in the garage. Having others use reusable bags as well to carry their things will help the environment even more.

Plastic produce bags are so unnecessary. Replace them with a simple and reusable alternative. Your email address will not be published. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Why are single use plastic bags a problem? Will you help the environment? Find out : Best Alternatives to Disposable Bags And remember: No matter which you choose, the most important thing about a reusable bag is to keep reusing it!