Plastic bag revolt spreads across Britain

[jpak]

http://www.csmonitor.com/2007/0620/p01s03-woeu.html

London - It was watching sea creatures choke on plastic bags in the Pacific Ocean that finally persuaded Rebecca Hosking that enough was enough.

The British filmmaker had already recoiled in disgust at deserted Hawaiian beaches piled up with four feet of rubbish, the jetsam of Western consumerism washed up by an ocean teeming with plastic. Now, filming off the coast, she looked on aghast as sea turtles eagerly mistook bobbing translucent shapes in the water for jellyfish.

"Sea turtles can't read Wal-mart or Tesco signs on plastic bags," fumes Ms. Hosking, who returned to Britain in March. "They will home in on it and feed on it. Dolphins mistake them for seaweed and quite often they'll eat them and it causes huge damage."

Within a few weeks of coming back, Hosking persuaded her hometown to ban plastic bags outright and found herself in the vanguard of a sudden British revulsion for that most disposable convenience of the throwaway society.

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[poverlay]

1. Everyone needs to feel Rebecca Hosking's disgust and horror over this. Plastic sucks if not

disposed of carefully...
k&r

[flamin lib]

2. Yeah, and it's produced from oil. Like we really need to be putting

petroleum into our land fills.

[kestrel91316]

3. Pay attention to any and all plastic you buy. If it doesn't have the

triangle with numbers 1, 2, 4, 5, or 6, DON'T BUY IT. Number three has very little recycling market. 1 and 2 are best. 4, 5, and 6 are only fair. Then be sure to RECYCLE.

Check those condiment containers and personal care product containers, too. I am going to be sure to buy my condiments in glass containers where possible from now on. Glass is GREAT for recycling - major energy savings.

I have started paying attention to the numbers on plastic takeout food containers (yes, I am naughty at lunch sometimes) and I know who has "better" plastics. The best lunch spot is the Italian place where I get eggplant parmagiana subs - they wrap it in foil and then paper, and hand it to me without a bag - no plastic at all!

[wildeyed]

4. I have a set of reusable bags for the groceries,

and a small string bag I keep in the at the bottom of my purse for spur of the moment purchases. It is no extra effort to do this, and it is actually easier to carry stuff in the reusable bags than in plastic anyway. :shrug: I guess it is mostly about changing habits.

[knitter4democracy]

5. I used mine today. I got some, and I love them.

I forgot about the produce bags, though, and darned if I know what to do with those. The plastic produce bags aren't recyclable here.

[wildeyed]

6. I at least try to re-use the produce bags.

But this is better, I just found it online. http://www.reusablebags.com/store/shopping-bags-produce-bags-c-2_10.html

I will order some, see how it goes. :)

[knitter4democracy]

7. I have those but always manage to leave them in the car.

They work decently, but it's best to put the produce in another bag.

I'm going to work more on keeping those with me to use all the time.

[mopinko]

8. they should have them right at the checkout.

something cheap, a buck or 2, and ask people plastic or reusable? something like a string bag that is small when empty. at every checkout. maybe even give people a buck off if they have their own bags.