Why recycling doesn't cut it
Less than 1% of the plastic bags that are distributed are recyled. More than 1 billion single-use plastic bags are distributed around the world daily. The rest end up in landfills or floating around on land or sea causing all kinds of problems for humans and animals. Plastic bags that lay on the ground and fill with water in Africa have become a breeding ground for mosquitoes that spread malaria. Plastic bags in India have blocked drains and caused devastating flood conditions. Sea turtles, seabirds, cows, and all kinds of other animals are dying because they are ingesting plastic bags which they mistake for food. The plastic bags sit inside them and they literally starve to death. When they decompose the plastic inside of them lives on to do additional harm. Even if you are in the 1% of people who recycle, by using plastic bags, you are creating a market for them and hindering the process of their elimination. Please look at the big picture - and help to get rid of plastic bags altogether.

"But I use my plastic bags over and over again for many different things!"
This is one of the main arguments we have heard from people who are reluctant to give up their petroleum-based plastic bags. Plastic bags are convenient - that's why they came toj exist in the first place. But even if you use them again and again, the fact is that their useful life is only so long. And what happens to them at that point? Even if you use one plastic bag for a year (and most of the plastic bags commonly distributed would be lucky to last a week), at the end of it, that bag is still being disposed of. Once again, let's look at the bigger picture - there are lots of alternatives - let's use them!"What am I going to use for my dog poo?"It may sound funny, but it's true - this seems to be a favourite use for plastic shopping bags. Afterall, we do have to pick up after our pets, and what we pick up has to go in something! Luckily biodegradable garbage bags come in all sizes - even those made specially for dog owners. See below for more information.Suggested alternatives:

PLASTIC GROCERY BAGS: There are many alternatives to plastic grocery bags - cloth or hemp bags or shopping baskets or make your own STRING BAG with this groovy pattern courtesy of Mason Dixon Knitting. You may have several at home already, and many grocery stores are now offering reuseable alternatives. Keep in mind that paper bags are not a good alternative. They break down a lot faster than plastic, but their production is extremely harmful to the environment. Check out these facts from reuseablebags.com. PRODUCE BAGS OR BULK BAGS: Plastic produce bags are probably the most useless of the bunch because they are made of such thin plastic. Many produce items can go without bags, but others can't. There are places where you can get organic cotton bags especially for produce and bulk. Healthier for you and the environment! Check out ecobags.com

• OTHER  PLASTIC  SHOPPING BAGS: Keep some of your re-useable bags strictly for items, like clothes, that you wouldn't want to get dirty. Get in the habit of taking them shopping with you. There are some re-useable bags that fold up into a small package, which is great to keep in your pocket or handbag - then you don't even have to worry about forgetting your bag! Look for silk bags - they're strong, snazzy, AND they fold up into nothing so they are a perfect fit for your pocket or handbag. In Powell River, silk bags are available at Beyond the Bed.
  
  
• GARBAGE BAGS: Garbage bags are difficult - because they obviously contain things we want to get rid of. There are companies that sell biodegradeable bags. They are made of a corn-based product that breaks down within 6 months instead of 400-1000 years (!), so they are a MUCH better alternative for garbage - AND they're not much more expensive than petroleum-based garbage bags. Here are some places where you can find them locally:
• • Silke's Organic Market (Powell River)
  • Aaron Services
  • Edible Island (Courtenay)

Hints and Links:

• Keep bags in your car at all times - this will help you to get in the habit of using bags other than plastic, and prevent you from getting into the situation of stopping at the store, and not having your bags with you.
• reuseablebags.com
• planetark.com
• ecobags.com