Plastic bags

Grrr! I hate plastic bags! I've just walked to our local swimming pool, and the wooded verge of the pavement seems to be full of them.

About a year ago, we bought some tough canvas shopping bags, albeit from our local supermarket. I think they were about £2.50 for 4, which are enough to take a week's shopping for two people. We have since accumulated some others, but our favourites are two hessian ones we bought in an eco shop in York a couple of weeks ago stamped, in huge letters, with 'Say No To Plastic Bags!'. They're fab!! See www.sharedearth.co.uk

Plastic bags are bad on so many levels:

1. most are not made from any recycled material, meaning scarce oil resources are used in their manufacture, which also requires energy

2. there are limited recycling facilities available for plastic bags (in our area anyway, although some supermarkets do take them)

3. they result in litter

4. those that end up in landfill take an age to break down, doubtless releasing all sorts of nasties into the earth/air

Some of the big supermarkets have introduced bags made from (partially) recycled material, others offer more loyalty points to those who resuse plastic bags at the checkout. But so much more could and should be done. It is so depressing to see people staggering behind their trolley, stuffed to the gunwhales with groaning plastic bags. It doesn't help that canvas bags on sale in supermarkets seem to be behind the checkouts, so that by the time people see them, and have the chance to think 'oh what a good idea', they've packed everything up and off they go, sure to forget next time. I long for the day when we will follow the Ireland and introduce a plastic bag tax - 10p each would soon encourage people to at least think twice about using so many, even if they continued to use them.

So what can we do?

1. REDUCE the number of plastic bags used:

- consider using canvas/cloth shopping bags, and get into the habit of taking them with you when you go to the shops/town - perhaps keep a couple in your car if that's how you normally travel to do your shopping, or in your hallway where you'll see them as you go out

- say no when shop assistants offer you a bag, if you can easily carry the item, or pop it into a bag you already have with you. They will sometimes look at you like you're mad, but persevere! You never know, you may encourage others to do the same!

- do you really need to put a hand of bananas, stalk of broccoli etc into a little bag at the greengrocers/supermarket? Consider just buying them 'loose' - you'll end up washing/unpeeling them before you eat them anyway and a bit of polythene will do nothing to protect against bruises whilst in transit

2. REUSE plastic bags you do take:

- as small bin liners

- to clear up after your dog

- at the shops. There's something a bit deliciously naughty about using another company's bags in a rival store, and we've even left a few behind at the checkout before as we giggled out. Childish I know, but fun!

3. RECYCLE plastic bags where possible. Tescos stores offer facilities (usually inside the store)

4. CHOOSE paper bags if you can, and then recycle/compost them

So next time you see a plastic bag caught in a tree, fluttering and fading in the breeze, seek out some funky alternatives. If we all used even a couple of cloth bags, the overall impact would be great and perhaps the staggering figure of over 240 plastic bags each person in the UK is estimated to use every year could be reduced.

Happy shopping!!