Did you ever think you would have to make such a difficult decision when purchasing your groceries? Paper or Plastic? That's an easy question! But, is it? Well, is it?
If you said plastic, you're wrong. Why? It may be recycled plastic but you will need more of them to carry all your groceries. You most likely, will not recycle the bag wen you're done with it. You may use it a few more times to carry your shoes to work in or put some rotting food from the fridge in it which you will dump it into the garbage can, but then it becomes waste, not recycled. Or it could blow away and wash down the sewer into the lake and get wrapped around a duck's neck. Way to go! Don't you feel bad now? Or it could even blow around and get wet from the falling rain and adhere to a car windshield blinding the driver causing a tragic accident.
If you said paper, you're wrong too! Why? It may be recycled, as well, but at some point it was from a tree. It may have been recycled from old newspapers or cardboard boxes. There are many uses for a paper bag but eventually it rips and you throw it away. You may empty the cat litter box into it and then throw it away (not recycled, really). You may use to cover a high school textbook but it will eventually get dog-eared and thrown away (not recycled). You may use to put your recyclables in to put at the curb but your using it to recycle, not getting it recycled (better than nothing I guess).
You can't win. Paper or Plastic has now become a big dilemma. You are harming the environment either way! What to do, what to do? Bring your own cloth bag! This is becoming more common practice but we still forget to bring them along or store them in our car. We have a difficult time letting go of Paper of Plastic.
We NEED those bags. We WANT those bags. What will we use if we don't have any of those bags? No one ever says Paper, Plastic or Cloth? It doesn't roll off the tongue as nicely. In fact, some clerks appear to dislike the cloth bags because they are a bit more challenging to load since the bag holders are designed for Paper or Plastic. We don't like change even though we know it's for the best.
It's better for the environment. It's saves money. Cloth bags hold more than paper or plastic so less trips into the house! We can use cloth bags over and over again for all sorts of things. Cloth bags are sturdier and frozen foods won't bust through the bottom as they thaw on the ride home. Cloth bags are the more responsible choice. So what will your choice be?
Next time you are asked Paper or Plastic, take a stand and pull out that cloth bag, be proud and know you are taking the first step in making the world a little bit better for the future!
You never thought you would actually take the time to really think about Paper or Plastic did you? My work is done here!
Rachel
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