Whether you are in New York City or rural Minnesota, it is not uncommon to see plastic bags in places they don’t belong – stuck in trees, blowing around parks, or even lying in our beaches and lakes.
There are many solutions to help re-use and reduce waste, not just as corporations and businesses, 
but also as individuals, families and schools. When a person makes an everyday purchases in a grocery or retail store, they often walk out of the store with one or more plastic bags in hand. Whether you leave the store with a plastic bag, and what you do with it later, is what makes the difference. As a solution provider for balers, compactors, packers, and other solid waste equipment, Harmony Enterprises also wants to offer consumers simple solutions to their everyday waste challenges.
Here are 4 Ways to Reduce the Waste of Plastic Bags:
- Decline the bag. Often store employees are instructed to separate different types of products in different bags or use a bag for only one or two items. Hand-carry the items out of the store if you can.
- Bring your reusable bags instead. The most challenging aspect of this is remembering to take them into the store, and creating the habit. Even if you only have 1-2 reusable bags and a cart full of groceries, this would be two plastic bags that you saved! ReuseThisBag.com suggests ditching plastic altogether and offers “25 Reasons To Go Reusable.”
- Recycle the plastic bags. Many thrift stores will re-use plastic bags for their merchandise. Some department stores and grocery stores will also often have a location where you can drop off clean and dry your plastic bags to be recycled.
- Re-use the plastic bags yourself. Think of creative ways that you can use the bags to save you money or time, or be fun! For instance, plastic bags can be used as small garbage can liners, going to the pool, or even plastic bag art projects!
These 4 ways to reduce the waste of plastic bags, work great when used together. This keeps it achievable, realistic, and easy.
Which of these waste reducing methods are you using now? Which ideas do you want to try to implement moving forward? What other ideas do you have for reducing waste?
Photo Credit: katerha
Interested in reading articles on recycling, reducing waste, and helping or global environment from Harmony Enterprises? Subscribe to our monthly e-newsletter here.
