Reusable Bags

Around 1.8 billion plastic bags are wasted weekly by Americans. Plastic bags take 15 to 1,000 years to actually decompose, and paper bags are close to the same statistic. Most of these bags are sitting in landfills or live in our oceans. These plastic bags kill thousands of sea creatures daily and require 12 million barrels of oils every year to produce the bags in the U.S alone. Paper bags – the U.S chops up 14 million trees to make them, along with the 13% more energy than plastic bags that is required for production! Only 20% of paper bags end up being recycled and 2% of plastic. Reusable bags are going to change all of this. Reusable bags have a lifespan of roughly 700 plastic bags. A single person who uses reusable bags over a lifetime can prevent up to 22,000 bags from harming our environment, our earth would thank us dearly. Not only are you saving the planet but you could be helping yourself and community as well. When reusable bags are sold most grocery stores offer a perk. Most vendors will give you a discount or coupons to thank you for your purchase. I know for a fact – as I said in my last post - that at Hannaford’s they will donate 1$ from your purchase of the bag to a local organization like  local youth centers or animal shelters or food pantries. Don’t forget that reusable bags – depending on the type – can hold up to 3x more than a standard grocery bag and you know what that means; less trips to the car! Now take it from a bagger who watches thousands of plastic bags leave the store daily just to end up living in our oceans that buying reusable bags are going to benefit your environment, yourself and your community. I highly urge you to go buy at least one reusable bag next time that you’re grocery shopping.