A fun collaboration between green living guru Danny Seo and Method, the Plastic Bag Rehab tote was a hit promotion in 2007. A few times I remembered to take it with me to the Farmers Market or to the grocery store. Six years ago it was simply politically correct, now for some of us it is The Law of The Land. I live in San Mateo County, California and TODAY, Earth Day, 2013, no more plastic bags. Now, they really mean it. Plastic bags are banned. This is good for the environment. I will just put this in the car and it will become a habit to take it in the store with me.
Single-use bags are a form of “urban tumbleweed” that mess up creek beds, parks and beaches and is harmful to wildlife and marine animals, environmentalists contend. The bags also are difficult to recycle, with less than 5% being repurposed. “They blow off the face of landfills and out of transfer stations,” said Mark Murray, executive director of Californians Against Waste. “This is a problem product and the best solution is to phase them out.” Other states are considering similar bans. Many cities have had the ban in effect for years.
According to the TLC web site you should “Designate specific bags for meats and fish. Wash these bags regularly – preferably after each shopping trip – to get rid of bacteria. If your bag is fabric, toss it in the washing machine with jeans, and if it’s a plastic material, let it soak in a basin filled with soapy water and either the juice of half a lemon or about a quarter cup of vinegar.”
Plastic Bag Rehab should become second nature in no time. This time, for real.
### AEA