The problem with plastic bag “birds”
Carol Vigorito, Interpretive Naturalist
Years ago, as a novice naturalist, I excitedly pointed to a shape high in a distant tree and, without benefit of binoculars, identified it as a turkey vulture. It was a plastic bag caught on a branch.
Lightweight plastic shopping bags, easily dislodged from waste receptacles and effortlessly carried by wind and water, are found loose in virtually all urban and natural areas. Besides the occasional mistaken bird ID and troubling aesthetics issues, they take hundreds of years to decompose, break down into harmful toxins, cause serious harm to wildlife, leave a large carbon footprint and affect the health of millions by clogging sewer systems.
Though completely recyclable, only 1% of the 100 billion bags used yearly by Americans are recycled. Part of the issue is the difficulty of recycling plastic bags: they must be separated from the main recycling stream because they clog sorting machinery.
There are simple steps you can take to help cut down on plastic bag waste!
· Use your own durable tote bag instead of the store-issued plastic whenever possible and where allowed.
· In stores that are currently limiting reusable totes for health reasons, ask if instead of bagging they’ll return items directly to your cart during checkout. Then, you can bag your items into your totes as you load your car.
· When plastic bags are unavoidable, be sure to recycle them separately at a drop-off just for bags, located at many retail stores in the area.
Make your own no-sew T-shirt tote!
1) Cut sleeves off along the seams of an old T-shirt
2) Cut out a scoop shape along the neckline and trim off the bottom hem.
3) Make a series of 4-inch-long by 1-inch-wide vertical cuts along the bottom edge.
4) Tie front/back pairs of cuts together.
5) Tie neighboring knots together.
6) Sling it over your shoulder and you’re good to go shopping or to tote items on a fun excursion!
If you prefer a fringe-less bag, turn shirt inside out before starting, then right-side out after the last step – the fringe will remain hidden inside. It can be reversible!
