Drastic Plastic - The Secret Life of Shopping Bags

Don't Get Drastic about Plastic

Why not give your used plastic bags to charity shops? Many people don't know that plastic bags are the most reused item of all. Yes, even 'single-use' plastic bags. What a pity they call them that. 80% of plastic bags are used more than once, even if they just end up as bin liners. If you accumulate them, why not give them to a charity shop.

My favourite shopping bags are Envirosax because:

• They are colourful
• They roll up small. 
• They are held tight by an umbrella-style popper.
• You get green points on supermarket loyalty cards when you use your own bags.  (I mean, wow! You can't beat that!)
• They are strong and last ages. 
• They are large and fit much more in than most other bags.
• They have long enough straps to be carried on your shoulder.

Bags for Life so often get left at home when you go out shopping, or they can swallow keys and other junk you cart around in your handbag. Suggestion: Ask for Envirosax when someone asks you what you want as a present. They're good stocking fillers (which is where I got mine). 

Celebrate your Carbon Footprint

You Don't Have To Hug Trees to Save the Planet (though it is recommended) 

Whether you admit to buying from charity shops or not (more about this later) if you do, you are helping the planet by reducing waste by recycling and re-using, therefore reducing your carbon footprint. 

The one word in the 3 Rs of Recycling that may not come naturally to frequenters of charity shoppers is Reduce. Many of us are natural hoarders. Recycle and Re-use, yes. Reduce, maybe no but it's easily rectified. 

Do you have: 

• Things you never wear because they don't fit, you don't like or they don't go with your other clothes?
• Books you have read or films you've watched and won't read or watch again?
• Items that you find you don't use?
• Things that hold memories that you would rather forget? 
• Clothes that you want to slim into, that constantly make you feel bad if you don't?
• Or, is your wardrobe bulging so much that you cannot pick out an outfit easily and end up wearing the same few items? (like me).

It may be time to do a massive clear out. It is highly therapeutic, gives you more space and most importantly, it makes it easier to get to the things that inspire you. If you ever move home, it also means you have less clearing out to do and more time to concentrate on other things (speaking from experience). 

A Good Thing Going

It is very likely you have already thought of all this. Firstly, do you accumulate plastic bags. Did you know that the common, single-use plastic bag is one of the most re-used household items? 80% of plastic bags get a second use, even as a rubbish bag. This means that people use plastic bags for their rubbish instead of buying bin liners. If you have grown a huge crop of plastic bags, why not give them to your favourite charity shop.

Also, how about hangers? If you use a dry-cleaner frequently, you may find that the amount of wire hangers in your possession increases uncontrollably like Gizmo in the film Gremlins. Never seen it? You may well find a copy in a charity shop. 

When you have created more space, then finding that special something in a charity shop feels even more satisfying.