Fru-Gal Friends

Subject: Plastic Bags Thu 03 Jan 2008, 7:02 pm

Our elementary school sends home a weekly newsletter to all the students and at the bottom they have started adding a section called Green School Tips. I know we all know these but I will share anyway

Making use of your mountain of plastic bags:

*Use them as trash can liners

*Place them in the bottom of plant pots and hanging baskets - they act as great drainage systems

*Have children use them to carry PE gear to school

*Scrunch them up to surround items when you're packaging as an alternative to bubble wrap

*Use them in the garden to hold your grass cuttings and hedge trimmings before transfer to a compost pile

*Use them when packing for a holiday to keep dirty/wet clothes and shoes away from clean/dry clothing

*Some supermarkets recycle plastic bags, so you can return plastic bags to them

*Re-use washed zip lock bags for sandwiches and snacks rather than using plastic wrap
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Vicki

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Subject: Re: Plastic Bags Fri 04 Jan 2008, 4:35 am

Thanks for sharing the tips Vicki, it's always good to have a reminder Smile

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~ By sowing frugality we reap liberty, a golden harvest. --Agesilaus ~

Subject: Re: Plastic Bags Fri 04 Jan 2008, 8:34 am

We do a lot of the things with our plastic bags that are on this list. When we get too many to use at home for various things, we take them back to the store for recycling.

Very Valuable Member Joined : 12 Oct 2006 Posts : 389

My store doesn't have plastic bag recycling~ scratch

I'm going to check with my son's store, Whole Foods market...they're more eco-friendly, so we'll see, I'll ask him when I see him. But I haven't seen that anywhere in my travels thus far~ scratch

Just heard about it!
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Subject: Re: Plastic Bags Fri 04 Jan 2008, 3:46 pm

I did read that you should only put plain plastic bags into the recycling bins. Print on the bags contaminates the load.
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~ By sowing frugality we reap liberty, a golden harvest. --Agesilaus ~

Subject: Re: Plastic Bags Fri 04 Jan 2008, 4:10 pm

really skin all our grocery bags are printed
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Vicki

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Subject: Re: Plastic Bags Fri 04 Jan 2008, 4:12 pm

Wow really? All plastic supermarket bags here are plain, no print at all.
They have print/advertizing in the U.K.
I use printed ones in my trash cans.
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~ By sowing frugality we reap liberty, a golden harvest. --Agesilaus ~

Subject: Re: Plastic Bags Fri 04 Jan 2008, 4:15 pm

All ours say Thank You or the name of the grocery store
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Vicki

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Subject: Re: Plastic Bags Fri 11 Jan 2008, 7:11 pm

Well, very interestingly, I've read quite a few articles over the last couple of days about how the new Environment minister wants to phase out plastic bags in Australia by the end of this year. Many retailers are opposed, even to a levy per bag. They think it'll cause a big stink with customers and business.

What I wonder is....what did people use before paper or plastic bags were invented??? HUH? HUH?
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~ By sowing frugality we reap liberty, a golden harvest. --Agesilaus ~

Subject: Re: Plastic Bags Fri 11 Jan 2008, 9:14 pm

Good question Skin. What did they use? Just carried what they could?
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Vicki

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Subject: Re: Plastic Bags Fri 11 Jan 2008, 9:14 pm

Skin dh said they used baskets!
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Vicki

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Subject: Re: Plastic Bags Fri 11 Jan 2008, 9:15 pm

Well Skin, I seem to remember old movies where purchases were wrapped up carefully in paper....not sure that would work today in this hurry, hurry environment, and then you have all that paper waste.....hmmm. I am trying to figure out the garbage situation.... a disposal takes care of a lot of the messiest messes but things like meat fat and bones have to be taken out (especially for those of us with pets) so that still leaves the garbage bags....
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Love is a fruit, in season at all times and within the reach of every hand. Anyone may gather it and no limit is set. ~ Mother Teresa

Subject: Re: Plastic Bags Fri 11 Jan 2008, 9:22 pm

I remember my Gran using string bags, they scrunched up into a tiny size but 'boy' did they hold heaps of stuff!
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~ By sowing frugality we reap liberty, a golden harvest. --Agesilaus ~

Subject: Re: Plastic Bags Fri 11 Jan 2008, 9:31 pm

Great tips Vicki! I washed the zip bags for years, until this past summer in fact. We had a severe drought and everyone had to reduce their water consumption by 10%, or face very high fines. All some people had to do was stop watering lawns, washing cars, filling pools....alll things they were not supposed to be doing anyway. We could only cut back by reducing our water in the home, so baggy washing had to go. I do a lot of these other tips however. Very Happy

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MARY

Subject: Re: Plastic Bags Mon 14 Jan 2008, 8:45 am

I know people used boxes to carry things. If you watch some of the old TV shows and movies, the delivery boy would bring groceries in a box. My parents still do this when they go to Aldis or BJs.