Green Options » plastic bags http://greenoptions.com/tag/plastic-bags Posts tagged 'plastic bags' Tue, 21 Jul 2009 20:05:23 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 en 7 Environmental Lessons from Living in Europe http://sustainablog.org/2009/07/21/7-environmental-lessons-from-living-in-europe/ http://sustainablog.org/2009/07/21/7-environmental-lessons-from-living-in-europe/#comments Tue, 21 Jul 2009 20:05:23 +0000 Zachary Shahan http://sustainablog.org/2009/07/21/7-environmental-lessons-from-living-in-europe/
I have lived in Europe on two occasions now — for five months in the Netherlands (two years ago) and for ten months in Poland (currently). I have been green-minded since I was a young child, and knew that Europe did better on many green issues. Nonetheless, to come here and live here has given me more insight on the perspectives of the people and more of a practical understanding of why Europe fairs so much better than the US on many environmental issues.

Recently, I came up with a list of seven things that really stand out to me as good environmental practices in Europe that could be transferred to the US. These could all be adopted in the US, but some are more personal in nature and some are more systematic. Furthermore, some of the personal ones regard large, life decisions, and some are much simpler in nature and easier to implement into your life now.

Of course, Europe is not one country and things vary from country to country. Nonetheless, there are also several similarities across borders. I have friends in other countries and have traveled a bit as well, so I hope to be sharing the best of the best.

Here’s the list!

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]]> http://sustainablog.org/2009/07/21/7-environmental-lessons-from-living-in-europe/feed/ Recycling Plastic Bags… Because Sometimes You Forget the Reusable Ones http://sustainablog.org/2009/07/13/recycling-plastic-bags/ http://sustainablog.org/2009/07/13/recycling-plastic-bags/#comments Mon, 13 Jul 2009 15:48:17 +0000 Jeff McIntire-Strasburg http://sustainablog.org/2009/07/13/recycling-plastic-bags/ plastic shopping bagsGot a collection of reusable shopping bags? Same here… but I’ll freely admit that sometimes I forget them, or decide to stop to pick things up when I don’t have them with me. You’re probably in the same boat: despite your best efforts to reduce your use of plastic shopping bags, you’ve still got a stash of them somewhere…

So what do you do with them? You definitely want to keep them out of the waste stream, so obvious uses, like lining trash cans or otherwise using them for waste disposal, aren’t the best choices. You’ve got other options, though… and, as you’ll see, your choices for responsible disposal are expanding.

How to Reuse Plastic Bags

If you’re not going to pick up the dog poop with them, or line the bathroom trash can, how can you put those plastic bags to (re)use? Turns out there are quite a few upcycling options…

  • Make a sweater… or a scarf: You crafty types can turn those bags into yarn… and then knit, crochet or weave with it.
  • Fuse them into “cloth”: Got an iron and some old paper? You can make cloth-like crafting material out of your bags, also.
  • Protect and store food: Making a trip to the farmer’s market? Put a few of those plastic bags inside your reusable one to separate and protect the food you buy. You can also use them for storage once you get your produce and baked goods home.

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]]> http://sustainablog.org/2009/07/13/recycling-plastic-bags/feed/ Oprah Shines Light on Great Pacific Garbage Patch http://ecochildsplay.com/2009/05/14/oprah-shines-light-on-great-pacific-garbage-patch/ http://ecochildsplay.com/2009/05/14/oprah-shines-light-on-great-pacific-garbage-patch/#comments Thu, 14 May 2009 15:14:04 +0000 Cate Nelson http://ecochildsplay.com/2009/05/14/oprah-shines-light-on-great-pacific-garbage-patch/ Despite her recent gaffe with factory-farmed chicken and KFC, Oprah is great for one thing: bringing otherwise overlooked news to the masses. Sure, you and I might know about the Great Pacific Garbage Patch and wring our hands over the fish and birds that consume the nodules of plastic, but I’m sure that the average American does not.

That’s why I was pleased to hear that Oprah brought up the matter on her Earth Day episode.

This post contains additional media. Click here to view the full post.

Some highlights from the video:

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]]> http://ecochildsplay.com/2009/05/14/oprah-shines-light-on-great-pacific-garbage-patch/feed/ Reusable Grocery Bag Usage Triples in Past Year at Whole Foods Market http://eatdrinkbetter.com/2009/04/09/reusable-grocery-bag-usage-triples-in-past-year-at-whole-foods-market/ http://eatdrinkbetter.com/2009/04/09/reusable-grocery-bag-usage-triples-in-past-year-at-whole-foods-market/#comments Thu, 09 Apr 2009 19:08:23 +0000 John Chappell http://eatdrinkbetter.com/2009/04/09/reusable-grocery-bag-usage-triples-in-past-year-at-whole-foods-market/ Picture of Whole Foods

A recent study by Whole Foods Market estimates that reusable bag usage has increased by 300% in the year since it eliminated plastic bags at all of its stores.  The company estimated that 150 million bags have been kept out of landfills over the twelve month period.

Whole Foods Market made the announcement last year that they would stop using plastic bags company-wide starting on Earth Day 2008.  Since this announcement, public sentiment has been moving in the direction of eventual elimination of plastic bags at all grocery and retail stores, and municipalities (including the city of San Francisco) have begun outlawing or taxing plastic bag usage within city limits.

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]]> http://eatdrinkbetter.com/2009/04/09/reusable-grocery-bag-usage-triples-in-past-year-at-whole-foods-market/feed/ Help Schlumpy Get 1 Billion Plastic Bags Off of the Street http://sustainablog.org/2009/03/13/help-schlumpy-get-1-billion-plastic-bags-off-of-the-street/ http://sustainablog.org/2009/03/13/help-schlumpy-get-1-billion-plastic-bags-off-of-the-street/#comments Fri, 13 Mar 2009 17:43:53 +0000 Jeff McIntire-Strasburg http://sustainablog.org/2009/03/13/help-schlumpy-get-1-billion-plastic-bags-off-of-the-street/ Click here to view the full post.

Schlumpy? Huh? Schlumpy’s an 8-foot plastic bag ball touring the country to build awareness of the 100 billion plastic shopping bags Americans use each year. That’s right… billion!

Want to help Schlumpy out on his crusade?

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]]> http://sustainablog.org/2009/03/13/help-schlumpy-get-1-billion-plastic-bags-off-of-the-street/feed/ An Old-New Trickle-Down Theory? Basic Corporate Social Responsibility Has Potential to Save Us, Eliminate Plastic Bag Dependency http://sustainablog.org/2009/02/25/an-old-new-trickle-down-theory-basic-corporate-social-responsibility-has-potential-to-save-us-instead-of-plastic-bags/ http://sustainablog.org/2009/02/25/an-old-new-trickle-down-theory-basic-corporate-social-responsibility-has-potential-to-save-us-instead-of-plastic-bags/#comments Wed, 25 Feb 2009 19:57:08 +0000 Adam Williams http://sustainablog.org/2009/02/25/an-old-new-trickle-down-theory-basic-corporate-social-responsibility-has-potential-to-save-us-instead-of-plastic-bags/

Yesterday I posted here about plastic bag fees and bans being frozen in — or before reaching — legislatures. Supposedly that’s due to economics, though reality seems to be more connected to politics. That, coupled with a post here by Low Impact Living about the green benefits of the stimulus plan signed by President Obama recently, got me thinking about a potential solution to our financial woes.

Maybe we don’t need to argue along partisan lines about small versus big government, or about a trillion-dollar stimulus plan versus whatever it is the Republicans think President Obama should be doing. Maybe instead of tax credits and billionaire bailouts, we need to impose a fresh idea of corporate social responsbility: cost-of-living increases + merit salary increases.

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]]> http://sustainablog.org/2009/02/25/an-old-new-trickle-down-theory-basic-corporate-social-responsibility-has-potential-to-save-us-instead-of-plastic-bags/feed/ High-School Students Clear Hurdle for Plastic Bag Ban http://redgreenandblue.org/2009/02/14/high-school-students-clear-hurdle-for-plastic-bag-ban/ http://redgreenandblue.org/2009/02/14/high-school-students-clear-hurdle-for-plastic-bag-ban/#comments Sat, 14 Feb 2009 13:00:15 +0000 Timothy B. Hurst http://redgreenandblue.org/2009/02/14/high-school-students-clear-hurdle-for-plastic-bag-ban/ plastic bag

A proposal in Colorado to ban the use of plastic bags in supermarkets passed its first legislative hurdle as the the Senate Business, Labor and Technology Committee voted 4-3 to back the measure.

Spearheaded by a group of high school students from Kent Denver School, Colorado Senate Bill 156 (pdf) is opposed by supermarkets and big box stores who argue that the added burden would put unnecessary.

If the bill passes, stores would have to begin using biodegradable bags made from paper (or other organic materials) and/or encourage their customers to bring their own bags.

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]]> http://redgreenandblue.org/2009/02/14/high-school-students-clear-hurdle-for-plastic-bag-ban/feed/ Holiday Throwaways that Deserve Saving http://ecochildsplay.com/2008/12/25/holiday-throwaways-that-deserve-saving/ http://ecochildsplay.com/2008/12/25/holiday-throwaways-that-deserve-saving/#comments Thu, 25 Dec 2008 17:23:54 +0000 Tina Casey http://ecochildsplay.com/2008/12/25/holiday-throwaways-that-deserve-saving/ A little preemptive in-house dumpster can avoid scenes like this.Some time in the sparkling green future, all of our holiday celebrations will be zero waste.  But that will be then, and this is now.  For a lot of us, the post-holiday hangover still means trash, and plenty of it.

But wait!  With a little in-house preemptive dumpster diving, you can save some pretty good stuff from the scrap heap.  If you have an extra shelf or drawer, or a corner in your closet where you can stash the goodies away until they’re needed, here’s where you can save the big bucks:

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]]> http://ecochildsplay.com/2008/12/25/holiday-throwaways-that-deserve-saving/feed/ Heal the Bay Sponsors “Day Without a Bag” http://ecolocalizer.com/2008/12/18/heal-the-bay-sponsors-day-without-a-bag/ http://ecolocalizer.com/2008/12/18/heal-the-bay-sponsors-day-without-a-bag/#comments Thu, 18 Dec 2008 18:09:26 +0000 Cassie Walker http://ecolocalizer.com/2008/12/18/heal-the-bay-sponsors-day-without-a-bag/ As if you need more reasons to ditch single-use plastic bags, today marks Heal the Bay’s second “Day Without a Bag” in Los Angeles County. The environmental organization is supporting the cause by handing out free reusable shopping bags at locations county-wide.

If you remember, in July the LA City Council announced an all-out ban on the ubiquitous plastic bags, which will take effect in 2010. In LA County, large grocers were threatened with a ban unless they reduced the number of the bags used by 30% by 2010 and by 65% by 2013. Of course, the companies that make plastic bags are fighting the measures, putting forth the argument that stores and consumers will use paper bags instead, which they claim are worse for the environment. I guess that they have missed this whole reusable bag movement, huh?

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]]> http://ecolocalizer.com/2008/12/18/heal-the-bay-sponsors-day-without-a-bag/feed/ Used Sandwich Bag=Pretty Christmas Ornament (I Swear!) http://craftingagreenworld.com/2008/12/16/used-sandwich-bagpretty-christmas-ornament-i-swear/ http://craftingagreenworld.com/2008/12/16/used-sandwich-bagpretty-christmas-ornament-i-swear/#comments Wed, 17 Dec 2008 03:40:46 +0000 Julie Finn http://craftingagreenworld.com/2008/12/16/used-sandwich-bagpretty-christmas-ornament-i-swear/ Ironed Plastic Ornament on the TreeJust as I never buy paper napkins and yet I always seem to have some, I never buy sandwich bags and yet…I always seem to have some. My daughter brings one home with a treat from the class birthday party. Her friend brings one over with a snack to share during their playdate. I buy some dried spearmint to make spearmint tea, and the shopkeeper measures it out into a tiny little sandwich bag.

And I’m sorry, friends–I just cannot wash these things out and reuse them. Ever since I was pregnant with Willow, my gag reflex has just been on a hair trigger. Know what I can do, though? Heat them up, make them pretty, and throw them on the Christmas tree. It’s like this fusing plastic bags project, only with glitter! Don’t believe me? Watch and see.

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]]> http://craftingagreenworld.com/2008/12/16/used-sandwich-bagpretty-christmas-ornament-i-swear/feed/ News Flash: It’s Not an Eco-Friendly Reusable Bag if You Don’t Use It http://ecolocalizer.com/2008/10/07/news-flash-its-not-an-eco-friendly-reusable-bag-if-you-dont-use-it/ http://ecolocalizer.com/2008/10/07/news-flash-its-not-an-eco-friendly-reusable-bag-if-you-dont-use-it/#comments Tue, 07 Oct 2008 14:49:16 +0000 Shirley Siluk Gregory http://ecolocalizer.com/2008/10/07/news-flash-its-not-an-eco-friendly-reusable-bag-if-you-dont-use-it/ Hansan at Wikimedia Commons, public domain.)Can you shop at any large retailer today without seeing a display of reusable shopping bags for sale at the checkout aisle? Seems like a good thing, right? Buy a cloth tote and prevent a lot of one-use plastic bags from entering the landfills.

But the thought occurred to me recently that it might not be a good thing if lots and lots of people are buying reusable bags but not reusing them. Apparently, I’m not the only one who’s started worrying about that.

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]]> http://ecolocalizer.com/2008/10/07/news-flash-its-not-an-eco-friendly-reusable-bag-if-you-dont-use-it/feed/ IKEA To Become Plastic Bag-Free http://ecoscraps.com/2008/10/06/ikea-to-become-plastic-bag-free/ http://ecoscraps.com/2008/10/06/ikea-to-become-plastic-bag-free/#comments Mon, 06 Oct 2008 09:39:03 +0000 Adam Williams http://ecoscraps.com/2008/10/06/ikea-to-become-plastic-bag-free/

Ikea is going plastic bagless. Last year the Swedish king of oh-so-cool home economy — by various definitions — committed to cut from 70 million bags to 35 million. It passed its goal, reaching a current 92 percent reduction. Now the goal is to use no plastic bags.

Source: Greenbang

]]> http://ecoscraps.com/2008/10/06/ikea-to-become-plastic-bag-free/feed/ Wal-Mart May Remove 9 Million Plastic Bags from the Waste Stream - Big Whoop http://sustainablog.org/2008/09/26/wal-mart-may-remove-9-million-plastic-bags-from-the-waste-stream-yet-im-unimpressed/ http://sustainablog.org/2008/09/26/wal-mart-may-remove-9-million-plastic-bags-from-the-waste-stream-yet-im-unimpressed/#comments Fri, 26 Sep 2008 15:31:56 +0000 Robin Shreeves http://sustainablog.org/2008/09/26/wal-mart-may-remove-9-million-plastic-bags-from-the-waste-stream-yet-im-unimpressed/ no plastic bagsI’m in a foul mood today, people. The government is in talks to give away 700 billion dollars to companies who have proven to be irresponsible with money. The entire blogosphere is whining about Senator McCain being in Washington trying to do a job he was elected to do instead of being at a debate that could easily be pushed back a week. I would expect every official who the people have elected to do a job to be on that job in a crisis of this magnitude. I’m usually pretty easy going, but this has just set me off.

And so today when I read about Wal-Mart saying it will “potentially” cut its plastic bag usage by 1/3 by the year 2013, where I might normally say “good for them,” I’m saying, “big deal.” You might cut your plastic bag usage by 1/3 in five years. Big whoop.

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]]> http://sustainablog.org/2008/09/26/wal-mart-may-remove-9-million-plastic-bags-from-the-waste-stream-yet-im-unimpressed/feed/ Eco-Friendly Lunches: Plum Creek Mercantile’s Feed Sacks and Bulk Food Bags http://ecochildsplay.com/2008/09/18/eco-friendly-lunches-plum-creek-mercantiles-feed-sacks-and-bulk-food-bags/ http://ecochildsplay.com/2008/09/18/eco-friendly-lunches-plum-creek-mercantiles-feed-sacks-and-bulk-food-bags/#comments Fri, 19 Sep 2008 00:56:56 +0000 Jennifer Lance http://ecochildsplay.com/2008/09/18/eco-friendly-lunches-plum-creek-mercantiles-feed-sacks-and-bulk-food-bags/ Plum Creek Mercantile Feed SacksI hate plastic bags!  I have eliminated plastic bags from my shopping sprees, but I still find myself using them to pack school lunches from time to time or when I forget to bring containers for my bulk food…that is, until I discovered Plum Creek Mercantile on Etsy. Plum Creek Mercantile’s hand sewn, 100% cotton twill bulk food bags and feed sacks are the perfect environmental choice for packaging food from home.

Bulk Food Bags

I try to reuse plastic bulk food bags, but I am constantly annoyed at guessing how much to fill them at the store to fit in my quart and gallon jars at home (which I usually forget to take with me to the store). Plum Creek Mercantile’s bulk food bags are perfect for measuring:

These versatile bags are ideally suited for the bulk bins at your local grocer. You no longer will have leftover beans or grains when you return home to fill your jars. These bags are sized to fit a gallon jar or a quart jar: just fill to the top and you know your jar will be full. The clear window allows easy identification of the product inside and the white tab allows the bin number to be written with a grease pen or a dry erase marker and removed for continued use.

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]]> http://ecochildsplay.com/2008/09/18/eco-friendly-lunches-plum-creek-mercantiles-feed-sacks-and-bulk-food-bags/feed/ My Obama Yard Sign is a Union-Made, Recyclable Plastic Bag http://redgreenandblue.org/2008/09/10/my-obama-yard-sign-is-a-union-made-recyclable-plastic-bag/ http://redgreenandblue.org/2008/09/10/my-obama-yard-sign-is-a-union-made-recyclable-plastic-bag/#comments Wed, 10 Sep 2008 08:28:23 +0000 Jennifer Lance http://redgreenandblue.org/2008/09/10/my-obama-yard-sign-is-a-union-made-recyclable-plastic-bag/ obama yard signI’ve never put a campaign yard sign in my lawn, so when a friend offered an Obama sign, I decided to join the campaign (even though there is a slim chance I may vote for Cynthia McKinney). I envisioned my high school government teacher Mr. Zeigler’s basement walls covered in plywood signs from Kennedy to Dukakis, as well as a cabin on Southfork Mountain that was sided with these sturdy signs.  I thought maybe I would start a historical collection of campaign signs documenting my children’s life through the candidates I voted for in their youth.  You can imagine my disappointment when my plastic bag Obama sign arrived.

Oh, my plastic bag Obama sign is not just any old plastic bag banned throughout the world for shoppers, but it is a union-made, recyclable bag. This bag proudly displays the union USWA label local 3210, as well as a gentle reminder to “please recycle”.  I’m not sure what steelworkers are doing making plastic bags (or if I am reading the label correctly, perhaps it is an endorsement?), and I wish the sign was made from post-consumer recycled plastic content.

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]]> http://redgreenandblue.org/2008/09/10/my-obama-yard-sign-is-a-union-made-recyclable-plastic-bag/feed/ Staying Green on the Go: Avoiding Eco-Guilt http://ecochildsplay.com/2008/09/01/green-on-the-go-eco-guilt/ http://ecochildsplay.com/2008/09/01/green-on-the-go-eco-guilt/#comments Mon, 01 Sep 2008 17:56:32 +0000 Tara Benwell http://ecochildsplay.com/2008/09/01/green-on-the-go-eco-guilt/ While out for my monthly moms’ night out last week, I was disturbed by my own request for more salad dressing. With 1/3 of my lettuce remaining, I could have easily gone without. Before I thought better of it though, my extra dollop arrived in a plastic ramekin on a side plate with a paper doily for pretty presentation. Instead of enjoying the rest of my salad, I felt guilty knowing what Mother Earth had gone through to satisfy my need for a mere ounce of strawberry vinaigrette.

Being green is more difficult when you’re on the go, isn’t it? As my mom used to say, one of the hardest things in life is learning to just say no. Here are some of my new no’s for on the go:

Say no to receipts for things I would never take back

I use debit for almost everything and my purchases show up on my electronic bank statement. I’m not going to take back gas, or my daughter’s haircut, or the new crown on my dead tooth, so why do I need a receipt?

Say no to plastic bags for produce

I need five apples, four pears, and a bunch of bananas. Do I need three plastic bags as well? No. The clerk may get annoyed, and she will have to touch my fruit, but so did the teenager who stocked it and I’m planning on washing it well.

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]]> http://ecochildsplay.com/2008/09/01/green-on-the-go-eco-guilt/feed/ Carnival of Green Crafts #3: Trash Into Treasure http://craftingagreenworld.com/2008/08/21/carnival-of-green-crafts-3-trash-into-treasure/ http://craftingagreenworld.com/2008/08/21/carnival-of-green-crafts-3-trash-into-treasure/#comments Thu, 21 Aug 2008 21:31:52 +0000 Skye Kilaen http://craftingagreenworld.com/2008/08/21/carnival-of-green-crafts-3-trash-into-treasure/ carnival of green crafts

Welcome to the Third Carnival of Green Crafts!

Before we begin, let me just thank all of the crafters who participated in this month’s carnival for taking a weight off my mind. After reading all of these posts, I now have NO worries at all about landfill space anywhere in America. Seriously, y’all, crafters are obviously the solution to the trash problem. Go us!

Before we begin, a few administrative notes: We’re pleased as punch to announce that the fourth Carnival will be September 4th at Whip Up. Send in your posts via the carnival submission form today! For background information about the Carnival, please see the Carnival of Green Crafts home page. And in case you missed the previous editions, here are the first Carnival, here at Crafting A Green World, and the second Carnival, at BlogHer.

Thanks so much to all the crafters who shared their posts with us for this edition of the Carnival. Let’s dig in!

Eco-Friendly Materials

Tiny Decor gathered a list of the Top 10 Modern and Eco-friendly Fabric Sources on Etsy. You HAVE to see what she’s collected, there are some real knockouts.

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]]> http://craftingagreenworld.com/2008/08/21/carnival-of-green-crafts-3-trash-into-treasure/feed/ Los Angeles Bans Plastic Bags, Limits Styrofoam http://ecolocalizer.com/2008/07/24/los-angeles-bans-plastic-bags-limits-styrofoam/ http://ecolocalizer.com/2008/07/24/los-angeles-bans-plastic-bags-limits-styrofoam/#comments Thu, 24 Jul 2008 17:03:18 +0000 Cassie Walker http://ecolocalizer.com/2008/07/24/los-angeles-bans-plastic-bags-limits-styrofoam/ Plastic bags in plastic bagsFollowing the lead of our progressive neighbors to the north, San Francisco, the City of Los Angeles has decided to ban plastic bags by 2010. A bit of a disclaimer, though - the ban will be implemented only if the State does not impose a 25 cent fee for each bag requested by a customer. This bill (AB 2058) is coming up for a vote in August. Still, it’s a step in the right direction, putting pressure on lawmakers to reduce the 2.3 billion bags used by consumers in Los Angeles.

The announcement comes after Los Angeles County supervisors caused disappointment in January when they abandoned a threat to ban the bags, choosing instead a voluntary program where stores were to “encourage” customers to bring reusable bags. In other words, the status quo.

The City Council also voted to ban Styrofoam at all city-owned facilities, including LAX, by 2009. Though Los Angeles collects Styrofoam for recycling, there isn’t really a market for it - by the time it is melted down, very little material is left. Last I heard, Styrofoam was being stored until another solution could be found…like a ban! Ta da!

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]]> http://ecolocalizer.com/2008/07/24/los-angeles-bans-plastic-bags-limits-styrofoam/feed/ Seattle’s Ban on Plastic and Styrofoam http://ecolocalizer.com/2008/07/09/seattles-ban-on-plastic-and-styrofoam/ http://ecolocalizer.com/2008/07/09/seattles-ban-on-plastic-and-styrofoam/#comments Wed, 09 Jul 2008 17:13:28 +0000 Joshua S Hill http://ecolocalizer.com/2008/07/09/seattles-ban-on-plastic-and-styrofoam/ Tuesday saw Seattle residents given the opportunity to voice their opinion on Mayor Greg Nickel’s proposal to ban Styrofoam containers, and impose a fee on plastic and paper bags at the checkout at supermarkets and local stores. And from what is slowly sliding out over the internets, the idea has been met with a warm reception.

The proposal was be enacted in a two stage process. Beginning in January of 2009, all foam products would be banned, but restraints and grocery stores would be allowed to switch to plastic products if they hadn’t found a biodegradable replacement. The second stage would go in to effect by 2010, at which time all plastics would be banned, leaving only biodegradables.

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]]> http://ecolocalizer.com/2008/07/09/seattles-ban-on-plastic-and-styrofoam/feed/ Yearn Worthy Yarn: Plarn http://craftingagreenworld.com/2008/06/19/yearn-worthy-yarn-plarn/ http://craftingagreenworld.com/2008/06/19/yearn-worthy-yarn-plarn/#comments Thu, 19 Jun 2008 16:34:06 +0000 Kelly Rand http://craftingagreenworld.com/2008/06/19/yearn-worthy-yarn-plarn/ plastic bag
We’ve already covered the mysteries of fusing plastic, but did you also know that you can knit with it too?! To continue my what to do with my overflowing bag of plastic bags kick, here is a quick tutorial on making your own plastic yarn or “plarn.”

1) Gather your bags. I separated mine by color, but why not go crazy and mix and match?

2) Start by cutting off the handles and the bottom of the bag. The result will be a nice smooth rectangle, as the bottom gatherings will have been removed.

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