Clearly, consumers are being encouraged to reduce their reliance on plastic shopping bags, but it's going to be a while before they're completely obsolete. In the meantime, perhaps you're stockpiling a huge supply of plastic bags and the clutter is driving you crazy?....
While local Stop & Shops have been accepting plastic bags for recycling for a while, we've always been mystified that our local Whole Foods market didn't accept them. It seems that reality is changing. A recent article in the Boston Globe Sunday Magazine reported that all Whole Foods Markets now accept plastic bags for recycling. The article also reported that you can recycle other types of plastic bags (dry cleaning, newspaper, and produce bags) if marked with a "2" or "4".
If you shop at Whole Foods, have you noticed a new plastic bag recycling receptacle?
(For those of you with urban dogs, you probably find your stash of plastic bags handy, if not imperative, for taking care of business. We always did too until we discovered paper Skooperboxes which we now use with great success for our pup, Arlo. Rumor has it that it takes 100 years for a plastic bag to break down in a landfill. Supposedly, Skooperboxes, in a conducive trash environment, break down in 30 days! This has greatly reduced our need to collect plastic bags.)
image: flymissy's flickr photo
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No dogs here, but I use my (ever dwindling stock of) plastic bags for wet garbage.
view paintitbright's profile
"The article also reported that you can recycle other types of plastic bags (dry cleaning, newspaper, and produce bags) if marked with a "2" or "4"."
That is really great news! It's all those other numbered plastics that I have trouble recycling.
I have started using recycled garbage bags (Seventh Generation) and just ordered some reusable produce/bulk bags (there are a few different sellers on Etsy), so I'm getting ever to a lowest possible plastic blag diet.
view ValHalla's profile
I've been recycling my plastic bags at the River St Whole Foods since they opened. The bins are next to the package pick-up area in the garage. Never realized that was an exception.
view rubykhan's profile
im all for the environment, but those scooper boxes look like a huge pain to use and don't look like they are good for larger dogs.
view casa3's profile
The Rite Aid on 1st Avenue and 4th Street in the Lower East Side also takes plastic bags for recycling. Maybe it's a chain-wide policy! :-)
view *heather leaf*'s profile
The Whole Foods in Union Square(nyc) has had the bins for over a year (don't really remember when they first appeared) but I always use the plastic bags I have for a trash liner since I live in the dorms but bags add up very fast so I usually take about half of them to Whole Foods. :)
view witchbaby's profile
I have a big dog, and those scooper boxes look like they are made for little doggies. Plus, my dog may drop 2 loads in one walk..he enjoys spreading it out...so I would need to carry several of them with me. I love doing what I can for the environment, but I don't think this item will replace the plastic bags for ease of use.
view suzy8track's profile
I'm glad I read below the fold, as my first question was how the heck to you pick up dog poop without these. The alternatives don't sound that great. In other poop news, I recently saw over at Shelterriffic that there is a way to compost doggy doo.
view becky's profile
I checked out the site where the skooperboxes are sold and they some in two sizes Small/Medium and Large. But if you are like me and don't like the skooperbox idea. You can purchase Spike Brand Biodegradable doggie pick up bags on the same site www.pawlux.com which that would work even better. There are more convenient and easier to carry just stick a few in your pocket and you are on your way. The best part is they are eco-friendly just throw them in the garbage and they biodegrade in 45 days. So now you throw the planet a bone and enjoy the walk with your dog. I am going to go make a purchase for some of these bags.
http://store.pawlux.com/Items/pl8009_spike_brand_business_bags?sck=61463628&caSKU=pl8009_spike_brand_business_bags&caTitle=Spike%20Brand%20Biodegradable%20Business%20Bags
view sweetpea28's profile
I checked out the site where the skooperboxes are sold and they come in two sizes Small/Medium and Large. But if you are like me and don't like the skooperbox idea. You can purchase Spike Brand Biodegradable doggie pick up bags on the same site www.pawlux.com which would work even better. They are more convenient and easier to carry just stick a few in your pocket and you are and Spike are on your way. The best part is they are eco-friendly just throw them in the garbage and they biodegrade in 45 days. So now you can throw the planet a bone and enjoy the walk with your dog. I am going to go make a purchase for some of these bags.
http://store.pawlux.com/Items/pl8009_spike_brand_business_bags?sck=61463628&caSKU=pl8009_spike_brand_business_bags&caTitle=Spike%20Brand%20Biodegradable%20Business%20Bags
view sweetpea28's profile