apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

not hot. consider all the energy it takes to produce and distribute these bags. it's better for us to just remember to bring our own reusable bag (plastic or fabric) when shopping instead of purchasing a new product such as this. we've got to reduce our carbon footprints as much as possible.

I use plastic bags to pick up after my dog on our walks so I really appreciate them. :)

But putting dog poop in plastic bags just means it sits around in a landfill for 100 years.

A story on NPR the other day said that such bags break into tiny pieces - which isn't the same as recyclable. And, as laura noted, even true recyclables take forever to break down in landfills.

Design wise it is boring. Besides, I much prefer to carry my LL Bean canvas boat bag to the market. Whole Foods also has a new laminated plastic bag made with the same purpose in mind - and with different designs on them. Very popular and are already selling out, I hear.

I was just in the Whole Foods in Union Square - by the exit, there is a recycling kiosk where you can drop off plastic bags and batteries, along with the usual stuff. I reuse my plastic bags, and I try to cut down on using them in the first place, but I still end up with about 4,000 under my kitchen sink. At least now I know where I can bring them.

The IKEA in Paramus also has something similar, no plastic bags, but you can drop off batteries and compact florescent lights.

once a plastic bag,
always a potential for tree litter.

I don't care how pretty and with what font you are designed.

I wish the font was larger so it will be easier to read when it is caught in a tree.

I don't think we should misconstrue the terms "biodegradable" and "recyclable." I actually like this bag. A lot. It's a snarky commentary on the so-called "green movement." Those ugly, pretentious Anya Hindmarch bags have done nothing but spur on even more consumption and have probably exacted a negative environmental toll (I suspect they were made in China and shipped on barges spewing out tons of carbon dioxide and drinking lots of fossil fuel). I also doubt that those AH bags have done much to change the behaviors of their trendy target demographic, who tend to toss out old things and buy new things just because of changing fashions. And who would risk spilling chicken grease on their little canvas treasures that are fetching hundreds of dollars on eBay? If anything, those AH bags are probably encouraging people to use plastic even more. At least the "I'm a plastic bag" bags impart a practical, realistic message about recycling.

Laura in LA (or anyone else): Do you have any suggestions for an alternative to plastic bags for picking up dog waste? This isn't meant to sound snarky- like Denise123, I get plastic bags from the grocery store because I use them to pick up after my dog, but I feel bad about how slowly they break down. I'm open to better suggestions.

Oh Good Lord. I am just happy you pick up after the dog. Use all the bags you want babe. Do NOT feel guilty.

They bitch if you don't pick up after the dog...they bitch if you do...WTF?

Ecoplanet/Ecochoices (they have a website) sells dog poop, cat litter, kitchen garbage, and garden/yard bags which are made from corn and completely biodegradable. (I swear, I've been raving about these products so much, I must sound like a spokesperson. But I'm not, Scout's honor!) Anyway, I find the kitchen bags too thin to be really useful, but the dog poop bags are fantastic!

Dog poop bags that are biodegradable:

http://www.ecoproducts.com/Home/home_biobags/home_biobags_doggie.htm