No plastic bags in the New Year

New Years inspires many of us to set intention for the year to come. One of the simplest top ten green resolutions is to start using reusable bags. Need a little encouragement to start incorporating this simple step away from traditional plastic bags? "Earth's Eighth Continent" or "Great Pacific Garbage Patch" floating between Hawaii and California, in the North Pacific Subtropical Gyre or doldrums is an unforgettable image to help remind you. This vortex of trash is approximately the size of Africa, 3.5 million tons of floating plastic and other human-made trash and is approximately 30 metres deep.

Experts urge that a decreased reliance on plastic is our first step in reducing our future impact on our oceans. San Francisco, Leaf Rapids in Manitoba, as well as others have banned plastic bags and begun the move towards reducing the destructive path of traditional plastic bag use. Many stores in Fernie are already offering us options to reduce our impact.

* Overwaitea sells reusable green cloth bags (~$1), and you can earn 10 Save On More points for every bag you use. You can also recycle your old plastic Overwaitea bags at the store, and now all plastics #1-6 in the yellow bins at the transfer station. Recycled plastics are made into new bags or plastic lumber products like sub-laminate flooring, park benches, picnic tables and decking.
* Extra Foods sells reusable black bags(~$1) and reusable green boxes (~$4) that earn 50 points President's Choice points for each used. These bags are expected to last about a year, and then they can be recycled by bringing them back to the store. The average person uses an average of 200 plastic grocery bags a year, which do not biodegrade, and take an estimated 1000 years to photo-degrade. As these plastics break into smaller and smaller pieces they still retain their original molecular composition, and usually end up in our rivers and oceans or are mistaken by wildlife as a food source.
* Advocates for Local Living hemp shopping bags ($10) are seven times stronger than the average cotton bag, and supports local living initiatives. This high-quality hemp bag reduces pesticide use and water pollution compared to conventionally grown cotton, and has the potential to eliminate hundreds, if not thousands, of plastic bags over its lifetime. Get yours at the next ALL event or at the Cottonwood Tree.
* Ghostrider Trading Company now offers biodegradable plastic bags if you forget to bring your reusable one with you when you shop at their store. Biodegradable plastic bags are often made from farmed products like cornstarch, which will break down into elements like carbon dioxide, water and methane when composted.
* The Cottonwood Tree is THE spot to purchase biodegradable plastic bags in Fernie. Now in available in two sizes, these bags are the solution for those who just can't imagine how they could use anything but plastic shopping bags as trash can liners. Surprisingly, this is the number one reason people resist using reusable bags. 93% of all Canadians reuse their plastic grocery bags two or more times, yet still find there way into the waste stream. Biodegradable bags are great solution.

There is no doubt that reusable bags can make difference. The trick is using them consistently, and actually getting them into the store with you. Practice and persistence is the key here. Try keeping your bags handy by stashing them in your bike basket, bag or car. As soon as you unload them, put them by the door to make sure they are easy to grab on your way out.

Want to learn more? Advocates for Local Living work to support and inspire a thriving sustainable community through exciting projects like Think Tank Cinema, Green Drinks, Think Local First campaign and Fernie Ride Board. Check it out at www.allfernie.ca.
Links
o www.mindfully.org/Plastic/Ocean/Pacific-Garbage-Patch27oct02.htm
o http://thetyee.ca/News/2007/11/21/PacificGarbagePatch/
o http://hellejorgensen.typepad.com/gooseflesh/how-to-make-plastic-bag-y.h...
o http://www.bestlifeonline.com/cms/publish/health-fitness/Our_oceans_are_...
o http://www.reusablebags.com/
o A Canadian filmaker travels to the north Pacific Ocean to discover a world of unknown plastic pollution
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=3892310789953943147