Plastic shopping bags have become the bane of my existence. They are ubiquitous, everywhere you look. My work takes me far out into the desert, away from towns and people, and plastic shopping bags are far and away the most common source of trash. I've even seen cactus wren and packrats incorporating them into their nests! This madness must end!

Its become something of a crusade of mine to eliminate plastic shopping bags from my life. The first and most important way to crush the scourge of the plastic bags is to bring your own bags. Canvas bags of all sizes, colors, and configurations are available commercially, and at your local thrift store. There are also convenient folding models available that will stash very small somewhere. Many people attempt to sew their own, which would be a good way of ensuring humane labor (your own), and sustainable fabrics.

It's vital to keep a supply of durable bags in the car– it is even more vital to remember to bring them into the store, however! And furthermore, because you will inevitably forget to bring them in, you must have a willingness to run out to your car to fetch the bags before (or after) checking out.

Sometimes, for whatever reason, I don't have my canvas bags around. These times are when one must be the most vigilant. The people dispensing plastic bags at stores are truly passionate about their cause. They really want you to take home your goods in a plastic bag! "Oh, no bag please," you'll say at first. Then you'll see them reach for a bag anyway. "Please, I don't want any plastic bags," you must insist. And then finally, when they make that last deseperate attempt to foist a bag upon you, you must grab your items and walk away. Quizzical looks inevitably will follow, but you can walk proud in the knowledge that you just introduced one fewer plastic shopping bag into our world.

One final note: when you do get broadsided with a plastic bag affront, and you end up with them in your home, do not fret. They can easily fill a number of uses. We've ceased purchasing any garbage bags, just using plastic shopping bags now. I wrap my home-made bread in them (which is nice because it lets the bread breathe), pack my lunches in them, even use them as a cutting board in a pinch. I keep a small stash of them in my car to reuse them, and also to collect garbage.

We must end the tyranny of plastic shopping bags in our world– if we don't use them or accept them, they will no longer exist!

external link: Stop Plastic Bags