Plastic Bags

So we all know that plastic bags aren’t good. They’re made of a non renewable resource (petroleum) and they don’t biodegrade. However, according to National Geographic and data released by the EPA, America still consumes between 500 billion and a trillion plastic bags each year. Of those, millions end up outside of landfills where they can potentially harm wildlife, particularly sea birds and turtles.

One way to avoid contributing to the litter is to carry a reusable cloth bag with you when you do your shopping. Anna and I have found some cool reusable bags at thrift stores. I also like to buy them when I am traveling as they make useful souvenirs.

Reusable bags are a great solution yet somehow we still end up with lots of plastic bags in our home. After going through my personal collection, I realized that while some of them were the result of forgetting a reusable bag (and being unable to shove everything into my purse), others were less avoidable. Things like bread, newspapers, produce, frozen veggies and cereal are sold in plastic bags. Now what do we do?

Here are some wonderful, crafty solutions:

1. Use the bags to stuff a decorative pillow.

2. Make plarn (plastic yarn) from the bags and then Crochet a bag or dish scrubbie

3. Make jewlery

4. Create a sick Halloween costume (Thrifty!)