Comments on: A fun reuse/recycle idea for your plastic bags http://c3.newdream.org/blog/2007/12/03/a-fun-reuserecycle-idea-for-your-plastic-bags/ Big Changes Start With Small Steps Fri, 25 Jul 2008 14:01:25 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2.2 By: Kyda http://c3.newdream.org/blog/2007/12/03/a-fun-reuserecycle-idea-for-your-plastic-bags/#comment-648 Kyda Thu, 24 Apr 2008 15:15:08 +0000 http://c3.newdream.org/blog/2007/12/03/a-fun-reuserecycle-idea-for-your-plastic-bags/#comment-648 You can also use the plastic bags as "yarn" to crochet! You can also use the plastic bags as “yarn” to crochet!

]]> By: Trae http://c3.newdream.org/blog/2007/12/03/a-fun-reuserecycle-idea-for-your-plastic-bags/#comment-238 Trae Tue, 15 Jan 2008 12:28:09 +0000 http://c3.newdream.org/blog/2007/12/03/a-fun-reuserecycle-idea-for-your-plastic-bags/#comment-238 Recycle, Reduce, Reuse... I am all about consume less & save more. The fusing of plastic looks wonderful, & I have a pattern for a reusable bag that will work beautifully for my purposes. For that, thank you. However, one quick critisism: why are you wasting a perfectly usable backpack simply for the buckles? That, in itself, is creating more waste in our landfills. A little something to chew on as well as praise for the plastic idea..... TY. Recycle, Reduce, Reuse… I am all about consume less & save more. The fusing of plastic looks wonderful, & I have a pattern for a reusable bag that will work beautifully for my purposes. For that, thank you. However, one quick critisism: why are you wasting a perfectly usable backpack simply for the buckles? That, in itself, is creating more waste in our landfills. A little something to chew on as well as praise for the plastic idea….. TY.

]]> By: Niss Ryan http://c3.newdream.org/blog/2007/12/03/a-fun-reuserecycle-idea-for-your-plastic-bags/#comment-233 Niss Ryan Mon, 07 Jan 2008 22:53:43 +0000 http://c3.newdream.org/blog/2007/12/03/a-fun-reuserecycle-idea-for-your-plastic-bags/#comment-233 I live in Mexico half of the year. Coincidentally, I had just been talking about recycling to our manager this AM. No dice here. BUT, I'm definitely going to have to see what happens to the plastic bags we recycle in New York. I naively thought they were used in making other articles. Alot of them are, I know. But I want to make certain that our stores are. When re-used by somehow melting them up, they can be made into some very hard plastic items. I live in Mexico half of the year. Coincidentally, I had just been talking about recycling to our manager this AM. No dice here. BUT, I’m definitely going to have to see what happens to the plastic bags we recycle in New York. I naively thought they were used in making other articles. Alot of them are, I know. But I want to make certain that our stores are. When re-used by somehow melting them up, they can be made into some very hard plastic items.

]]> By: Gini http://c3.newdream.org/blog/2007/12/03/a-fun-reuserecycle-idea-for-your-plastic-bags/#comment-227 Gini Thu, 03 Jan 2008 17:04:19 +0000 http://c3.newdream.org/blog/2007/12/03/a-fun-reuserecycle-idea-for-your-plastic-bags/#comment-227 Seems no matter how well equiped we are with clothe bags, those plastic critters creep into our lives. Thanks for an alternative recycling option that saves them from being transported to a far-away recycling facility to be melted down for reuse. I love the idea of laminating several plastic bags together to make a stronger fabric that can be sewn. I would appreciate having a little more conclusive information regarding the toxicity of melting the bags together. Is a well ventilated space enough? Seems no matter how well equiped we are with clothe bags, those plastic critters creep into our lives. Thanks for an alternative recycling option that saves them from being transported to a far-away recycling facility to be melted down for reuse.
I love the idea of laminating several plastic bags together to make a stronger fabric that can be sewn. I would appreciate having a little more conclusive information regarding the toxicity of melting the bags together. Is a well ventilated space enough?

]]> By: Lesa http://c3.newdream.org/blog/2007/12/03/a-fun-reuserecycle-idea-for-your-plastic-bags/#comment-221 Lesa Mon, 31 Dec 2007 00:12:33 +0000 http://c3.newdream.org/blog/2007/12/03/a-fun-reuserecycle-idea-for-your-plastic-bags/#comment-221 Although we've used cloth bags for years, we still end up a few in the house. Friends bring them over and such. One fun way to reuse the bags is to make them into parachutes. Just tie 4 little strings on to the edges of the handles and tie together in the middle. One of our resident Lego guys usually volunteers to take a ride. Just throw from the top bunk or stand on a chair. My kids have loads of fun doing this. I also make my own bags. For the holidays, everyone got their presents in one. All were thrilled with getting a reusable bag instead of more wrapping paper or gift bag. Although we’ve used cloth bags for years, we still end up a few in the house. Friends bring them over and such. One fun way to reuse the bags is to make them into parachutes. Just tie 4 little strings on to the edges of the handles and tie together in the middle. One of our resident Lego guys usually volunteers to take a ride. Just throw from the top bunk or stand on a chair. My kids have loads of fun doing this.

I also make my own bags. For the holidays, everyone got their presents in one. All were thrilled with getting a reusable bag instead of more wrapping paper or gift bag.

]]> By: Barbara http://c3.newdream.org/blog/2007/12/03/a-fun-reuserecycle-idea-for-your-plastic-bags/#comment-207 Barbara Sat, 22 Dec 2007 21:01:29 +0000 http://c3.newdream.org/blog/2007/12/03/a-fun-reuserecycle-idea-for-your-plastic-bags/#comment-207 I have been using cloth bags at the supermarket for at least 15 years. Even so, we still seem to end up with more plastic bags than needed for pet cleanup and trash can liners. So it's an ongoing effort to eliminate plastic bags. I've made some of my cloth bags, and found that castoff neckties make sturdy and stylish bag handles. I've used cloth from worn out kids pants and mens suits, combined with leftover quilt blocks, and I get lots of compliments on my cloth bags. I've gotten other bags at Goodwill, for about 50 cents each. I have been using cloth bags at the supermarket for at least 15 years. Even so, we still seem to end up with more plastic bags than needed for pet cleanup and trash can liners. So it’s an ongoing effort to eliminate plastic bags. I’ve made some of my cloth bags, and found that castoff neckties make sturdy and stylish bag handles. I’ve used cloth from worn out kids pants and mens suits, combined with leftover quilt blocks, and I get lots of compliments on my cloth bags. I’ve gotten other bags at Goodwill, for about 50 cents each.

]]> By: C. PH http://c3.newdream.org/blog/2007/12/03/a-fun-reuserecycle-idea-for-your-plastic-bags/#comment-206 C. PH Fri, 21 Dec 2007 19:10:42 +0000 http://c3.newdream.org/blog/2007/12/03/a-fun-reuserecycle-idea-for-your-plastic-bags/#comment-206 Responding to Lara, my small town has a pay-per-throw program so trash bags MUST be purchased from my town. I'm sure others are in similar situations. Responding to Lara, my small town has a pay-per-throw program so trash bags MUST be purchased from my town. I’m sure others are in similar situations.

]]> By: Lilo http://c3.newdream.org/blog/2007/12/03/a-fun-reuserecycle-idea-for-your-plastic-bags/#comment-203 Lilo Thu, 20 Dec 2007 17:37:38 +0000 http://c3.newdream.org/blog/2007/12/03/a-fun-reuserecycle-idea-for-your-plastic-bags/#comment-203 I am staying in South Africa. We used to get the bags for free and everybody just took these, but now since one has to pay for them, they get used fewer and fewer as people bring their own bags. The shops offer their branded cloth bags for sale. I come from Germany (1961) and there I used to go shopping with real shopping bags which I did in South Africa as well and was always stared at. But now its no more unusual. I think the countries should all make laws regarding plastic bags and other waste. Have separate bins like they do in Germany. We have here in South Africa two of the very latest glass recycling plants, where no labels, tops, korks, aluminium etc has to be taken off, it get all done by the plant. This is very new and only available in 3 provinces. Now I am trying to get this also done in Mpumalanga where I stay. There will be so called glass banks installed at different places where people can put the glass in or it can be collected and sold to these glass banks. I am busy trying to get the unemeployed to collect glass and sell it. I am staying in South Africa. We used to get the bags for free and everybody just took these, but now since one has to pay for them, they get used fewer and fewer as people bring their own bags. The shops offer their branded cloth bags for sale. I come from Germany (1961) and there I used to go shopping with real shopping bags which I did in South Africa as well and was always stared at. But now its no more unusual.
I think the countries should all make laws regarding plastic bags and other waste. Have separate bins like they do in Germany.

We have here in South Africa two of the very latest glass recycling plants, where no labels, tops, korks, aluminium etc has to be taken off, it get all done by the plant. This is very new and only available in 3 provinces. Now I am trying to get this also done in Mpumalanga where I stay. There will be so called glass banks installed at different places where people can put the glass in or it can be collected and sold to these glass banks. I am busy trying to get the unemeployed to collect glass and sell it.

]]> By: Bieke (Belgium) http://c3.newdream.org/blog/2007/12/03/a-fun-reuserecycle-idea-for-your-plastic-bags/#comment-197 Bieke (Belgium) Mon, 17 Dec 2007 21:23:30 +0000 http://c3.newdream.org/blog/2007/12/03/a-fun-reuserecycle-idea-for-your-plastic-bags/#comment-197 Great idea to reuse plastic bags. Here in Belgium, grocery stores and supermarkt and quite frankly any other store, hands out plastic of paper bags. We all have several reuseable bags or use baskets when we go shopping. I wouldn't say it is forbidden by law, but it has been morally forbidden by society. It is a great way to help our environment. Belgium was also one of the first countries to oblige households to seperate their garbage. We have a bleu bag for cans, aluminium, plastic... A green barrel for green garbage, a special box (mileubox) for dangerous and toxic sprays and off course glass containers. I am very proud of these measurements taken by our government. A sign that we are truelly concerned about the well-being of our world. Kind regards Bieke Great idea to reuse plastic bags.

Here in Belgium, grocery stores and supermarkt and quite frankly any other store, hands out plastic of paper bags. We all have several reuseable bags or use baskets when we go shopping.

I wouldn’t say it is forbidden by law, but it has been morally forbidden by society. It is a great way to help our environment.

Belgium was also one of the first countries to oblige households to seperate their garbage. We have a bleu bag for cans, aluminium, plastic… A green barrel for green garbage, a special box (mileubox) for dangerous and toxic sprays and off course glass containers.

I am very proud of these measurements taken by our government. A sign that we are truelly concerned about the well-being of our world.

Kind regards
Bieke

]]> By: Beth Terry http://c3.newdream.org/blog/2007/12/03/a-fun-reuserecycle-idea-for-your-plastic-bags/#comment-193 Beth Terry Fri, 14 Dec 2007 05:37:17 +0000 http://c3.newdream.org/blog/2007/12/03/a-fun-reuserecycle-idea-for-your-plastic-bags/#comment-193 Alternatively, don't use a trash bag at all. If you compost your food waste, you won't have wet garbage and won't need a trash bag liner. Also, if we are careful about avoiding products with a lot of unrecyclable packaging, we can avoid garbage in that way too. Composting is not as hard as people think it is. If you live in an apartment, you still have options. We purchased an Urban Compost Tumbler for our roof deck. Others use a worm bin or a bokashi bucket. And if you have curbside pickup of food scraps and yard waste for composting, you don't ever need to throw wet food garbage into the waste can, which is the main reason for a trash can liner in the first place, right? Also, I wouldn't heat plastic either. Don't think it's such a great idea. Who knows what you're releasing by heating it? For more ideas about ways to reduce plastic waste and plastic consumption, please visit <a href="http://www.fakeplasticfish.com" rel="nofollow">http://www.fakeplasticfish.com</a>. Alternatively, don’t use a trash bag at all. If you compost your food waste, you won’t have wet garbage and won’t need a trash bag liner. Also, if we are careful about avoiding products with a lot of unrecyclable packaging, we can avoid garbage in that way too.

Composting is not as hard as people think it is. If you live in an apartment, you still have options. We purchased an Urban Compost Tumbler for our roof deck. Others use a worm bin or a bokashi bucket. And if you have curbside pickup of food scraps and yard waste for composting, you don’t ever need to throw wet food garbage into the waste can, which is the main reason for a trash can liner in the first place, right?

Also, I wouldn’t heat plastic either. Don’t think it’s such a great idea. Who knows what you’re releasing by heating it?

For more ideas about ways to reduce plastic waste and plastic consumption, please visit http://www.fakeplasticfish.com.

]]>