Thanks for these tips Sarah!

I also use plastic bags as temporary plant pots when I run out of pots. I just pierce the bottoms and put the planting mediums then I put the plant in.

These are excellent tips - I think I've done most of them at one time or another.

And this is a timely topic in our area, because the city's starting to charge for bags used in an effort to get people to use reusable bags for groceries and other shopping.

Actually, I find it hard to recycle plastics and your tips are truly helpful. I wanted to add in your list something that we does with plastics. My sister and I tried to make fancy pillows out of this material.

hey sarahv..that is very helpful!! and we can save a lot too..

We use some plastics in potted plants. These serves as a drainage. I was wondering, what kind of plastics are you using in making pillows, Joebert? I would love to try it as well.

I didn't know some supermarkets recycle plastic bags. By the way, do you know any stores that buys them?

Plastic bags can take aroun 20 to 1,000 years to degrade,depending on the sunlight and air....knit with them and the other ideas are using them as ties for the garden plants...

I used to kept plastic bags at home and re-use it to put something for kids. For me, this is really good, because you didn't only saved money for buying new plastic bag, you were also able to helped our environment. Isn't it wonderful to become an environment friendly?

Posted By krishnarao k on 7/27/2009 7:03
Plastic bags can take aroun 20 to 1,000 years to degrade,depending on the sunlight and air....knit with them and the other ideas are using them as ties for the garden plants...

20 to 1000 years for them to degrade? I'm actually surprised to know that that's how long its gonna take for them to degrade but what I'm actually surprised to know is that they degrade? How come? I thought plastics are non-biodegradable materials?

There are supermarkets that recycles plastic bags? I don't get it. What would they gain in doing so. DO they pay people who gives them used plastics for them to recycle it?

Posted By mark holanda on 7/31/2009 3:44
I used to kept plastic bags at home and re-use it to put something for kids. For me, this is really good, because you didn't only saved money for buying new plastic bag, you were also able to helped our environment. Isn't it wonderful to become an environment friendly?

It is wonderful to be environment friendly but I think reusing plastic bags isn't actually environment friendly. It only slows their multiplication.

These are great tips!

I try to remember to bring my canvas bags with me when I go for groceries and shopping to avoid getting a ton of these plastic bags.

They are also great to put dirty diapers in.

Posted By krishnarao k on 7/27/2009 7:03
Plastic bags can take aroun 20 to 1,000 years to degrade,depending on the sunlight and air....knit with them and the other ideas are using them as ties for the garden plants...

Wow! that is quite a long time. If this is the case, why do they still manufactures these plastics? Do you think papers would be the best alternative for this one in groceries?

Posted By nakchura levente on 7/31/2009 5:28

Posted By mark holanda on 7/31/2009 3:44
I used to kept plastic bags at home and re-use it to put something for kids. For me, this is really good, because you didn't only saved money for buying new plastic bag, you were also able to helped our environment. Isn't it wonderful to become an environment friendly?

It is wonderful to be environment friendly but I think reusing plastic bags isn't actually environment friendly. It only slows their multiplication.

I guess, re-using a plastic bag and disposing it properly could be one sign of being an environment friendly. Because, if we keep on buying plastics bags and disposing it anywhere we want, wont help our environment at all. However, if we put it in its proper places and not burning them would help us save our environments. Do you consider your selves environment lover?

Usually you can find these large bins by the entrance of a store, and they say "Recycle Used Bags Here", I believe. All the ones I have seen are green. At first I thought they were trash cans, so that's what they look like. They are upfront of Publix for sure, I've seen them all in quite a few towns. I know they are getting them at other stores as well, but I'm not sure when.

You could always give them to friends to use or use them for the following, also:
Use the bags to pick up dog waste while walking your dog. Depending on your dog’s diet, the waste is not a proper manure for lawns. Also, many people have children who play in the front yard, and do not want them stepping in your dog’s waste.

Step 2Wrap frozen goods in the bags. Instead of taking frozen meats out of the Styrofoam containers, put the entire container in the plastic bag and wrap it around the meat, so that you have at least two to three layers protecting the meat from freezer burn.

Step 3Line smaller trashcans (such as the cans in the bathroom) with the plastic grocery store bags. They are the perfect size, and you will not have to buy plastic bags for the smaller trashcans. Instead of throwing two bags away. the grocery store bag and the bag you bought to line the trashcan, you are only contributing one plastic bag to the landfill.

Usually you can find these large bins by the entrance of a store, and they say "Recycle Used Bags Here", I believe. All the ones I have seen are green. At first I thought they were trash cans, so that's what they look like. They are upfront of Publix for sure, I've seen them all in quite a few towns. I know they are getting them at other stores as well, but I'm not sure when.

You could always give them to friends to use or use them for the following, also:
Use the bags to pick up dog waste while walking your dog. Depending on your dog’s diet, the waste is not a proper manure for lawns. Also, many people have children who play in the front yard, and do not want them stepping in your dog’s waste.

Step 2Wrap frozen goods in the bags. Instead of taking frozen meats out of the Styrofoam containers, put the entire container in the plastic bag and wrap it around the meat, so that you have at least two to three layers protecting the meat from freezer burn.

Step 3Line smaller trashcans (such as the cans in the bathroom) with the plastic grocery store bags. They are the perfect size, and you will not have to buy plastic bags for the smaller trashcans. Instead of throwing two bags away. the grocery store bag and the bag you bought to line the trashcan, you are only contributing one plastic bag to the landfill.

Step 4Recycle other plastics using the grocery store bags. Put the plastic bottles and jugs into the plastic bags and set them out for the recycling truck to pick them up. They are also plastic, so can be reused, just as the plastic bottles and jugs can be reused

Step 5Store newspapers and other paper products for recycling in the plastic bags. It makes it easier to carry them to the recycling center, and you can just dump them out when you get there and reuse the bags to store more paper goods.