Since I wrote this post about reusable grocery bags, I have been pretty good at bringing my own bags along to the store. My husband however, is not. As he does a significant portion of the grocery shopping, that means we tend to still have plastic grocery bags lying around which I hesitate to throw out.
So, it's probably a good idea that I recycle a few.
Now, I’m not the first to find a new use for plastic grocery bags. But I thought I’d go beyond the obvious uses as wastebasket liners and car trash bags. Here’s some other ideas.
Return them to the store. Many grocery stores have collection bins for plastic bags now.
Store used paint brushes in them and stick them in the freezer – makes cleaning paint brushes easier
Keep a few in the car for wet/muddy clothes.
Put one in your child’s backpack for same- especially for preschool and kindergarten
Use them instead of bubble wrap to protect the next package you send
Scrunch them up and tape them into a ball for indoor snowball fights
Attach them with rubber bands around your hands for really messing projects.
Organize your Christmas lights by putting one strand in each bag before storing.
Cover your hair with one when unexpectedly caught in the rain.
Use as collection bags for impromptu treasure hunts
Use them to cover plants to protect from frost
Pack a few extra in your suitcase for wet or dirty clothes
Attach to a string and let the kids run around the yard pulling them
So the more ideas we have on how to reuse the better…or don’t use them at all!
You can often find reusable bags at your local grocery store or at a number of sites on the web including here.
Photo courtesy Seacat
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15 comments:
I totally did the christmad light thing! When I got my boxes down for this past christmas, my lights were a mess! So when I took the tree down, I put each strand in a plastic bag. I know next year will be a lot easier!
Happy tt!
Great ideas for recycling...better yet bring a canvas bag to the grocery store so you don't need plastic bags.
We work at a Mission and recently heard that one hospital in Kenya is using plastic bags for gloves as they ran out of them.
You are such a noble soul. I like it.
I use mine when I clean the cat box, and to line the wastebaskets in the bathroom. Today I brought my lunch to work in one (lunch was too big today for my normal lunch bag).
Although I bring reusable bags to the grocery store, I often try to leave each week with at least one plastic bag and one paper bag--the paper for containing the recycled newspapers, catalogs, cereal boxes, etc. and the plastic for the kitty litter. One of my big pet peeves at the supermarket is baggers who use too many bags! Of course, if they made them stronger (like target bags, or whole foods bags) they wouldn't need to use so many!
Very interesting ideas! I do some of them..and some are new ideas..thanks.
I definitely re-use plastic bags, for wastebasket liners and cat litter disposal. They still go to a landfill that way, but it's a start.
We do about 1/3 of our grocery shopping at our natural foods co-op, and there we always use canvas bags that we have collected over the years. Co-ops as well as major supermarkets sell them now.
But like one of the other commenters, I try to get some paper bags to use for holding our recycling, because we don't have room for bins or crates. And I've definitely used wadded plastic bags for packing material--it works great!
I love the indoor snowball idea, how great.
We always reuse ours, the few I get. I prefer paper even more reusable for us.
Great T13, mine is up.
Peace, love and Mama Bear Hugs,
Here's something new to do with those plastic bags--make them into faux flowers...
http://www.instructables.com/id/SNGT7LOFBG0AC25/
these are good ideas. i use mine for the garbage. i only have a small garbage can and never buy garbage bags. i used to use them for my lunches too but now i have a proper lunchbox.
Sadly, those "recycle your plastic bags here" bins don't always lead to the recycling truck. There's one at my local grocery store, and an employee told someone who shopped there that the bags just go in the trash. Best to reuse as many as possible, I guess.
Running a home daycare, I love the indoor snowball idea!!!
My husband and I sell sandals online, made from recycled car tires. To package these for shipping, we cover plastic bags with parchment paper (to keep from sticking to the iron or table) and fuse them together to create a very strong envelope. Works like a charm!
(shameless plug: www.recycledsandals.com)
Great ideas everyone - and thanks for the links to great new sites
A couple of other uses that I employ regularly:
wrap my laptop when going out on a rainy day with it in my backpack or briefcase--I live in Seattle,in the winter moisture gets in evrything.
Also, two bags in my bike bag for putting on my seat when I park my bike in the drizzle, or when I have things in the bike bag that need an extra layer of protection.
Thanks for the post, good stuff!
Here's another thing to do with those bags: crochet them! Aparently plastic bags are a hot blog topic this week.
http://cristencrochet.blogspot.com/2007/08/preparing-plastic-bags-for-crocheting.html
I wrap shoes in them when traveling, so that my clothes don't get dirty.
I also tie one to the dog's leash for picking up her "business" when she's done.
And, of course, they also work great for dirty diapers-- we've never owned a diaper pail. We just drop the diaper in, twist the bag tight, fold it back on itself and tie it closed (effectively double-bagging it.)
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