Ways to Throw Away Less Plastic
Tag Archives: plastic
Tonight: Free showing of Bag It
An average guy makes a resolution to stop using plastic bags at the grocery store. Little does he know that this simple decision will change his life completely. He comes to the conclusion that our consumptive use of plastic has finally caught up to us, and looks at what we can do about it. Today. Right now.
Watch the trailer: scroll down to or click on this link for the March 11th entry.
Free showing of Bag It! The Movie
Try going a day without plastic. Plastic is everywhere and infiltrates our lives in unimaginable and frightening ways. In this touching and often flat-out-funny film, we follow “everyman” Jeb Berrier, who is admittedly not a tree hugger, as he embarks on a global tour to unravel the complexities of our plastic world. What starts as a film about plastic bags evolves into a wholesale investigation into plastic and its affect on our waterways, oceans, and even our own bodies. We see how our crazy-for-plastic world has finally caught up to us and what we can do about it. Today. Right now.
WHEN: Monday, March 31, 7:00-8:30 p.m.
WHERE: Dorothy Alling Memorial Library, 21 Library Lane, Williston
COST: It’s Free! Please bring your own cup and bowl for local popcorn and cider and help keep this event “zero waste.” Enter to win raffle prizes and a chance to win a backyard SoilSaver compost bin too!
INFO: This event is hosted by Sustainable Williston, Dorothy Alling Memorial Library and Chittenden Solid Waste District (CSWD). Film is best suited for ages 12 and up. For more info contact Marge Keough/CSWD at 802-872-8100 x234.
The High Environmental Cost of Plastic Bags
Here are some reasons for us all as residents, organizations, and businesses to consider reducing our use of plastic and plastic bags.
According to the Wall Street Journal, the U.S. goes through 100 billion plastic shopping bags annually. (Estimated cost to retailers: $4 billion)
- Only 1%-3% of plastic bags are recycled worldwide.
- Industry figures show 90% of all grocery bags are plastic.
- Plastic bags are made of polyethylene, which is a petroleum product, and their production contributes to air pollution and energy consumption.
- It takes 1,000 years for polyethylene bags to break down.
- The amount of petroleum used to make 1 plastic bag would drive a car about 11 meters.
- Plastic bags don’t biodegrade, they photodegrade, breaking down into smaller and smaller toxic bits that contaminate soil and waterways. They then enter the foodweb when animals accidently ingest them.
- 86% of all known species of sea turtles have had reported problems of entanglement or ingestion of marine debris.
- Approximately 1 billion seabirds and mammals die each year by ingesting plastic bags. These poor animals suffer a painful death. The plastic wraps around their intestines, or they choke to death.
- Less than 5% of US shoppers use canvas, cotton, or mesh bags. Please change that number by choosing reusable bags when you shop.
