We reuse our plastic bags. As a trash can liner, or to collect dog poop. I am sure that was never considered when the ban was contemplated. Sometimes trying to "do good" gets ridiculous.
Here is another option. I know a lovely group of little old ladies doing this now. Likely there is at least a couple churches in any area with a homeless population that are likely collecting bags for this purpose.
I'd agree with this 10-15 years ago. But in the past decade the single use bags most places use are too thin and fragile, carrying most simple things puncture a hole in them. Walmart bags basically have holes in them from just opening them up.
You know what would be cool? Turning those bags into printer filament. I wonder if theyre similar types of plastic or if it is the wrong type to be extruded.
"Reuse" in the context of the 3Rs means "give new life beyond initial purpose", not "have it sit around to wait for other garbage to join it before we throw it out after a single use". Neither of your examples actually reuse the bag, just make it wait for the buddy system before sending to the landfill.
Don't hurt yourself bearing that cross of "doing good" though.
> Don't hurt yourself bearing that cross of "doing good" though.
I see the downvotes are already communicating this, but there's no need to be so cockstrong when talking to other nerds. Most people here are just normal folks like us, its easier to just chill out and talk. Your point travels further when it isn't deployed as an attack.
Trash bags and pet waste are two purposes for which most people would otherwise buy new plastic bags. So this definitely qualifies as a reuse.
The real critique is what percentage of bags can actually be reused that way? I can see dog owners keeping up with the constant influx of shopping bags, but I would think anyone else would develop a surplus quite quickly.
Completely disagree here. Even by your definition, a bag used for groceries is being given a new life if its reused as a trash bag!
The biggest saving on waste comes from a single re-use. If every plastic bag was used twice we'd need half as many. (If course a third re-use is better, only need 1/3 as many etc.)
