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Reusable Shopping Bags

PLASTIC BAGS ARE LITTERING LANDSCAPES AROUND THE GLOBE.  IN SOUTH AFRICA, THERE ARE SO MANY, THEY’RE SARCASTICALLY REFERRED TO AS THE NATIONAL FLOWER. LEARN HOW YOU CAN HELP SOLVE THIS PROBLEM ON TODAY’S ENVIRONMINUTE.

ACROSS THE PLANET, MORE THAN A MILLION PLASTIC BAGS ARE DISCARDED EVERY MINUTE.  MOST DO NOT BIODEGRADE, BUT INSTEAD PHOTODEGRADE, BREAKING DOWN INTO SMALL TOXIC BITS THAT CONTAMINATE OUR SOIL AND WATER AND CAN CHOKE TURTLES, WHALES, AND OTHER FORAGING WILDLIFE.

IN IRELAND, A TAX ON EVERY PLASTIC BAG HAS REDUCED THEIR USE BY NINETY PERCENT, AND THE CITY OF SAN FRANCISCO IS BANNING PETROLEUM-BASED PLASTIC BAGS ALTOGETHER.  BUT YOU DON’T HAVE TO WAIT FOR GOVERNMENT TO STEP IN BEFORE YOU BEGIN SHOPPING WITH REUSABLE BAGS.

AND WITH THE STYLISH DESIGNS THAT ARE NOW AVAILABLE, BRINGING YOUR OWN BAG CAN BE AN ECO-FRIENDLY AND FASHIONABLE OPTION.

THE ENVIRONMINUTE IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE HEINZ FAMILY PHILANTHROPIES AND THE HEINZ ENDOWMENTS.  LEARN MORE BY VISITING ENVIRONMINUTE-DOT-COM.     

Click here for some ideas of how to reuse your shopping bags.

To read more about this and other environmental health issues, go to: www.environmentalhealthnews.org, www.ourstolenfuture.org, or www.healthandenvironment.org