Every time we go to the grocery store, we hear the same question, "paper
or plastic?" That must be the question that fills the nightmare dreams of
every bag boy . . . after repeating it all day long, to every customer. The
best ecologically correct answer is, of course, "Neither, thank you, I have
my own reuseable bag . . or basket. If you haven't gotten this conscientious
yet, you might
opt for either, as they are equally depleting and wasteful. Each also has its
drawbacks and its advantages for recycling. Plastic bags can be reused as
packing insulation, herb and plant gathering, keeping swim suits or dirty clothes
separated from dry while traveling, as garbage can liners or trash bags in one's
vehicle.
Many stores now have recycling bins for the ubiquitous bags, so I have a
special drawer where we keep them. When the drawer is full we bag them up in
one of their fellow bags and when we have a bunch of these, we put them in a
big black trash bag and take them to the store. I also put all other soft
lastic bags, not just the fruit and vegetable baggies, in the recycling drawer.
These bags include plastic bags from bread, dry beans, carrots, popcorn, zip
lock type, plastic wrap, etc. This past winter I used some of these small bags
of bags to insulate my greenhouse vents. The possibilities are endless, but it
is important to keep them away from small children as they have been the cause of
many choking and asphyxiation deaths.
The paper bags, that many of us grew up with can be used in myriads of ways.
They can be cut open and used as packaging and wrapping material, kid's art and
paper making material, kitty litter pan liners and grease absorbers for the
kitchen or under vehicles. To make paper towels go father put a paper bag under
it to absorb grease from oily foods such as tortillas and fries. If you have a
metal or plastic garbage can, you can used these brown bags instead of the black
plastic to hold your trash. They can also be used under door mats to collect dirt
for easy removal, for fire starters, under plant pots and secret friend gifts that
might include canned food or other heavy items.
The small brown bags that find their way into the house can be used for lunch
bags, or at Christmas time, as luminarios– one-third filled with sand and a small
votive candle. In the southwest these line the walks, curbs, walls, and rooftops
as a symbol of lighting the way for the wise men on their journey to visit the
Christ child.
Of course, these are just a few examples of how to recycle your paper or plastic
besides just throwing it in the garbage. Gentle Survivalists do this not because
they are reaping a reward from recycling, but because it is the right thing to do.
Our God and our Mother Earth are ever-giving and bountiful, and there is enough for
all, if we would but honor our stewardship with optimal usage and sharing of
resources.
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