Say ‘No Thanks’ to Paper or Plastic: Just Bring Your Own Bag
I’m writing in response to a letter from Dorothy Burgess on Nov. 29. I agree with her that it’s a good idea to ban single-use plastic bags. But, what to use instead? A brown paper grocery bag seems like it should be a pretty good solution. Isn’t it locally made, recyclable and compostable?
Well, not exactly.
There are actually no grocery bags manufactured by any Maine mills. In May of 2016 there were 6 mills. They made tissue papers, coated papers, publishing grade papers and various specialty papers but no grocery bags.
The production of paper bags is environmentally harmful. “According to the Conservation Law Foundation, “Compared to making plastic bags, manufacturing paper bags creates 70 percent more air pollution and 50 times more water pollutants, consumes four times more energy, and requires three times more water. “
While a brown paper bag is recyclable, only a small percentage ever make it into the recycling system. And even then, recycling paper bags is a complex, energy intensive, chemical laden process.
Most paper bags end up in landfills where we would like to think they decay gently into organic compost, but actually, the Environmental Protection Agency found that ” paper degrades at about the same rate as plastic in a landfill.” Because the contents of the dump are mostly not exposed to oxygen, even organic materials like paper don’t degrade well.
The best solution for getting our purchases from store to home is for each of us to carry a few reusable bags. Consider buying some attractive ones that you enjoy using. Toss them into your car or backpack. Support a local business that sells reusable bags. It’s not hard to limit your personal contribution to landfills and roadside trash. Bring your own bag!
Jennifer Beaven
Brunswick
A Heartfelt Thanks
I am so very grateful to Patty and Casey who stopped on Pleasant Street to keep my dog from harms way this morning. He had gotten away from me while we walked in Davis Park. I searched the neighborhood and was pretty frantic by the time I walked home without finding him.
Fortunately his name and my number were on a tag on his collar. I think he was headed home when these wonderful people stopped to steer him to safety.
My deepest thanks goes out to them!
Mary Heath,
Brunswick
Comments are not available on this story. Read more about why we allow commenting on some stories and not on others.
We believe it's important to offer commenting on certain stories as a benefit to our readers. At its best, our comments sections can be a productive platform for readers to engage with our journalism, offer thoughts on coverage and issues, and drive conversation in a respectful, solutions-based way. It's a form of open discourse that can be useful to our community, public officials, journalists and others.
We do not enable comments on everything — exceptions include most crime stories, and coverage involving personal tragedy or sensitive issues that invite personal attacks instead of thoughtful discussion.
You can read more here about our commenting policy and terms of use. More information is also found on our FAQs.
Show less