I am going to collect used grocery bags from my neighborhood to hand out to people at my local grocery store.?
Answer:
You would use more fossil fuel collecting the bags than you would save by recycling them.
Paper bags sequester carbon. The best place for them is a dry landfill where they do not break down. that way you have sequestered the carbon and you have not emitted all of that carbon dioxide in collecting the bags.
Also, used grocery bags may have come in contact with and can transmit coliform bacteria of the kind that caused all of the problems with the spinach that was contaminated with e coli bacteria.
I recommend that you do not collect used grocery bags for reuse.
OK
It is always a good idea to recycle. What would be better is to encourage people to use bags out of cloth. I always bring bags to the store to use instead of the plastic ones they give out.
Just don't reuse the bags that were used for perishable items as they might have bacteria forming in them. Reuse the bags that were used for the cereal boxes or canned goods. The bags that had fresh produce in them and then allowed to sit awhile, will have food born bacteria forming in them for sure.
EDIT:
Spraying with an anti bacterial will clean up the bags, but you start down two more roads.
1- the energy created to make the anti bacterial spray.
2- the possibility of allergic reaction to the spray from people that don't know it's there, or all of the ingredients of the spray.
I have a nephew that is allergic to peanuts. If there were any form of peanuts in that spray, it could kill him. You would be legally obligated to inform every person that you have treated the bags.
Recycling the bags is a GOOD idea, but you need to know the limitations of it.
1- stick with the bags you know are clean and safe. Don't bother with the contaminated ones.
2- You need to go on a more of an awareness route, not a supplying route. Get people to reuse their bags not yours.
And as far as how does it use more energy collecting bags, people will drive to bring them to you, or you will drive to pick them up. It's up to an individual if they want to reuse the bags. If they won't bring their own from getting awareness from you, then they definitely will not take used bags from you.
Sorry but that is human nature.
I think that is a wonderful idea! It would make for a great opportunity to explain the importance of using reusable bags (like chico bags for instance), reusing plastic and paper bags and when forgetting bags (why I like chico bags--hard to forget), choosing paper bags (or no bag if you can carry what you buy). Also highlighting the importance of recycling plastic bags is good too since they stay in landfills for 100's of years and are killing off sea turtles who eat them.
It is not a good idea. If you want to really help, make a bag from cloth and bring it with you to the store. Others will see you and may copy you. You could also get into the business of making cloth bags with sturdy straps to sell. The problem with collecting the used grocery bags is that they many times harbor roaches. You don't want to be spreading those around.
Encourage people to buy shopping bags instead. (Like the ones they sell for a buck at No Frills and Food Basics in Canada).
I would just collect them and bring them in for recycling, rather than letting them go into the trash. Encourage people to use canvas totes.
YOu'd be better off recycling those plastic bags and then buying them all cloth bags.
thats a great idea!! at least you'll be reusing them instead having new ones made. i dont trust the recycling system of these plastic bags, i heard they ship them to other countries to dispose of them or have them recycle it. i think your doing a great job. =D
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