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Reusing
By Daphne | October 23, 2007
You probably have done it before but haven’t mentioned it. I will admit it, I reuse resealable plastic bags. Not all of them mind you because I do not want to wash them. In some instances it is just easy to reuse a plastic bag.
For example some of the beads I use to make jewelry are sent in resealable plastic bags. There is nothing wrong with them so I may store other materials inside. They are good for multiple uses until they rip or tear.
Travel… I never liked carrying my toiletries onboard the plane so it doesn’t bother me to check my luggage. But things tend to leak and/or spill from the jostling around. I put small items that would leak in one of those snack size bags and use a store bag to put the whole toiletry kit inside in case there are items that explode. I have had this happen before because of baggage handling/air pressure.
Lunch… sometimes I will reuse the bag if I am taking a similar type of item the next day or so that isn’t wet. f I put chips in a bag and will have the same type or similar type of chips the next day or so for lunch I will reuse the bag again. Even if I am going on a trip and want to take a snack, I might carry a smaller plastic bag and put a snack inside. A few plain M&Ms are a good pick me up during an afternoon of sightseeing and you save money by using some out of a large bag and having the amount you need rather than buying several individual bags.
I haven’t gotten to the point of washing resealable bags for future use because by the time I have to use soap, water and effort to clean the bag - to me it is not worth it. A solid container on the other hand like a glass jar or sturdy plastic container is worth the effort - not a plastic bag.
Reusing containers or giving them a new purpose is a great way to save money and the environment. The less plastic you use, the less oil you consume.
Repurposing items is another way to go. If you use a thrift store item in a constructive way for a use than it was created for you are repurposing an item.
I am content reusing some resealable bags. Store bags make great garbage bags for small items. Even the plastic grocery store bags can be reused for another trip to the store. Some stores have heavier plastic which take longer to degrade in the environment but can be used again and again. Save money by taking your own bag to the store. If more people saved money by taking their own bags then fewer people would use a lot less oil.
In the US alone we use approximately 12 million barrels of oil to produce plastic bags. Yes they are convenient, but for a plastic product that will be thrown away we should find a better way to use oil.
If you are in need of a reusable bag alternative for lunch - use a sturdy plastic container that is meant to be used hundreds of times. Even when a plastic container gets a small crack in it, it can be used for another purpose.
Topics: October 2007 |
October 23rd, 2007 at 6:12 pm
[...] UrbanFrugal.com wrote an interesting post today on ReusingHere’s a quick excerpt You probably have done it before but haven’t mentioned it … so I may store other materials inside. They are good for multiple uses until they rip or tear. Travel… … there are items that explode. I have had this happen before because of baggage handling/air pressure [...]