poop bags

This is something I really hate …. plastic bags of dog @*%! hanging from the bushes. I can see what the dog owners are  trying to do and thanks for that but why put 100% biodegradable dog waste into plastic bags that takes more than 100 years to degrade? And then throw it into the bushes…or is this just a Huddersfield thing??

Be responsible and environmental; use the biodegradable BioBag dog bags that returns to soil along with their contents within a couple of months.

Or try these from www.topak.co.uk

2 rolls of bags (100) cost £1.65 = vat = packing = £5.90
6p a bag

Knitting with plastic bags

Ok maybe a whole be bop ensemble might be rather daunting but there are other things you can knit from plastic bags

Knit a new bag out of old plastic bags

Or some sandals

Or set up a cottage industry weaving plastic rubbish into joyful new “fabric”

Shopping bags

String bags are my choice – they are fantastic but are of course full of holes.
When it rains things get wet.
Another flaw is that they are see through – if a purchase is private then this is not the bag you need.
These problems have been remedied by the purchase of a Chico bag. Shower proof and opaque it folds up to the size of a golf ball.

   

 

Chico bag are only available from america but  the British company onya bag selll bags that are so similar as to be identical — folds up small comes with clip so it can be attached to shopping bag or husband – for detailsgo to    www.onyabags.co.uk
 

Be uber Green and knit your own string bag

Knit your own string bag – lovely bare foot person has posted a pattern for cotton yarn and a knitting machine

 

http://dancingbarefoot.wordpress.com/2007/06/25/susitna-string-shopping-bag/

Bags Of Choice

When shopping the consumer can avoid plastic by taking a selection of reusable and biodegradable bags.

Reusable bags

String bags are light, folds up small, can carry a small elephant

Onya bags are extremely light weight, folds up to the size of a golf ball, cant carry that much but ideal for just in case shopping. Are shower proof and private.

Produce Bags – reusable produce bags for your fruit and veg are the future.

Disposable Bags

Where ever possible reusable bags are best but sometimes packaging needs to be disposable – in which case it should be biodegradable.

Paper bags – ideal for buying cheese and cold meats

Bioplastic compostable bags - can be used for all sorts of things bagsfrom poop bags to damp fish

Crafty Bags

Why not be really green and make your own bag – try these for size

The Fusers - they fuse together sevral flimsy plastic bags together to create one strong sheet that can then be sewn into all manner of things

Knit your own plastic bag  from plastic bags

Or knit your own fantastic string bags from cotton

Want to cut down on more of your plastic rubbish? – you can find other plastic free products with the A-Z plastic free index

String Bags

Just to remind you how good string bags are – if you cant be bothered knitting them you can always buy them

So I invested in some cotton string bags. I have been using ( and reusing) them for months now and they are great. When empty, they fold up really small, but they can carry a ludicrous amount of shopping.
They have many good points;
Their soft handles do not cut into my fingers,
They are fully biodegradable
They are fair-traded
Last for ever – my bags are still going strong
Carry loads when full but are small when empty

 

 

 
I bought mine from Organic Ally”

She sells bags with either long or short handles.
The short handles are great for supermarket runs, the long handled bags can be hung off your shoulder for more leisurely shopping – I don’t like them as much as the short.

Bought in bulk i.e. numbers of 5 they are cheap – from around £4.00 a bag inc vat and shipping. You can mix and match bulk orders so you have a combination of short and long handled bags.

String bags are fantastic but are of course full of holes. When it rains things get wet. Another flaw is that they are see through – if a purchase is private then this is not the bag you need. These problems have been remedied by the purchase of a Chico bag.

Bio bags

Bio plastic is made from plant based materials such as cornstarch, potato starch etc.

Bio plastic can be used to make CARRIER BAGS…  PRODUCE BAGS…  POOP BAGS… BIN LINERS

 Bio plastic bags are water proof for a limited amount of time – eventually there is seepage.

Bio plastic bags can be bought from

BIO BAGS

Their bags are  are imported from Sweden

The company who deals with them in Scotland is

 www.biobags.co.uk.

NB this company does not sell the 6 litre size

The company who deals with them in England is 

The Bin Company

NB this company does sell the 6 litre size

www.thebincompany.com 

 

Produce bags

Produce bags are reusable bags that (as the name suggests), you put your loose produce in. It means you dont have to use those nasty flimsy plastic bags they dish out in shops these days.
I have been using mine for a while now in supermarkets and local shops for anything from green beans to bread.

 
My favourite produce bags are cotton eco bags They supply unbleached cotton bags made in India using fair wage fair trade. These bags are really handy not just for produce but shoes, knitting, odd socks waiting to be reuinted with their partners, gubbins and general things.
They are being imported and sold in the Uk- mail order only - by  Jill Sutton

01559 371546
Ty Coed,
Llandysul
Carmarthenshire
SA44 5UH
www.bagage-reusableshoppingbags.co.uk

Available in Large (43cm D x 33cmW) or Medium (25cm D x 20cm W)

Draw string closure

Another new kid on the produce bag block is Onya Wiegh. These are from Onya Bags  www.onyabags.co.uk  a Uk based company. They sell a nylon mesh produce drawsting bag. They are the lightest produce bag ever and scrunch up really small. They are sold in packs of 6 (or maybe it is 5) complete with their own nifty little carry bag. The whole package is the size of a phone handset and has a clip so you can attach it to your child, husband or bag strap.
   

The down side is they are not biodegradable and there is no mention of fair trade fair wage policies – they are made in the Philipines

I have also bought bags  from www.reusablebags.com

They are made from fair trade, organic, cotton using fair wage labour; the company is reliable and the bags are reasonably priced
Sadly they are based in America and customs charges and handling fees are payable on all goods purchased from America -
last month I was summonsed to the post office to pay £16.00 charges on a parcel worth £45.00. Do bear it in mind.

Want to cut down on more of your plastic rubbish? – you can find other plastic free products with the A-Z plastic free index

String Bags

It all began in January 2007 with the vile plastic carrier bags. Incensed with the amounts of rubbish I could see piling up all around me I decided on a personal plastic boycott
Permanent litter, dead dolphins, oil shortgages – are “free” carrier bags worth it? Especially when each high quality reusable bag you use has the potential to eliminate an average of 1,000 plastic bags over its lifetime.

So I invested in some cotton string bags. I have been using ( and reusing) them for months now and they are great. When empty, they fold up really small, but they can carry a ludicrous amount of shopping. Their soft handles do not cut into my fingers, theyre fully biodegradable and are fair-traded

I bought mine from Organic Ally go to Organic Ally

She sells bags with either long or short handles.
The short handles are great for supermarket runs, the long handled bags can be hung off your shoulder for more leisurely shopping – I don’t like them as much as the short.

Bought in bulk i.e. numbers of 5 they are cheap – from around £4.00 a bag inc vat and shipping. You can mix and match bulk orders so you have a combination of short and long handled bags.
Or you could be uber green and knit your own