Re: [GRRN] paper vs plastic

Pete Pasterz (Pete.Pasterz@USDWP.MSU.EDU)
Mon, 29 Mar 1999 08:27:31 -0500


Judi--

Where was the article printed? What was/were the sources of the =
information??
What was the date of the article +/or information?

It sounds from your summary of it, that the author generalized too much =
about
recyclability and content of both. =20

Of course, I don=27t have to suggest to you that the best option is reuse =
of a
durable bag....but I did hear on NPR last year a report that a study =
(sorry I
do not have reference on the study) had shown that though the cost of =
each
plastic bags was indeed =BD that of a paper bag , the actual number of =
bags used
by real baggers =22in the field=22 was more than double for plastic than =
paper
bags. Seems that the smaller plastic bags give the perception of less =
space,
since they don=27t stand well, and therefore it was not uncommon for =
baggers to
put only one or two items in a bag. So, the grocer=27s belief that =
plastic is
saving them =24=24 may not be proven out in practice.

Pete Pasterz, Manager
Office of Recycling and Waste Management
Michigan State University
88 Service Rd.
East Lansing, MI 48824
517/432-5917
fax 517/353-9732

Remember, HASTE really does make WASTE=21

>>> <JudiGregry=40aol.com> 03/27 2:01 PM >>>
Dear members,

I read an article last week that disturbed me and was hoping I could get =
some
help. It was regarding the usage of paper or plastic bags at the grocery
store. Here=27s a quick summary of the article....

basically, the article said that both were bad because paper bags are =
made
from virgin materials (trees) and plastic is made from petroleum sources =
(also
virgin materials). Then it went on to say that neither were recycled =
after
use. And finally it said that if one had to choose, that plastic would be
better because even though the paper biodegrades in the landfill faster =
than
the plastc, that the plastic takes up less landfill space.

This article has really disturbed me. I went and checked some paper bags =
I
had at home and found that Lucky bags show 50% post consumer content and
Kinko=27s shows 20% post consumer, while my Lucky plastic bag showed no =
recycled
content. I also know that plastic bags have been extremely difficult to
recycle with many people noticing the bags dropped off for recycling only =
end
up in trash cans. I have been under the assumption that paper bags are =
widely
made from recycled content and that they are also accepted for recycling =
by
most curbside recycling programs and processors. I=27d like to think that =
I=27m
doing the right thing by choosing paper over plasic, but would love to =
hear
what you think.

Judi Gregory
626-339-9555
judigregry=40aol.com=20

*****************************************************
To post to the greenyes list, send a letter to:
greenyes=40earthsystems.org=20
To unsubscribe, send a message to:
greenyes-request=40earthsystems.org with the subject
unsubscribe. If you have any problems, please
write to www=40earthsystems.org.
GreenYes is archived on the GrassRoots Recycling
Network web site: http://www.grrn.org=20
******************************************************

=
=20
=
=20
=
=20
=
=20
=
=20
=
=20
=
=20
=
=20
=
=20
=
=20
=
=20
=
=20
=
=20
=
=20
=
=20
=
=20
=
=20
=
=20
=
=20
=
=20
=
=20
=
=20
=
=20
=
=20
=
=20
=
=20
=
=20
=
=20
=
=20
=
=20
=
=20
=
=20
=
=20
=
=20
=
=20
=
=20
=
=20
=
=20
=20