Re: paper vs plastic

Myra Nissen (myracycl@inreach.com)
Mon, 29 Mar 1999 20:21:47 -0800


I still like the store policy implemented by Community Foods in Santa
Cruz, CA in the late 1970's... You were charged 5 cents for every new
bag that you used from the store's supply. If you brought and used a
used bag, you were not charged.

Myra Nissen
myracycl@inreach.com
510-873-8777

____________________Reply Separator____________________
> Subject: paper vs plastic
> Author: JudiGregry@aol.com
> Date: 3/27/99 11:01 AM
>
> From: JudiGregry@aol.com
> Date: Sat, Mar 27, 1999 11:01 AM
> Subject: paper vs plastic
> To: crra; greenyes
> 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's 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's 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'd like to think that I'm
> doing the right thing by choosing paper over plasic, but would love to hear
> what you think.
>
> Judi Gregory
> 626-339-9555
> judigregry@aol.com
>
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