Bags, Bags, and more Bags

What's the hype with the plastic bags?

In the past few years you may have noticed, unless you don't go grocery shopping, that supermarkets are now:

a) Offering re-usable bags. Re-usable bags comes in all shapes, sizes, and colors and most likely will cost you a few pennies. Also, these bags tend to be made of more durable material to slow down wear and tear.

b) Not offering bags. Some retailers are taking it to the extreme and not offering bags at all for free. If you want a bag you must pay 20cents (10p). Usually the bags are not conveniently located either.

c) Major marketing of 'reduced use of bags'.

d) Bags offered for free and cheaper quality. The plastic seems less strong and more transparent. Also, I've noticed that they some place put holes on the bottom of the bags (to discourage people using it as garbage bags...?)

What does this all mean?! Why garbage bags?

Reduce Plastic to Reduce Landfills

- Less material means less waste and fewer emissions.
- Plastic bags are a serious threat to our environment and natural resources - not only do they spoil our parks and beaches - but they can also take up to 1000 years to break down.
- Plastic bags are responsible for blocking drains and harming our wildlife - both marine and land-based animals.
- A country like Australia and Canada use over 10 million plastic bags a day! Imagine more densely populated places (USA, UK)

If you think like me, right now you will be wondering about the growing amount of plastics in our landfills that are not plastic bags. That is another blog entry but for now let's focus one thing at a time.

What to do to help reduce waste of plastic bags?

Recycle your plastic bags. Keep your bags handy for each time you go grocery shopping. I keep a few bags at work, at home, and in my car. Each time I go grocery shopping I re-use my plastic bags.

Do not use paper bags! Plastic grocery bags are an extremely resource-efficient disposable bag choice. Plastic grocery bags require 70% less energy to manufacture than paper bags, and produce half the amount of greenhouse gas emissions in the process.

Choose biodegradable bags. There are a ton of biodegradable options out in the market now. I read somewhere that they add tapioca to the ingredients.

Purchase sturdy reusable bags. A tweed bag or fabric bag not only lasts you 10x longer than plastic bags but also can be trendy and stronger. These come in all shapes and sizes to fit your needs and fashion requirements ;)

4 Most Dangerous Emissions

I went to the London Natural History Museum a few weeks ago and was impressed by the wealth of information available. Leaving the museum, I realised how complicated the world ecosystem was, is, and will be.

I want to share with you the 4 most dangerous emissions contributed by humans in today's society.

NOx
Real Name: Nitrogen Dioxide, Nitric Oxide, Nitrous Oxide Gases.
Source: Fossil fuels (oil, coal, gas) burned in power stations and car exhaust fumes
Release: NOx gases are released by burning fossil fuels. Some stay close to ground level while others dissolve in water vapour and move higher into the atmosphere.
Action and effect: The effects of NOx gases vary...
- In the atmosphere they transform into nitric acid, which can produce unnaturally acidic rain, damaging plants and buildings
- At low levels they react with sunlight to create ozone, which causes asthma and breathing problems

CFCs
Real Name: Chlorofluorocarbon gases.
Source: Refrigeration and air conditioning units. Propellants in aerosol cans, fast food containers and coffee cups, polymer foams in furniture and car seats.
Release: CFCs are released into the atmosphere from aerosol cans, leaks in old or discarded fridges and freezers, from industrial plants and from polymer foams as they age.
Action and effect:
CFCs have entered the upper atmosphere over the past 40 years. Here they react with the sunlight to create chlorine, which destroys the layer of ozone gas. Ozone depletion is thought to be responsible for ...
- reduced growth of plants and insects
- increased skin cancer and sunburn
- human allergic reactions to light

Pesticides
Real Name: Fungicide, herbicide, insecticide. There are around 450 pesticides licensed for use in the UK.
Source: Mostly agricultural, where they are used to prevent pest damage and improve crop yield.
Release: Pesticides can affect plants and animals when there are is over-spraying, water run-off, soil erosion or leaking of water from fields into groundwater.
Action and effect:
Pesticides are known to cause muscle cramps, diarrhea, shaking and blurred vision. Over the longer term they may affect the immune system, cause birth defects and genetic problems.

Effluent
Real Name: Effluent - the general name given waste products given from towns, industry or agriculture that enter rivers and streams in an untreated state.
Source: Most effluent spills come from 'point sources' - a specific factory, farm, sewage works or urban area.
Release: When accidental discharges occur, living systems downstream or in the sea can be devastated.
Action and effect:
- Chemical effluent can directly poison plants and animals.
- Organic effluent such as farm slurry or sewage waste is rapidly broken down by micro-organisms in the water causing their explosive growth. This causes a dramatic fall in oxygen levels, suffocating other living organisms. This is called eutrophication.


So, after reading these 4 explanations of the most dangerous emissions from human society today, how do you think we can manage, control or prevent?