Some Facts About Bags!

My first re-usable bags were those string mesh bags that were only available in import stores like Cost Plus and Pier 1 (before they went all chi-chi high end furnitures). Then, I had nylon mesh bags - I still have some of those though some have been stolen. I now have about 16 canvas bags -- I swear they multiply like rabbits when the closet door is closed. The most recent additions are 2 chico bags... enough! No more reusable bags. I can purchase groceries for a camping trip of 20 with the bags I have.

Sadly, that is not the experience of most people. According to an EPA statistic on the Reusable Bags website (http://www.reusablebags.com/facts.php?id=4), the U.S. consumes over 380 billion plastic bags, sacks and wraps each year.

Here are some more figures:
* Introduced just over 25 years ago, the ugly truth about our plastic bag addiction is that society's consumption rate is now estimated at well over 500,000,000,000 (that's 500 billion) plastic bags annually, or almost 1 million per minute.

* Single-use bags made of high-density polyethylene (HDPE) are the main culprit. Once brought into existence to tote your purchases, they'll accumulate and persist on our planet for up to 1,000 years.

* Australians alone consume about 6.9 billion plastic bags each year, that's 326 per person. According to Australia's Department of Environment, an estimated 49,600,000 annually end up as litter.

* In 2001, Ireland used 1.2 billion disposable plastic bags, or 316 per person. An extremely successful plastic bag tax, or PlasTax, introduced in 2002 reduced consumption by 90%.

* According to The Wall Street Journal, the U.S. goes through 100 billion plastic shopping bags annually. An estimated 12 million barrels of oil is required to make that many plastic bags.

* Four out of five grocery bags in the US are now plastic.