Comments on: Paper or Plastic? Neither!

By: Walking to buy groceries—one more thing I love about living in Midtown : AroundMidtown.com

Mon, 28 Jan 2008 02:07:36 +0000

[...] Pat and I have prided ourselves on walking to get groceries since we moved to Midtown Atlanta. As much as I like cutting my carbon emissions, I love the idea of “working” to get food. The concept of burning calories in order to feed myself is so natural. And I don’t feel quite as bad when I buy a box of brownie mix. Although we sometimes drive to Wal-Mart or Whole Foods for particular items, we walk to Trader Joe’s and the Ansley Mall Kroger and Publix. Today, we discovered the much better practice of going to the Publix in Plaza Midtown (at Peachtree Place and Spring). It is so much closer to us than Ansley Mall, and the store has reasonable prices and a decent selection of groceries. I have no idea why we didn’t think of it before—for some reason I always imagined it was much farther than four blocks. Here’s a picture of my beautiful man carrying groceries home in one of our recyclable Whole Foods bags: [...]

By: Ruth

Ruth — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 22:53:32 +0000

May I offer a suggestion for a socially responsible and excellent shopping basket? Check out the Blessing Basket Project’s (non-profit) website at http://www.blessingbasket.org where you can purchase a sturdy “Ghana Shopping” basket that will a bit hold more than a large paper bag’s worth of groceries. Baskets also make a wonderful gift! That’s how I received mine! I receive many compliments all the time when I shop so I kept the leather tag that it comes with attached to the handle so others can know where to buy one for themselves. These beautiful baskets are crafted by artisans in third world countries and they are paid “prosperity fair trade wages.” Share the idea with family & friends! I believe they are also available at Whole Foods Stores.

By: decaturite

decaturite — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 20:15:03 +0000

There are limited options when it comes to implementing a Pay as You Throw system. Plastic garbage bags are a small price to pay for the increase in recycling as a result of the program.

Mesh/reusable grocery bags are a easy replacement compared to finding an alternative to the plastic garbage bag.

By: mbjesq

mbjesq — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 19:59:39 +0000

Carrying cloth bags is an easy, principled thing we can all do.In India, plastic bags are an even bigger environmental disaster, because so many people are in the habit of throwing their trash wherever they happen to be standing at the moment. So it's pretty cool that a hot, young, Indian clothing designer has taken a fresh look at the cloth bag revolution by injecting high-fashion, ease-of-use, and distribution within the gift-economy.The story of her project, called Small Steps, is utterly inspiring. Read about it here.

By: Buzz

Buzz — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 19:39:20 +0000

Then, continuing the stream of thought (obviously having not thought it all the way through as I should have before commenting), if the City can recycle its own plastic bags, it should be able to also recycle any plastic grocery bags people throw out.

By: Buzz

Buzz — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 19:33:36 +0000

OK, I may have made a false assumption. Perhaps they empty the bags and then recycle them. Anybody know for sure? Of course, recycling them takes some energy.

By: Buzz

Buzz — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 19:28:02 +0000

Given this information, what should Decatur do about it’s solid waster collection program, which currently uses non-recycled plastic?

I don’t see how the city could ban plastic at stores as long as it uses it in its own program, without being a bit hypocritcal.

How do you guys dispose of your items which can’t be recycled?

By: realworldmartha

realworldmartha — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 16:04:45 +0000

Terrific post! I have my own bags and the store even gives me a small credit for them. And I pack my groceeries my way instead of having my milk on top of my eggs and 3 smushed pieces of fruit.