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Washington Evening Journal
111 North Marion Avenue
Washington, IA 52353
319-653-2191
Goodwill says goodbye to plastic bags
ON THE UPSIDE
Southeast Iowa Union offers audio versions of articles using Instaread. Some words may be mispronounced.
Nationwide, Goodwill, a leading non-profit organization, is taking a significant step towards sustainability by phasing out single-use plastic bags in all its stores.
Recently, I visited the Fairfield Goodwill store and asked the cashiers their thoughts on getting rid of plastic bag use. Most of the workers are young and were pleased the mother company was looking at a future that would be better for them. This decision, set for completion by January 2025, reflects Goodwill's commitment to environmental responsibility and reducing plastic pollution.
Goodwill's move aligns with a growing national movement to curb plastic bag use. By January 2024, twelve states had enacted bans on single-use plastic bags, and hundreds of cities and towns had followed suit with local ordinances. These measures aim to shift the responsibility for plastic waste from consumers to producers and retailers.
Locally, businesses like Hy-Vee, Everybody’s Grocery, Hazel and Grey, and Green Building Supply are leading the way by providing paper bag alternatives for packaging. Many restaurants including Green Gourmet, Hungry Camel, Noodle House offer paper cups and paper containers.
The environmental impact of plastic bags is significant. These bags, typically used for a mere 12 minutes before being discarded, take centuries to decompose. Globally, an estimated 5 trillion plastic bags are used annually, with an average American family accumulating 60 plastic bags after just four grocery shopping trips. This excessive plastic waste ends up in our landfills and pollutes our natural environment.
The breakdown of plastic bags also contributes to the proliferation of microplastics, tiny fragments that harm ecosystems and potentially impact human health. Zip lock bags are a major culprit of micro plastics.
Reducing and reusing plastic bags are crucial as most are recycled into more plastic bags due to low-quality materials and inefficient processes.
Here's how we can all pitch in and make a difference:
Bring your own reusable bags to the store: Choose from a variety of materials and styles to find bags that suit your shopping needs.
- Reuse plastic bags: Utilize them for lining small trash cans. Use paper shopping bags for your kitchen garbage bag. Line a paper bag with newspaper for better absorption of food scraps.
- Plastic bags make easy makeshift gloves and crafting materials.
- Choose paper bag options: When available, opt for paper bags, especially for fruits and vegetables. Store your produce in the fridge using paper, waxed paper, newspaper, or clean cloths.
- Support local businesses: Encourage your local stores to offer paper bag options and sell reusable tote bags.
Our local Hy-Vee and Walmart on Burlington Avenue provide convenient drop-off bins for customers to recycle cleaned plastic bags. These collected bags are then used to create products like decking and plastic yard furniture. There is also a Terracycle collection bin at Everybody’s Grocery on Second St. for plastic bags and other items that can’t go into single-stream recycling.
Fairfield has benefited from Terracycle’s "Build with Bags Grant Program," receiving funding to construct a bench in Howard Park using recycled plastic bags. It typically takes approximately 500 pounds of plastic, or 40,000 plastic bags, to build a single bench.
Imagine building more park benches around town while dramatically reducing our plastic waste?
By taking these proactive steps, we work together to make Fairfield, cleaner and healthier for ourselves and the children to come.
