Towards Zero Waste

by Anita Young

Reuse Those Reusable Shopping Bags!!

As we roll into the new year, many people make resolutions. Most are oriented toward some type of improvement. Diet, exercise, books to read, family time, self care, new hobbies, career ambitions, and social media limits are all featured on the top 10 resolutions. I have not been a resolution maker but this year is a first. I have resolved to not buy another reusable shopping bag!

Now you might be shaking your head at this moment. The theme of this issue of the AWA magazine is Sustainability and Living Greener. Yet, I just contradicted this mission. Don’t worry, I haven’t lost all my marbles yet.

Upon doing some cleaning and straightening of my kitchen storage closet, I stumbled upon not ONE but 16 reusable bags. Where did all these bags come from? Why do I continue to purchase more and more?

Reusable Shopping Bags

These are all very good questions I asked myself after unearthing this stash. Well, it is a very simple answer. My personal mission to rid my life of single-use plastic shopping bags has been long in the making. A quick consult with the folks at Google indicates that these plastic bags started to be introduced in the early to mid 80’s. I recall the change from a paper shopping bag to plastic and I didn’t care for it. They slid around in the car with your items spilling out, you could not use them as homemade book covers (yes, I am that old), you cannot use them in the garden as a weed blocker. So really, what was the attraction? Then it was revealed that they will take anywhere from 20 to 500 years to breakdown on where they land. That was the final straw for me. I banned them from personal use. So along comes the reusable bags. Genius right? I started purchasing them everywhere I shopped. But we are now an empty nest house shopping for two. Why am I still buying them? Some bags are from other countries that we lived in; some have nice designs printed on them; but, most are a result of my unpreparedness.

I often find myself popping into the grocery, pharmacy or bookstore without a bag in hand. And just like that I purchase another and add to the collection. Now you might be saying 16 isn’t really all that bad. You must carry them along sometimes when you shop. Yes, but based not often enough. So, my new year's resolution has been launched. I stocked the car, added a small canvas bag to carry along with my handbag, and developed a checklist for leaving the apartment: face mask, trace together app, umbrella and reusable shopping bag.

I was tested just this week. While visiting the National Museum of Singapore, my friend noted that a shopping bag is included with every purchase. Ohhhh I thought long and hard about what I needed from the gift store but held steady and left without adding to the collection. One less bag at a time.

Anita Young joined AWA in 2020 and is an active member in many areas. She is currently AWA's Vice President.