ways to take out trash without plastic bag

#Ways to take out trash without plastic bag full#

The city has stressed the real consequences of the constant flow of crisp new bags on streets and waterways. “There are other people who are in and around Philadelphia who are still going to have these extra bags, no need to get them brand new,” said Platt. New Jersey will be implementing a statewide single-use plastic bag ban in May, but the supply won’t completely dry up as many Pennsylvania suburbs still allow these bags. He’d go to Facebook neighborhood groups and ask people for their extra plastic bags, which people would happily get rid of. Graduate Hospital resident Ryan Platt, 29, said that when he began cutting his plastic use years ago, he began tapping into the secondhand plastic bag supply. So Krajci’s solution has been to collect the “beer bags” she finds on the street, in the park, and, alas, on trees to give them one more use before they head to the landfill. Other residents described guilt over buying new bags. » READ MORE: Everything you need to know about Philadelphia’s plastic bag banįor Krajci, the cost of biodegradable bags can add up. City officials estimate Philadelphians go through one billion of these bags a year.

(You left your grocery bag at home, again!)Īs bag stashes peter out, Philadelphians like Krajci are finding creative substitutes and repurposing the plastic that’s already out there - turns out there’s a lot.

#Ways to take out trash without plastic bag full#

Some big box stores are still giving out those thicker plastic bags, which are labeled as multi-use and recyclable, but isn’t that still creating new plastic? What if you’re not sold on the cost of compostable bags for picking up after your dog?Įven for residents ready to bid drawers, closets, and under-sink cabinets full of plastic bags adieu, the switch since implementation began in July has led to moments of anxiety, anger, and guilt. Now that full enforcement of Philadelphia’s plastic bag ban has started, what can you use as a substitute to line your small trash cans if you’re trying to avoid buying plastic bags? Dry cleaner bags are exempt from the ban and could be crafted into a liner, but they’re not very thick. “They were never thrown out, in my house at least, and they always found a way to be used.” “The bags were very useful,” said the 31-year-old, who used them for scooping cat litter and picking up dog feces. But, those bags were just the right size for some small trash disposals. Frankford resident Tiff Krajci says she supports a single-use plastic bag ban.