Why vote for the reusable tote? 继续读下去.
November 1 marked the official start of the plastic bag ban in Beaufort County. What’s the big deal about plastic bags, anyway?
According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), in 2015 landfills across the country acquired a whopping 26 million tons of plastic (including plastic bags), accounting for 18.9 percent of all their municipal solid waste. Beyond significantly increasing refuse in the landfills in our community, plastic litter has a devastating effect on the wildlife around us. The EPA estimates that “plastic marine debris adversely affects at least 267 species globally, including 86 percent of sea turtles, 44 percent of seabirds, and 43 percent of marine mammals.”
If harm to animals is not enough to convince you that plastic bags cause serious damage, how about the evidence that humans are also negatively affected by them? Here again the EPA doesn’t mince words: “Plastic aquatic debris can directly interfere with navigation, impede commercial and recreational fishing, threaten health and safety, and reduce tourism.”
So the plastic bag ban isn’t designed to make it more difficult to shop; it’s designed to save our environment, preserve our ecosystem and its animals and even protect human life!
One hundred percent behind the effort to reduce unnecessary use of plastic, Beaufort Memorial and its Green Team—the hospital’s committee to promote sustainability—have distributed free reusable recyclable totes to employees, physicians and board members. Our guess is that you, too, are on board and already have a recyclable tote of your own.
保持清洁
Reusable bags are great for the environment, but they can harbor harmful bacteria if they are not kept clean. The best way of cleaning your bag depends, not surprisingly, on its composition.
- 帆布包? Easy—throw it in the washer and let it air-dry!
- Recycled plastic or nylon bag? Hand wash with warm, soapy water and air-dry.
- 绝缘包? Give it a once-over with a disinfecting wipe, making sure to cover the nooks and crannies where crumbs can hide.
Plus, for obvious reasons don’t forget to clean your bag after each trip to the grocery store.
让它变得有趣
Does your bag represent your personality? If not, consider finding one that does. The options are endless.
Or if you’re creative, make your own bag. One idea is to buy bags in different colors and label each according to how you pack it in the supermarket checkout line: meats & cheeses; fruits & veggies; frozen foods.
Just remember, the most important thing about reusable bags is to USE (AND REUSE) THEM!
