Did you know it takes up to 300 years for a plastic bag to decompose fully?
Waste from plastic bags poses a severe environmental danger to human and animal health. If plastic bags are not properly disposed of, they can impact the environment by causing littering and stormwater drain blockages. Animals may also get tangled and drown in plastic bags. Animals often confuse the bags for food and consume them, blocking their digestive processes.
Plastic bags do not bio-degrade. That means that if a plastic bag is not properly recycled, it will exist on Earth for 1,000 years before it fully decomposes into soil.
But Re-usable bags can be harmful to the environment too:
Most reusable bags, such as cotton, organic cotton, paper bags, and polypropylene, use much energy in manufacturing. You need to re-use the bag MANY times to prevent damages that plastic bags cause to our environment and ecosystem.
How many times do you need to use a re-usable bag for it to offset the environmental costs of its production?
The Best Reusable Bag
Reusable bags made of organic cotton are the best for grocery shopping or carrying items. The reason why you should buy organic cotton bags:
Want to learn more Read on here. theconversation.com/heres-how-many-times-you-actually-need-to-reuse-your-shopping-bags-101097
How many times do you need to use a re-usable bag for it to offset the environmental costs of its production?
- Polypropylene bags- 37 times
- Paper bags- 43 times
- Cotton bags- 7,100 times
- Organic Cotton- 20,000 times
- Grocery stores plastic bags- 4 times (After use dispose of bag properly)
The Best Reusable Bag
Reusable bags made of organic cotton are the best for grocery shopping or carrying items. The reason why you should buy organic cotton bags:
- Use around 70% less water and energy to be manufactured
- It is more durable and last longer than other bags
- Organic cotton is grown with fewer pesticides and doesn't need a lot of chemicals for treatment
- Organic Cotton bags can be reused up to 20,000 times
Want to learn more Read on here. theconversation.com/heres-how-many-times-you-actually-need-to-reuse-your-shopping-bags-101097
NJ Get Past Plastic Law
According to the NJDEP website starting May 4, 2022, the law prohibits all stores, including retail, Foodservice businesses, and grocery stores, from selling or providing customers with single-use plastic carryout bags. Single-use paper carryout bags are allowed to be provided or sold except by grocery stores equal to or larger than 2500 square feet.
Penalties for Violating Plastic Law:
Want to learn more visit: www.nj.gov/dep/get-past-plastic/
According to the NJDEP website starting May 4, 2022, the law prohibits all stores, including retail, Foodservice businesses, and grocery stores, from selling or providing customers with single-use plastic carryout bags. Single-use paper carryout bags are allowed to be provided or sold except by grocery stores equal to or larger than 2500 square feet.
Penalties for Violating Plastic Law:
- A warning for a first offense
- Up to $1,000 per day for the second offense
- Up to $5,000 per day for the third and subsequent violations
Want to learn more visit: www.nj.gov/dep/get-past-plastic/
To report violations of the single-use plastic contact:
NJ Department of Environmental Protection
By Phone: 1-877-WARN-DEP | 1-877-927-6337
By smartphone app: click here (Apple devices)
By smartphone app: click here (android devices)
Question and Concerns contact: camdencollaborative@camdencpinc.com
NJ Department of Environmental Protection
By Phone: 1-877-WARN-DEP | 1-877-927-6337
By smartphone app: click here (Apple devices)
By smartphone app: click here (android devices)
Question and Concerns contact: camdencollaborative@camdencpinc.com