Kamloops – Stung by falling demand for its products, the much-maligned plastic bag industry launched an offensive of its own this week, suggesting reusable grocery bags — the kind you see in the arms of an increasing number of shoppers these days — carry the risk of contamination and possible food poisoning.

The Canadian Plastics Industry Association hired a pair of consultants to conduct what it called the first-ever North American study of reusable bags. It apparently found that more than 60 per cent of such bags examined were tainted by bacteria. And 40 per cent of the bags had yeast or mould present.

Not surprisingly, the consultants said their research showed the safest alternative were single-use bags — the kind more and more supermarkets are charging consumers for, and the kind that litter the landscape, pose a risk to wildlife and blemish the beauty of the countryside.

According to Cathy Cirko, vice-president of the Environment and Plastics Industry Council, an operating unit of the plastics association, the results of the study show that reusables are “a breeding ground for bacteria and pose public health risks — food poisoning, skin infections such as bacterial boils, allergic reactions, triggering of asthma attacks and ear infections.�Fair enough, but let’s use a little common sense here. The idea of reusable shopping bags  is that we reduce the number of plastic ones going into landfills or blowing around streets, parks and natural areas.  More than a billion single-use plastic bags are given away every day — posing a threat to the environment and various wildlife habitats.

There’s no question the world needs to reduce the use of plastic bags, even if they can’t be eliminated all together. Reusable bags are part of the solution and it makes little sense for consumers to be scared off using them because they can carry and transmit germs.

The solution is as simple as a washing machine or bottle of disinfectant.

It should come as no surprise that carrying your laundry or children’s diapers in the same bag as you carry your groceries puts you at risk of contamination. The answer is obvious — don’t do it.

Cloth bags can and should be laundered occasionally. Vinyl bags should be wiped out with a bacteria-fighting cleaner.

When you’re carrying meat, put individual items inside the small bags that are found everywhere in the grocery store to prevent accidental spills. Treat the bags as you would a kitchen cutting board — keep them clean and bacteria-free.

The rewards of reusable bags are obvious. The risks of single-use plastic are just as obvious — take a look around your neighbourhood and watch them blowing in the wind.

Being environmentally conscious isn’t necessarily easy, but it’s the best solution for our planet in the long run. It might take a little extra work, but the reusable-bag option remains the only one that makes sense.

There’s one sure way to beat the paper vs. plastic debate: refuse the store’s bag and bring your own.

Canadians take home over 55 million plastic shopping bags every week. Lightweight and strong, these bags have become a regular part of our shopping experience. They also are part of a litter problem, where bags end up in places Mother Nature didn’t intend. In short, that easy solution to bringing home the milk is also wrecking our environment.  

Dealing with our environmental baggage

Today’s bag is likely tomorrow’s garbage. Consider the life of the bag:

• Non-renewable beginnings – Plastic bags are made out of “film”, or thin flexible sheets of plastic, which are derived from petroleum or natural gas. The finished bag may be marked with the triangular “chasing arrowsâ€� symbol which contains a number, often 2, and sometimes the acronym for high-density polyethylene, or HDPE. The symbol only indicates the type of plastic or resin; it is not a recycling symbol.
• Urban tumbleweed – Empty bags get carried on the wind, ultimately ending up in trees and blocking sewer drains.
• Keeps on going – The properties that make plastic bags durable also make them virtually indestructible. Once in the environment, they don’t readily break down. Your grandchildren could find a bag you discarded.
• Gets dumped – Though we all think we recycle, Canadians send almost three-quarters of their garbage to landfills. For those who actively recycle, not all municipalities accept their plastic bags. So millions of bags are likely to end up in the dump, even allowing for the repeated uses in the home.
• Marine trash – When introduced to the ocean habitat, marine animals such as fish, dolphins, whales, seals, and birds are harmed because they become entangled or mistake plastic debris for food.

Reusable bags are the ultimate practicality

Rather than accept a shopping bag made from non-renewable resources, bring your own bag and refuse the shopping bag from the store.

The advantages are straightforward:

• Less packaging overall
• Less plastic clutter that can harm wildlife habitats
• Reduction in waste going to municipal landfills

Today’s reusable bag comes in a range of materials and sizes. Many food retailers now offer them for sale along with heavy plastic totes that not only handle groceries, but come in handy for many household chores. You also can find string-style bags, sometimes made with organic cotton or hemp, that collapse into a small space in your purse, backpack or computer bag.

Be sure to select the reusable sac or tote that is easiest to carry and is washable.

Check: keys, wallet, reusable bag

Like any new habit, it takes a bit of effort to remember your reusable bags.

• Try putting your empty bags back in the car after you unload your purchases, or leave them on a hook by the door or with your bus pass or car keys.
• Ask your kids to remind you.

Consider these tips from the reusable bag pros:

• Think twice about taking a plastic bag if your purchase is small and easy to carry.
• Keep reusable cloth bags in your home, office, and car so you always have them available when you go to the supermarket or other stores.
• Ask your favourite stores to stop providing bags for free, or to offer a discount for not using the bags. Thank those retailers who already do.

More bagging tips

• A new view on dog poo – While trapping Fido’s output in a reused plastic shopping bag may be easier on the owner, it creates an ever growing landfill problem. Make a reusable scoop from an old detergent bottle and put the remains in your toilet. Dog composting kits are also available from specialty retailers. Be sure to wash your hands after your dog duties.
• Stop bagging small amounts of produce – Since you’ll wash the two lemons or four apples when you get home, skip the extra plastic. The food made it this far; it will survive the journey home in your reusable bag.
• Hey, I use that bag for trash – No problem. Biodegradable trash bags are readily available across Canada.