Paper or plastic?

By Barbara Sims

If plastic bags are such so bad, you might be tempted to switch to paper bags. Problem is the paper bags take about the same amount of oil to make as a plastic bag, are six times as bulky and therefore require more transport fuel and they generally fall apart after one use.

Most of them will end up in the landfills, will rot and release greenhouse gases to the atmosphere. That's something we're trying to avoid, right?

Biodegradable plastic bags have the same problem - the fact that they break down isn't really a benefit unless they end up in the right sort of composting system.

The benefits of plastic are that they are light-weight, cheap and good at their job. Some people suggest that they might also be one of the best forms of carbon storage.

Plastic bags seem to have become a symbol of our wasteful society. There's no harm in that as long as they don't distract our attention from doing things that really do make a big difference.

If we all start bringing our own bags made from, paper, plastic or fabric; we will still have to go back to the store and buy more plastic bags to line our small garbage containers.

Does this make sense to you?

Who is running this show anyway?

Save $ making your own

grease-cutting window cleaner

Lemon for windows cleaner

Ingredients: Lemon Juice and purified water. One 16 oz. spray-bottle, a fine mesh strainer or coffee filter.

How to make: Add 1-2 tsp. lemon juice (fresh lemon works best) to 16 oz. water. Make sure to strain the lemon juice before adding. Remember lemon juice will spoil, so use up fast or refrigerate after use.

How to use: This works great for particularly dirty or greasy windows like in the kitchen, hand and nose prints form the kids and where the dog sleeps.

Barbara Sims may be reached at wseditor@robinsonnews.com