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Don't forget your tote, DC!

By
Real Estate Agent with None

You have probably noticed that most stores you go in these days have implemented a fee for any bags that you use a the grocery store that you didn't bring yourself. So then, you've probably also noticed that most people tote their own reusable bags into the store when they head in because they know that they are doing their part to reduce the amount of plastic bags clogging up landfills, and that they will not face a five cent fee. There are plenty of people who save up their plastic grocery and shopping bags and then put them in the recycling bin when the time comes; however, these plastic bags are not recyclable, and actually cause a much larger problem once they have been sent to be recycled than you would think. They get caught in the sorters at the recycling facilities and ultimately end up getting cast out into landfills. National Geographic states "data released by the United States Environmental Protection Agency in 2001 on U.S. plastic bag, sack, and wrap consumption, somewhere between 500 billion and a trillion plastic bags are consumed worldwide each year. Of those, millions end up in the litter stream outside of landfills—estimates range from less than one to three percent of the bags." The Washington Times reminded us on January 2, 2010 that " Jan. 1 is the start of Washington's new fee on disposable bags." Maybe a fee is a part of the solution, or maybe just getting creative with the way we carry our purchases home with us can be a part of the solution?

A recent article in USAA's member newsletter discussed how one of our Maryland neighbors, Chris Charbonneau, and his wife, Kate, created a thriving business out of their love of recycling, a good idea. “My wife and I had plenty of those 99-cent reusable bags grocery stores sell. But we were constantly leaving them behind when we walked out the door to go shopping,” says Charbonneau. “We needed something we could stash in my wife’s purse or easily hold in one hand. So we came up with our own solution.” I recently saw some bags that very well may have been the Charbonneau's at Eastern Market. They had them in all sorts of colors shapes and sizes and they collapse on themselves to be easily stored and most importantly- remembered when you're going to go shopping! Like the Charbonneau's, I have found that I need to have the reusable bags in my car and another set by the front door at all times so that I remember them when I go to the store. This new fee, that we brought up back in April when we first learned about it, has been implemented by most stores as of January 1 may remind us to start bringing those bags in. Whether we are in DC or Springfield, purchasing or making your own reusable bags just makes sense! I know for certain that Springfield area grocery stores are charging this 5 cent fee to those of us who don't remember to bring our own bags. Just think, by bringing your own bags, you'll not only be saving the environment, but your be saving five cents per bag!

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