'Eventually they end up in us'

While we stand on line at the checkout counter in the supermarket we get a glimpse of the amount of plastic bags that are leaving the store just during that short time.

We usually don't give this a second thought.

But these bags are given out all day, all year long in supermarkets across the country.

Where do the 100 billion of bags used in this country each year go?

Unfortunately only between one and six percent end up in the recycling bins and not all of these actually do get recycled.

Most bags end up in landfills or escape into our waterways and eventually the oceans.

There are serious problems with all plastics in the environment, but plastic shopping bags may be the most harmful because there is so much surface area for their weight.

The good news is that it is the one form that is directly under the consumer's control.

Shoppers who bring their own bags can keep dozens of bags out of the environment each month.

And a thoughtful check out clerk who doesn't needlessly double bag, fills the existing bags fuller and asks “ do you need a bag” can even keep hundreds of bags each week from polluting our earth.

Plastic bags do not biodegrade.

Both land and sea animals such as moose and dolphin and whales can eat them and die a painful death.

Eventually the bags break down into smaller particles (which chemically resemble estrogen) then enter the food chain. The particles can sicken fish and disrupt their reproductive cycles. Eventually they end up in us.

In the 50 or so years that plastic has reigned supreme there are already huge islands in the oceans of floating plastic; one in the Pacific is twice the size of Texas.

How much damage will there be in another 50 years?

I truly believe that most people feel very strongly about passing on a diverse, healthy planet to our descendents.

There really is a connection between what we do, and the future of our planet.

Bringing reusable bags or even reusing the plastic ones is something so simple that really does make a difference.

Julia Calderon
Warwick