Have you noticed how hard it is to get a plastic bag these days?
When I was a young nipper we lugged the groceries home in big wicker baskets that scoured your hip and cut through your arm to the bone. Then, thanks to the miracles of modern technology, we got plastic bags, which also cut through your arm to the bone, but left your hip mercifully unscathed.
Where are they now? Where are the plastic bags of yesteryear? Apparently 20 million Australians currently use around 5 billion plastic check-out bags every year. I’d like to know where they are, you can’t get them in Collingwood. My shop only has paper bags, and the last time I asked there for a plastic bag, the Young Thing at the checkout rolled her eyes round like a nervous horse as if I had asked her for frangers.
According to the National Geographic News, paper bags are the environmentally friendly choice because they’re made from a renewable natural resource, and can be re-used again and again.
How? How do you re-use them? Mine last five bloody minutes, I’d rather have the plastic. They might scar your arm for life but they don’t tear at the bottom and let your oranges, eggs and milk drop on the footpath.
Get yourself some cloth bags and quit the bitching. Plastic doesn’t degrade on the landfill. It just sort fills it. Here’s an idea … have any old pants lying around? Tie bottom of the pants, closing off the holes your feet would fit through. Put a belt on around the waist, and voila — cloth bags. You’ll have to get used to the weird looks.
How eminently sensible. One could then put the pants across the shoulder with the legs hanging down front and back. As a matter of fact I have some old golfing trews that I’ve been reluctant to part with, in a very smart tartan, I’ll get to work on those
How about the wonderful green bags that are available. And they’re easy to carry.
You sound just like my Home help girl!