Paper or Plastic?
November 9, 2003 6:35 AM   Subscribe

What can you do with all those plastic bags? I use mine for scooping cat litter, but some people get really crafty with them. And really clever.
posted by JanetLand (22 comments total)
 
I loop the handles over the edges of the glovebox door in my pickup truck. Instant wastebasket.
posted by alumshubby at 6:44 AM on November 9, 2003


Clever indeed. However he warning 'just like an ordinary matress, this bagbed will burn' really brings to mind some horrible images of . ....... well being wrapped in hundred of burning bags!
posted by kenaman at 6:50 AM on November 9, 2003


Well, don't smoke in bags, then.
posted by alumshubby at 7:08 AM on November 9, 2003


Just noticed some grammar I use look like I inhaling burning bagbed fumes!!!
posted by kenaman at 7:15 AM on November 9, 2003


I like to pass them out to the neighborhood children. We put them over our heads and pretend they're gas masks. Oh, the endless hours of fun we've had!

kidding.
posted by pekar wood at 7:19 AM on November 9, 2003


i toss them out in the garbage, where they belong....
and have started insisting on brown paper bags, when possible....
or i use my french shopping bag to load the groceries in.
posted by billybobtoo at 8:07 AM on November 9, 2003


Sometimes, there's so much beauty in the world, I can't stand it.
posted by psmealey at 8:17 AM on November 9, 2003


that reminds me, i have to change the kitty litter. thanks janet.
posted by clavdivs at 8:45 AM on November 9, 2003


Wastepaper basket liners...or I return them to the store (they have a plastic bag recycling container).
posted by bhorling at 9:16 AM on November 9, 2003


I shape them into Viking hats whenever it's raining.
posted by Smart Dalek at 9:47 AM on November 9, 2003


This is good, and the site's design is cute. Thanks!
posted by WolfDaddy at 9:59 AM on November 9, 2003


And some people recycle them into reusable bags.
posted by kat at 11:50 AM on November 9, 2003


A floormate of mine made, from about a gazillion six-pack rings, a hammock which could support two adults. I wouldn't be too surprised if he's using a plastic bag quilt!
posted by whatzit at 11:57 AM on November 9, 2003


I liked this story (found on boingboing) about kids in Burundi who make their footballs out of discarded plastic bags and scraps of fabric.
posted by hashashin at 11:58 AM on November 9, 2003


I just don't know
posted by Dreamghost at 12:35 PM on November 9, 2003


Mine get filled with cat poop as well.
posted by boredomjockey at 2:33 PM on November 9, 2003


I usually don't get many bags in the first place - I go to a grocery store where they charge for bags, and so just use my cloth bags. For other kinds of shopping I tell the cashier "no bag" unless it's absolutely necessary and I can't just put the item in my shoulder bag, and then the bags I do get I use for garbage bags or lunch bags or whatever - I never have more than one bag of bags them on hand.

This is really creative, but I can't imagine taking the time to do this or actually using many of these items. If I had too many bags, I'd donate them to a food bank - they can always use them.
posted by orange swan at 4:00 PM on November 9, 2003


It was one of those days when it's a minute away from snowing. And there's this electricity in the air, you can almost hear it, right?
posted by roboto at 6:08 PM on November 9, 2003


I stuff a couple into a film canister to keep in my pocket when hiking, where they get used as trail trash collectors. What's not in the truck or the pocket generally finds use for cat poop, although the things make pretty fair lunch/picnic bags, and I've been known to lug one around as a basic sort of man-purse when I've got loose items too awkward for pockets. I hate carrying stuff in my hand (including the bag) but I hate backpacks even more.
posted by majick at 6:27 PM on November 9, 2003


Now you've got me thinking about what people do with film canisters.
posted by pekar wood at 7:43 PM on November 9, 2003


I pretty much reuse or recycle them...but I'd never even considered making art or something useful with them. That's pretty groovy, actually. And the frugal finesse site...I'd never heard of it before, but there's all kinds of neat stuff there. So, Yay JanetLane!
posted by dejah420 at 7:44 PM on November 9, 2003


We always keep a few in the car for motion sickness incidents which happen from time to time travelling with small kids. Gotta inspect them, though, in that case, for holes. If they can't hold air when blown up like a balloon, then they're used for our non-recyclable garbage or for dogwalking.

We have a good supply on hand, so for now we're using reusable fabric and mesh bags when we grocery shop. No need to add to the problem. The only difficulty is that reusable bags create a massive hassle when using the self-checkout which I really hope that stores will address.

And some people recycle them into reusable bags.

Actually, Aimee's bags are made from reused, repurposed and salvaged cotton, not from plastic grocery bags. They're meant to replace plastic altogether.
posted by Dreama at 10:33 PM on November 9, 2003


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