subject: Communal Plastic Bags Set a New Standard [print this page] Communal Plastic Bags Set a New Standard Communal Plastic Bags Set a New Standard
Anyone who has visited Israel in the past five years must have noticed something strange on the streets. It appears every two blocks. Giant cages where residents drop off all of their plastic bottles and plastic bags, for reuse. The plastic bottles are stored in the large compartment, where they await pick up by the city recycling units. The poly bags are stored in a smaller cage in front of the bigger one. They are meant to be reused by fellow residents of the block. But who really uses them? Apparently more people than you might think.Poly bags have many beneficial qualities if used right. One of them being their many uses. And the cages in Israel are an example of how communities around the world can work together to make sure poly bags have a full life cycle before being ripped apart and thrown away. But Israel is not the only one trying new ways to recycle and reuse plastic bags.Here in the U.S., plastic manufacturers are starting to create biodegradable plastic bags made from many different materials that are able to dissolve in the earth properly. Communities in New York are placing plastic bag sharing locations where people can drop off their used plastic bags and others can pick them up if they need the firm reliable grip of a plastic bag. They are placed in strategic locations near supermarkets or corner delis.The internet is helping this trend by allowing social networks to share information about where these communal plastic bag locations are, and allow users to share their stories and get more people on board. The key to this succeeding is people being aware of where poly bags are being shared and making this location "viral." Eventually there is just so much the Internet can do. People will need to physically take their plastic bags and reuse them or place them in one of these communal cages.Whether it's cages or communal sharing outposts, reusing plastic bags is part of what makes them a great asset to the modern world. Now, as the world turns a page and steps into the next stage of human understanding, it is up to communities to Reshape the way they consume poly bags, and allow for a larger life cycle for a product that has for a long time been a disposable item, but is now getting a second chance.
