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Plastic Bags ~ Convenience vs. the Environment

by Laura on November 4th, 2013

In Serbia, plastic bags are a commodity.

In the US, plastic bags are the enemy of the now-ubiquitous “go green” mentality of liberal corporate America.

Not that either is a bad thing. Just keepin’ it real here.

‘Single-bag it’ at your own risk.
Credit: “Pink Plastic Bag” by winnond, freedigitalphotos.net

No, no, I totally get the math.

Plastic bags + landfills = thousands of years of chemicals and shit in the ground.

But in Serbia, since vendors pay for their own plastic bags, they don’t give them out all willy-nilly.

I have seen cashiers stuff three one-liter bottles, a bag of chips (Who cares if they all get crushed? Only me, apparently), and a box of pasta into one bag. I have since learned, that without the miracles of double-bagging, cardboard corners are plastic bags’ biggest enemies.

For some reason, the cashier gets all huffy when I repack one of these flimsy excuses for a plastic bag. Hey lady, just because it fits, doesn’t mean it’s a good idea, or that I can carry it home without contents flying.

[In my defense, I usually bring canvas bags with me, and I do reuse plastic bags. I even used to recycle them in the US, but that's not a thing here.]

Chez Target

So I admit, it is possible that I was looking forward to the plethora of sturdy plastic bags and double-bagging when I visited Maryland. Hey, it’s the little things, people, don’t judge.

Specifically, the first thing we did when we woke up in America was walk to Target. I know, tragic. But hey, we were jetlagged, carless and in the suburbs. Awesome combo, jetlag & Target. Makes for super-great purchasing choices.

Ninety minutes and several fabulous outfits for my daughter-later, we stand in line. The fine young lady asks me if I want plastic bags.

I look at her, speechless. I glance at the conveyor belt piled three-deep, and back to her earnest expression. It takes all my strength to refrain from rolling my eyes.

I’m thinking, I know I’m tired, but isn’t it clear that I’m gonna need some bags for all this stuff? What does she expect, I dress the kids in five shirts each, à la ‘homeless-chic’ and avoid bags altogether?

Finally, I respond, “I think I need bags, don’t you?”

“How many do you want?”

Even without the jetlag, I’m not sure I could estimate how many. “Um, I don’t know, how many do you think?”

“Two, maybe?”

Really? Two bags for all this stuff?

Finally, she explains the real issue. I guess now that Maryland has gone green, patrons have to purchase plastic bags for a few cents each. I wonder who pockets the proceeds from this environment-friendly initiative (that puts the onus on shoppers)? Surely not Target, nooooooo.

Post Script.

This weekend, when my daughter was ready to exchange her shoes for rollerblades, I grabbed a stray plastic bag to use for her sneakers.

And by stray, I mean trash.

As in, I grabbed a bag that was blowing in the wind.

I am not proud of this, but in that moment, I didn’t feel like carrying her sneakers or putting their dirty soles in contact with the interior of my fabulous purse. So I took it.

Don’t worry, I did check that there wasn’t a used condom inside.

And for leaving you with this disturbing (but free!) image … You’re welcome.

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From → Expat Mommy

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