Bagging Service - Canvas vs. Plastic: The War of the Bags
Remember the Environment
The environment is a very important aspect to everyday life. While students may not think they interact with the environment on a daily basis, the choices they make everyday can impact our world in either a good or bad way.
Students interested in making a positive choice for the environment should consider taking canvas shopping bags when getting groceries. Plastic bags hurt wildlife, clog up sewer drains, and fill up landfills. Despite this, the United States continues to consume over 30 billion plastic bags every year.
Using a canvas bag can eliminate the use of about 1,000 plastic bags. Canvas bags can also be reused in many different settings (getting groceries, taking an overnight bag, etc.) and as are sometimes more convenient to carry than plastic bags — throwing a canvas bag over your shoulder is a little easier than a plastic bag.
How Can I Help?
As a college student, you can help with this problem in as little as 15 minutes! The first thing you can do is get some canvas bags of your own to use. Look for canvas bags at thrift stores, garage sales, and (yes) even your own home. You can also ask for a canvas bag for a small gift (a canvas bag would be a great stocking stuffer!)
Once you have some canvas bags, the second step is to use them! Keep some in your car or by the door to help you remember to bring the bags in when you go shopping. If you find yourself with too many canvas bags, pass them on to family and friends and encourage them to avoid contributing to plastic waste.
Being able to decrease the use of plastic bags can help aquatic life and is a great way to make a difference in a short amount of time.
Still Want More?
If you would like to volunteer for more than 15 minutes to help the environment, check out Douglas-Hart Nature Center (217-235-4644) and Embarrass Volunteer Stewards (217-345-6476). Both organizations are committed to the education, enjoyment and conservation of the world we live in. If you have any more questions about plastic bag usage or other volunteer opportunities, please contact us at 217-581-6048 or volunteer@eiu.edu.
