Elanso

I haven’t received a home newspaper delivery in a long time, but I do remember that newspapers started the nasty habit of always putting the goods in a plastic bag, rainy day or nay.

If you find yourself with a load of plastic bags from newspaper delivery, you can try a few things:

• Reuse them for tasks like picking up doggie doo.

• Take them to the plastic bag recycling drop-offs at most grocery stores.

• Ask your newspaper to stop using plastic bags on clear days.

All of those suggestions have their issues. Plastic bags used for doggie doo still won’t break down in the landfill, and plastic bag recycling isn’t efficient. And what if you live somewhere that gets rain nearly every day?

Some potential alternatives to the plastic newspaper bag:

• Ask newspaper to employ a reusable cylinder similar to the type used at drive-through windows at banks. The cylinders would be collected each week and reused. I’m not sure if this has ever been tried as it just popped into my head. Do you see any problems with it?

• Encourage your newspaper to install holders with a lid to keep the rain out. These work like mailboxes, but have actual lids. I know that newspaper boxes exist, but I’ve never seen one with a lid to protect the paper from rain.

• See if your newspaper will implement a “I’ll risk it” policy. That means your account is flagged, and you’ll never receive a plastic bag around your paper. Another bright idea of mine. Do you think it would work?

• If all else fails, just read your paper online or at the library. Or buy it from a stand or machine.

Whatever you do, let your newspaper know that the daily plastic bag bugs you. Ask them to consider alternatives. This topic would also make an interesting letter to the editor of your paper!

Image via MorgueFile.

Click here to learn about all the current contests, themes, and green challenges going on at Tree Hugging Family in June 2008

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