Former Teacher Greens Up Tucson One Plastic Bag at a Time

Lisa Hawkins, a former English teacher asks students in Tucson's schools, "What should we do to reduce the use of plastic bags?"

What's the big deal? Well, here are some stats:

• The average person uses 333 plastic bags every year
• 14 plastic bags contain enough oil to power a car for one mile
• Plastic bags made of polyethylene take over 1,000 years to break down in landfills - during that time, they emit harmful gases back into the atmosphere
• Only one percent of plastic bags are made from biodegradable or compostable materials
• Supermarkets account for 1/2 of all plastic bags, the others half comes from retailers

Lisa lived in Ireland for nine years, and saw a dramatic reduction in bag use and roadside litter only six months after the country transitioned to a new program that effectively banned the use of the disposable plastic bags.

She moved to Tucson in 2006, and immediately began looking for a way to help Tucson green up, and bring about an awareness of how the simple act of not using plastic bags can help the immediate community, and communities, of all types, afar.

"You're talking about polar ice caps melting, and smog in China, and really huge issues my kids feel detached from," she says, "People think taking care of the environment is a big thing, but it's not; it's small, personal choices."

Lianda Ludwig, another bag crusader, created a product to help teach children the importance of taking care of the environment. Called, "Kids Kit to Save the Planet," it comes with an organic cotton renewable shopping bag, fabric paint pens, and instructions on how to decorate their own reusable bag. Ludwig jokes that maybe some of the children who receive the bags will help solve the problems that their parents and grandparents have created.

Click Here for more information about the "Kids Kit to Save the Planet"

Here are some other great resources:

• Lianda Ludwig's organic and Fair Trade shopping bags and totes: http://www.sustainablebags.net/
• Want to know where to recycle those plastic bags? Go to: http://www.plasticbagrecycling.org/
• Recycling news for kids: www.squidoo.com/recyclingfacts
• Make your own bags: http://www.morsbags.com/
• Tiny, tiny bags that can fit into their own carrier that's the size of a key ring, but open up to hold LOTS of stuff: http://www.onyabags.co.uk/
• Fun bags made from recycled juice packs by a women's cooperative in the Phillipines: http://www.doybags.com/

Throw away (well, recycle) those plastic bags now - reuse them, recycle them, or get your hands on reusable bags that will ensure a clean, green planet for our children, and their great grand children.

Thanks for reading,

Alisa