CLEVER USES FOR THAT STASH OF PLASTIC BAGS
AIM to cut back on plastic food storage bags to the point where you are so good at repurposing packaging you never again need to buy a roll of new bags. This is a simple, speedy way to cut back on plastic consumption. Even if you always say no to plastic bags at checkouts and avoid as much packaging as possible, you will still find plenty of them making their way into your home.
Here are some ideas to help you put each one to good use, and tips on how to recycle them, too . . .
REUSE the plastic bag in your box of cereal or wrapped around your loaf of bread to hold your children’s sandwiches. EXTEND the life of any bag by washing it in warm, soapy water
between uses and letting it dripdry on your draining board. A specially designed bag dryer might help — try the Kira bag drying rack (£34.72, etsy.com).
PLASTIC carrier bags nearing the end of their life can be used to line small household bins. Check with your local authority, but in most cases you don’t need to use big, black bin bags inside your wheelie bin — small recycled shopping bags will do.
IF YOUR kerbside recycling system can’t take plastic carrier bags or flimsy plastic wrapping, drop them off at your nearest big supermarket the next time you’re passing — Asda, Morrisons, Sainsbury’s, Tesco, the Co-op and Waitrose all have collection points at their larger stores.