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| Tuesday, October 28, 2008 |
| Right On Target |
Reusable, recyclable tote bags, how did we ever live without them? At first I thought they were just incredibly convenient. Later I found Totes give the user a magical power. Instead of carrying lots of small plastic bags which cut off the circulation in my wrist or fingers and smash everything together inside, I would pile all the little ‘t-shirt’ bags into a big tote and carry groceries and supplies easily.
I’m always transporting things to work, which means across a parking lot, through a lobby, waiting for the elevator, and down a long hall. One giant bag with good handles becomes your new best friend! I keep another huge tote in my back hall closet, and whenever I think of something I want to bring along on the next visit to my kids, I drop it in the bag. Owning a tote bag is EASY. Learning to remember to bring it with you is HARDER. I know I’m not alone when I say that! That’s when we can say “no plastic, thank-you” and fill our totes. When I have the tote I find things fit better, and balance better to carry out. Leaving a store with your purchases in your tote, without plastic, makes you feel great. It’s one of those awesome, life- altering moments, like getting your drivers license. You feel all grown up and powerful. This time the power allows you to help save the planet! That’s the magic.
My first set of reusable, recyclable totes was a 3-pack from Costco. Two green rectangular bags with velcro closures, and a double set of sturdy handles. You can carry the bag in your hand or balanced well on your shoulder. The third bag is blue, and made of the same space-age material as Hot&Cold bags. These bags work for three hours without ice or heat to maintain the temperature of what ever you place inside. They’re easy to wipe clean, fold flat, and fit in a very small space. I think this set was $12.00, two years ago, and it’s still in perfect shape. I love having these totes in my car. They join the family of coolers I’ve had for almost 25 years.
When I first moved to Florida, a very nice lady told me to buy a big cooler and keep it in the trunk of my car at all times. She said I would learn to appreciate it. I bought a big red 40 gallon Coleman boat cooler, mostly just to see what would happen. It went in the back of my old Volvo station wagon. The A.C. wasn’t great in the front, the back seat was hot, and the ‘wayback’ was worse. Have you ever visited Florida in the summer? We moved here in late June, 23 years ago. It was HOT, and got hotter each day for months! By July, I just wanted to climb inside the cooler and live there. That first summer, as I waited in camp carpool lines, and even at red lights, I thought longingly of how cool and shady it would be inside my big red cooler. I often wondered what my new neighbors would think if I installed seat belts, cut off the top, and let my kids ride around inside the Coleman. I’m not sure that’s what the nice lady had in mind, but I did grow to love that cooler and everything else about my adopted state.
Eventually we all acclimated, and learned that groceries inside the cooler survived those carpool lines and lots of other errands. Everything stayed fresh, nothing spilled, and 24 years later a cooler is always in my trunk. I still own Big Red, my first cooler, because she still works, she was my faithful companion those first years and we share the same outward signs of aging…our edges are a little worn, and our natural color has faded. Coolers have come in many shapes, sizes and compositions over the years. Some have wheels, some play music, and some have been ecological disasters. I loved Styrofoam coolers for a while in the old days. Inexpensive, light weight, and convenient, they did their job well. Cold things stayed cold, hot things hot. Twice a year they would appear in the supermarket. Fall for tailgating and summer for boats and picnics. Priced at $.99 cents, they appeared to be a bargain. When I first read that they were bad for the environment, I felt awful. I realized I couldn’t bury, drown, or chop them up so they still live in my garage, inside Ms. Red. Someday science may prove Styrofoam less damaging than currently suggested, but my pieces show no signs of disintegrating, while everything else around them ages.
Like coolers, Tote bags become a way of life. The current generation of reusable, recyclable bags are strong, good looking, and long lasting. Giant bags make my days so much more convenient that I forget I’m supposed to be using them as a good citizen of my planet. My only question now is what to do with the gallons and gallons of plastic bags I’ve accumulated. While they still exist, and are in my possession, I store them all inside one designated ‘outside’ bag. I’m like the clown with the rainbow-colored scarves when I reach inside to use one. I long for the day a designated collector will appear, and remove them all from our houses, cars and offices. Have you ever thought about how much space they occupy? Do you have a wall next to your refrigerator lined with a compressed cubic feet of plastic bags? I’m hoping to send my old Styrofoam cooler pieces away with the bags if the collector will take them!
If you are just getting started or looking for a ‘stylish’ addition to your collection, check out "the reusable Retote bag from Target". It’s my favorite new tote, and I’m giving it so much attention I’m worried the Hot&Cold and Costco bags are being mean to it when it is in the trunk with them. Target and Terracycling have teamed up to offer you the Retote Bag at no charge. It’s part of a national campaign to encourage, educate and promote recycling. You exchange 5 of your old Target plastic bags for the recycled Retote Bag. This offer is free, including shipping both ways, and you’ll have 5 less plastic bags! Newsweek and People Magazine have both profiled this exchange, which expires on November 30, 2008.
Another great tote is offered through the New York Times and 5 New York area Supermarket chains. Get “The Free Reusable Elizabeth Haub Bag” ONLY in the New York Tristate area “every Sunday October 19th thru November 9th when you buy The SUNDAY New York Times at participating A&P, Food Emporium, Super Fresh, Pathmark and Waldbaum’s supermarkets.” Like fresh bagels, and the Times at Midnight, Saturday, its one more thing the rest of us won’t get.
Look these offers up, try and take advantage! You’ll love these bags, and the way they’ll make you feel.
- Nancy
Labels: Healthy Planet, Nancy
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posted by The Sensei Team @ Tuesday, October 28, 2008   |
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