Plastic bags don't just fade away

In this story from the Capital Times in Wisconsin serious doubt is cast on the recyling programs that appear to be addressing the plastic bags problem. Here's what the story says: What happens to all those plastic bags that Copps invites us to bring in for recycling? A conscientious friend of mine asked at the service desk of one of the stores and was told they didn't know. She later asked at the municipal recycling center and was told the center doesn't handle bags and that they were probably just thrown out. So what's the story? When we take in those plastic bags are we doing good or just feeling good? • According to the Film and Bag Federation, a business unit of the Society of the Plastics Industry, by 1992 nearly half of U.S. supermarkets had recycling for plastic bags (kind of like being half in the bag). The city of Madison's Web site lists Kohl's Department Stores at East Towne and West Towne and Copps on Whitney Way and Shopko Drive as collection points. The city of Middleton says "please no plastic bags" in its curbside recycling brochure. Neither Kohl's nor Copps responded to inquiries by snail mail and e-mail about what they do with bags people may bring in. So maybe it is just a feel-good thing. Madison recycling coordinator George Dreckmann says the municipal recycling center doesn't handle bags. He suggested checking with GAR Plastics in Madison. That company also didn't respond to an e-mail query. The best advice is to use and reuse cloth or bags. You can wash and rewash them, too." I couldn't agree more. So much more elegant than leaving behind stuff that our grandkids will curse us for. We surely don't want to piss these guys off do we? Plastic bags may look cheaper to start with but extract a huge eventual price. Cloth bags are more affordable than most people think. Just see how affordable at www.badlani.com/bags/