How Many Ziploc Bags Are Used Each Year

The Environmental Touch on of ZipLoc Bags

Calendar week 36

Plastic storage bags, often referred to by well known brand name, ZipLoc, are a staple in in nearly every household. In fact, most estimates show that the average American family uses 500 ZipLoc numberless every year. Though commonly constitute in the kitchen, they are equally useful around the home and on the go. Unfortunately, their convenience comes at a price. So, this week, we are swapping these dispensable baggies for something that won't inevitably end upwardly in our landfills or waterways.

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Why are ZipLoc bags a trouble?

Plastic storage bags are made of either low-density polyethylene (or LDPE) or high-density polyethylene (or HDPE) that fall under the category of plastic film. Co-ordinate to the EPA, iv.2 million tons of plastic bags and films were generated in 2018 and 3.04 millions tons ended up in a landfill. Similar all plastics, they are made from crude oil, a non-renewable resource, which is problematic for ii reasons: manufacturing generates significant pollution and the product is not biodegradable. As Sciencing.com put it, "they are difficult to produce and nearly impossible to get rid of once produced".

Nearly plastic bags take a minimum of 400 hundred years to break down. If that fact doesn't go your blood boiling, think of it this way...every plastic purse that'south ever been sent to a landfill still exists. It gets worse. According to Natural-Environs.com, plastic bags cause over 100,000 sea turtle and other marine animal deaths every year when animals mistake them for nutrient.

Are plastic storage numberless recyclable?

Technically, most plastic zipper storage bags are recyclable. However, since they are considered a plastic film, they should never go into your curbside recycling, as they can clog the machinery at recycling facilities. Many grocery stores offer plastic film recycling drib offs most the front doors, but the numberless should exist make clean and contain no nutrient remnants. If yours doesn't, use this link to search for a drop off location in your expanse. Or, consider sending them to Terracycle for recycling.

What can I use instead?

For some of united states of america, plastic storage bags are a necessity. So, here are v sustainable alternatives:

Stasher Numberless

Stasher Numberless are silicone storage bags that are easily down the most effective replacement for plastic storage bags. They are not only reusable, but they are infinitely more versatile than ZipLoc bags since They can be safely used in your dishwasher, freezer, microwave, oven, and fifty-fifty on your stove summit! They come in a wide diverseness of colors and sizes to conform any your needs may be.

Read my next post for 25 Means to Utilize Your Stasher Bag.

Marley'south Monsters Cloth Snack Bags

These cloth snack bags are perfect for packing a lunch and can be purchased with a cotton wool or waterproof liner.

If You Care Newspaper Sandwich Bags

If dispensable bags are a must, consider switching to these paper sandwich bags which can be composted later on apply.

hand holding homemade beeswax snack bag in front of Utah's Delicate Arch

DIY Beeswax Snack and Sandwich Bags

If you lot're feeling crafty, y'all can whip up a few beeswax wrap sandwich numberless using cotton fabric remnants.

various sizes of glass jars holding different pantry staples like beans and rice

Upcycled Drinking glass Jars

If you lot prefer a depression budget ZipLoc bandy, start saving those empty peanut butter and jelly jars. Most jars have an air tight seal, making them a corking option for food storage. Heck, you could fifty-fifty reuse lidded plastic containers like the ones that sour foam and take out soups come up in.

25 Means to Use Your Stasher Bag →