Paper or Plastic?

With Earth Day just passed (unless you are one of us that will tell you that every day is Earth Day!) all of the “earthy” programs have been airing on television.  As I was perusing the channel lineups I came across a number of programs for young and old. It seemed to me that there were more than usual this year.  Could it be that something is starting to catch on?

“Bag it!” is a phrase that can be used in a couple ways. “Let’s bag it” -meaning let's not do it.  ”Bag it” – meaning put it in the bag. When it comes to the environment, a couple enterprising people decided to take the words “bag it” to a whole new level.  They started out creating a documentary meant to show the world why plastic bags are very bad for the environment – not that a lot of us didn’t already know this.  

What they ended up creating was nothing short of one of the best environmental programs I have ever seen.   The movie/documentary appropriately named “Bag It” took on a life of its own. Suzan Beraza and Jeb Berrier created film to show the everyday person just where those plastic bags come from and more importantly where they end up once you are done with them.

The film is 78 minutes long and with Jeb’s quirky sense of humor, the viewers watch as Jeb shows us where the bags come from and then goes on to explain the plastics industry in general and what we, as a society, have created.

No – this is not a film review!

The thing is, I saw this film once before.  It was released in 2010.  I saw most of it again this past week on one of the PBS stations. The next day, driving down route 28 in Salem NH I drove over a plastic bag floating with the breeze across the highway.  I have probably done this many times but this time I stopped to really think about it. In the movie, not only do you learn all about where the bags come from but also where they end up.  Some bags end up being food for birds. Yes….I said food. You see, as the plastic breaks down, the birds can’t tell it from real food so the parents eat it then feed it to their young creating a cycle of “plastic birds” that will eventually die.

All because we humans are looking for convenience.

Now I know a lot of people are now shopping with their reusable bags but it’s just not enough.  More people need to pay attention and understand just what their children’s children are going to have to face if we don’t start doing something more now.

Are you in? By the way – paper or plastic? Neither! Reusable bags are a much better choice.  Just picking up one or things at the store? Do you really need a bag at all?

If you want to check out “Bag It”, go to www.bagitmovie.com.  You may be surprised at what you learn!