Plastic grocery bags.

A recent editorial in the New Bern Sun Journal says we should just say no to plastic bags when we shop. I agree.

As a board member of our Tri County Regional Solid Waste Authority I consider plastic bags a tremendous challenge to our ability to effectively dispose of waste.

The bags are virtualy impossible to keep contained as garbage transfer vehicles make their way to the landfill resulting in plastic litter scattered throughout the county. The estimated life of a plastic bag is hundreds if not thousands of years. Being lightweight even those that make it to the dump are easily picked up by the wind and distributed to forrest, ditches, streams, and eventually the rivers. I spend a lot of time on the water and see plastic bags floating and partially submerged where ever I go.

Demand paper the next time you shop. The little additional costs is certainly worth it to the enviroment. What say you?