Knot Them Before You Toss Them

Did you know Americans use more than 14 billion plastic bags each year? This raises the question: Where do they end up? The fact is, many plastic bags become windblown litter, blowing right out of vehicles, trashcans and even the landfill on blustery days. So what can YOU do to help manage this pervasive problem? Avoid using them is the short answer, but if that’s not possible, here are tips to help limit the damage.

Knot Them Before You Toss Them
Tie your plastic bag into a large, dense knot before tossing it in the garbage. This simple action reduces the number of bags sent airborne by the wind, which inevitably litter our road and waterways.

Reduce, Reuse
Instead of using the store’s plastic bags when you shop, bring your own reusable bags. Or reuse the plastic bags you get at the store as small garbage can bags for your trash containers at home. Less consumption means less waste.

Recycle
Plastic bags wrap around and bind up the sorting equipment at the recycling facility, so you CANNOT put them in your curbside recycling cart. You CAN take them to local grocery (Hy-Vee, Dahl's, Fareway) and retail stores (Target, Wal-Mart) to recycle in the containers provided there. WestWind Logistics is another recycling option in Iowa that accept plastics bags in large quantities.

The average American family takes home almost 1,500 plastic shopping bags a year. Reduce, reuse or recycle your plastic bags or knot them before you toss them to lessen your negative impact on the environment.

For more information about safe, smart disposal and recycling options, visit www.WhereItShouldGo.com or call 515.244.0021.