SPECTRUM: Plastic bags trashing the Mat-Su Valley

Americans dispose of billions of single use, plastic grocery bags a year. Very often these bags are used one time and then discarded. Where do all these bags go? Some are reused, some are recycled, but the vast majority of plastic bags end up in landfills.

Have you walked the Crevasse Moraine trails south of the Mat-Su Landfill? Plastic bags blow out of the landfill and are draped over the trees and bushes lining these pathways. These bags are very light and are carried by wind and water to pollute our land and water resources. In Alaska, we enjoy and promote the beauty of our landscape but how often do you see plastic bags spoiling the view or floating on our waters? A plastic grocery bag, usually used a single time for less than an hour, takes hundreds of years to degrade. The plastic does not disappear, but breaks up into microscopic elements known as microplastics, and can enter the food chains of land and ocean based animals. Plastic bags have been found in the stomachs of our local reindeer, caribou and moose.

The Mat-Su Plastic Bag Committee was formed based on the principle that to reduce plastic waste we must use less plastic. We are a group of local volunteers who advocate a simple proposal: BYOB or Bring Your Own Bags when you go shopping. Like any new habit, bringing your own, reusable bags to the store can take a while to get used to. In the beginning, I would forget my bags at home; when I was smart enough to store them in my car, I would forget to bring them into the store. Eventually, grabbing my shopping bags has become as natural as taking my wallet to go shopping. Reusable bags are usually stronger and more efficient to use than the single use, plastic grocery bags. They can be bought from local shops, made by hand and are often given away as promotional items by organizations. In the meantime, while you are collecting your reusable bags, why not bring your single use, plastic grocery bags back into the store and reuse them, rather than immediately throwing them away.

The Plastic Bag Committee, a part of the Mat-Su Zero Waste Coalition, has been active in putting out the word about reducing plastic waste. We have spoken at Community Councils, Chamber of Commerce meetings, local schools, Rotary and Kiwanis Clubs meetings and other community events. Throughout November we will be giving away reusable bags at local stores. Dates and locations can be found on our Facebook Page: Mat-Su Zero Waste Coalition, Plastic Bag Committee.

https://www.facebook.com/BagItMatSu/

Our Facebook page also has videos in which a local scientist and reindeer farmer discuss the ingestion of plastic bags by moose and reindeer, tips for making reusable bags and other information about plastic waste in general.

Switching to reusable bags can make a big difference here in the Mat-Su. The Plastic Bag Committee meets regularly and we invite you to join us to help keep our wildlife healthy and abundant, and our Valley beautiful. And don’t forget to BYOB!