Reuse Sandwich Bags

Save money and plastics by keeping gently used bags in service. Also learn what do recycling symbols on plastics mean?

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Photo: David Buffington / Getty Images

By Brian Clark Howard

By now you've probably heard how important it is to reduce the number of plastic bags that we all take home from stores, but it's also a good idea to keep gently used sandwich bags in service.

Those ubiquitous plastic resealable bags now come in many sizes, and they are convenient. However, people often forget that they are sturdy enough for multiple uses. The bags are made of petroleum plastics, and so are using a nonrenewable resource, and produce toxic emissions upon manufacture. If the bags become ripped or heavily soiled with greasy foods, you are better off throwing them away (they aren't recyclable in the vast majority of communities), versus expending a lot of water and soap to try and get them back into shape. However, for most uses, a quick rinse, or even shaking out crumbs, means you can use the bags over and over.

A number of companies even sell attractive wooden racks, where you can drape the bags for quick drying. Or, simply drop them over the faucet handle or cooking implements to dry.

If the thought of reusing bags for food gives you the willies, consider repurposing them for batteries, buttons, coupons, stamps or anything else you can think of.

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