(204) 687-6169
Flin Flon & District Environment Council, Inc.
  • Home
  • Recycling
  • Landfill
  • News
  • About Us

October 06th, 2016

6/10/2016

0 Comments

 
Originally published  Sept 21/16 The Reminder. Flin Flon, Mb. Sponsored by North of 53 Consumers Coop.

Over the summer we have researched the idea of banning single use plastic bags. It seems to be a good idea because of litter problems and the effects of plastic collecting in oceans.  

A friend sent an article comparing the effect on the environment of using a plastic bag and a reusable cotton bag. The cotton bag needed to be used 393 times to equal the effect on the environment of using one plastic bag three times. It counted the environmental impact of making each bag including the carbon emissions and fertilizer from growing the cotton.

If the reusable bag isn’t cotton, the big picture is much better.  

It seems so complicated!

Scientists continue to discover how complicated and interactive the Earth’s systems are. Much of the mess we have is because we don’t understand this and/or we don’t care. Most people are focused on convenience and making money.

Our economic system is also very complicated. I read of a power company canceling its solar power program for households because with so many people producing their own power the company wasn’t making as much money.

It may feel like ‘Why should I change anything? It won’t make a difference anyway.’

Consider this. I purchased 6 reusable shopping bags in 1989. As a result I have used at least 5,000 fewer plastic bags.

The effects of your efforts do add up.

Some changes seem too tough, but without change the consequences will be even tougher.

So do something. Be informed. Continue to make changes.

Reduce how much of everything you use. Reuse and recycle what you can.

Think globally about how things affect the earth. Act locally in your home and community. 
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Picture
    Author
    Deb Odegaard has been with the Flin Flon Community Recycling program since it began  in 1992.  She  became the Administrator in 2013.
    Deb writes a  column 'The Recycling Bin' in The Reminder, Flin Flon's newspaper. Past columns are posted here along with recycling stats  and anything else on her mind. 

    Categories

    All
    Brief History
    Events
    Recycling Bin 2020
    Recycling Bin 2021
    Recycling Statistics
    The Recycling Bin 2014
    The Recycling Bin 2015
    The Recycling Bin 2016
    The Recycling Bin 2017
    The Recycling Bin 2018
    The Recycling Bin 2019
    The Recycling Bin 2023

    Archives

    March 2023
    January 2023
    November 2022
    October 2022
    August 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    April 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    March 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014

    RSS Feed

​Flin Flon & District Environment Council, Inc