Jackson Free Press

In my house, there are drawers and cabinets I am afraid to open. It is not for a fear of the unknown; I know exactly what is in there: hundreds of plastic bags. The Environmental Protection Agency reports that we use around 500 billion plastic bags are globally every year, and very few are recycled. Many of these bags end up cluttering homes, rivers, forests and landfills, endangering both wildlife and the environment.

Re-usable shopping bags are a great way of reducing plastic bag consumption. Aside from being more stylish than plastic bags, canvas or cloth bags can even save you money. Kroger offers $.03 off your purchase for each reusable bag you bring in.

Many people I've talked to say they keep shopping bags in their cars, but when the time comes to go shopping, they forget them. Rainbow Whole Foods Co-Op Grocery sells Chico bags ($8.99), small bags made from recycled plastic, which fold up neatly into a small pouch, perfect to keep in your purse or pocket.

As for the plastic bags that you have already accumulated, make the most of them by reusing or recycling them. And if you can't find a way to re-purpose them around your home as trash-can liners or toy army man parachutes, Rainbow and area Krogers accept clean, plastic shopping bags, which are used again or recycled. You can also buy cheap cloth bags at thrift stores like N.U.T.S.

Creative ways to use plastic bags:

• Kneepads for gardening
• Paintbrush covers
• Wrapping paper
• Wet umbrella case
• Shower cap
• Shipping or packing insulation
• Travel clothes hamper