What makes a plastic bag compostable?  In Durham, Canada its the green certification stamp on the bag.  Any other bags will be rejected by the waste management collectors.  This asks an important question about what is compostable and how do we know that's true?  The answer is to become a label reader.  Some plastic bags that are "compostable" are difficu

John Miller, owner of VailDelivery.com, was under pressure to switch to reusable bags for his delivery service.  He did, and what a difference it made.  "Every bag filled up for a customer keeps three or four plastic bags hanging in a store.

In the San Diego Green Initiatives Examiner, Andrea Holeman argues that all non-medically necessary plastics should be banned.  Citing pollution, chemicals and waste, Holeman believes that there is just nothing good about "convenience" plastics.  Fortunately, Holeman argues that our children agree.  At ConservingNow.com we agree as well.  We know how smart and know

Julie Reynolds writes an opinion piece wherein she lays out the reasons she feels it is so hard for consumers to get rid of their plastic bag habits.  From looking at manufacturing, to the stores, to the consumers themselves, Reynolds writes a short and interesting article on why she feels Canadians will not give up plastic bags.  It is an interesting perspective from Canada, and it r

Walk-a-thons, charity auctions and other fundraising are often a fun and active way to get your community involved in a cause.  Unfortunately, the cost in producing such events does not always allow for the events to be as eco-friendly as the organizers would like.  It is nice to the Rochester Cancer Society is doing their part to make their events more "green".  Click

From CNN: "It's called the Great Pacific Garbage Patch and it covers a vast area of hundreds, maybe even thousands, of miles of open ocean.  It is a problem of massive plastic proportions -- a giant floating debris field, composed mostly of bits and pieces of plastic, in the northwest Pacific Ocean, about a thousand miles off the coast of California

The Columbian writer Don Brunell just wrote a thoughful piece explaining the debate surrounding Seattle's bag tax.  You may recall that Seattle is the first city in the United States to put a tax on plastic carrier bags to its citizens.  According to Brunell, 70% of Seattle's residents oppose the tax.  His article focuses on other ways to implement reduced dependence on plastic b

The Daily Mail in the United Kingdom is reporting that "Tesco misleadingly claimed to have more than halved the number of plastic bags it hands out to shoppers.  The supermarket said last month that its customers were 'using more than 50 per cent fewer carrier bags than they did before'.  Its statement came on the same day that supermarkets collectively announced they had managed

The Green Party in New Zealand wants the government to make it mandatory for retailers to charge for plastic bags.  It is great to see a national political party take a stance on plastic bags.

"Green Party co-leader Russel Norman says the companies are trying to do their bit for the environment and the Government needs to ensure others do the same.  Dr Norman says he's worrie