Did you know that more than 380 billion plastic bags get used in the United States each year? While some of those bags get recycled and reused, others end up as litter or take up space in landfills.
If everyone reused the poly bags and plastic bags they have around the home or office, the environment would be much better off.
Though many people would like to cut down on the waste they create, they often aren’t sure where to start. Here are a few great tips to help you reuse plastic bags and cut down on your carbon footprint year after year.
1. Organize Your Junk Drawer
Everyone has a junk drawer that always seems to get out of control, whether it’s at home or the office. Organizing it not only makes it more useful, but it also gives you more space to store items.Use your poly bags to sort the items you keep in the drawer. Put like items with like and be mindful of the sizes you use.
Use small plastic bags to organize spare keys or loose change in the drawer. Use larger bags to keep loose papers together. The options are limitless.
2. Store Food, Snacks, and Treats
Did you know that you can repurpose plastic bags for food storage in your house? All you need to do is wash them out with soap and warm water and let them dry completely.Once they’re dry, you can reuse them over and over until the plastic starts to break down.
3. Reuse Poly Bags in Future Shipments
If you need to ship items to friends, family, or business partners, you can reuse and repurpose lightly used poly bags in those upcoming shipments. This can help you save money on packing costs.You can even include an instruction card with your packages giving them insight into how they can reuse those small plastic bags to further reduce waste.
4. Keep Your Car Clean
If you’ve got an excess of used plastic bags, use this to your advantage. Start using them as in-car trash bags and toss them out when they’re full.This will help you keep your car clean and consolidates the amount of waste and trash you generate. Instead of tossing out plastic bags with the rest of the packaging, you give them a purpose.
Even better, you save money by not having to buy dedicated trash bags just for your car.
5. Covering Dirty Shoes
If you’ve ever tried to shove a pair of shoes into a suitcase, you know it’s difficult to keep them from touching your clothes. This can leave stains and smudges on your shirts and pants in a matter of minutes.Use old poly bags as shoe covers to keep the rest of the items in your suitcase clean. For best results, only place one shoe in each bag. Seal it off and fold the excess plastic inside the shoe to keep the entire surface covered.
This way, you’ll be able to maximize the amount of packing space in your suitcase and can arrange your shoes in a way that makes the most sense.
6. Containing Toiletries for Upcoming Travels
Just as plastic bags can help keep your clothes clean, they can also help keep your suitcase organized.Reuse old plastic bags as makeshift toiletry bags. Pack all of your travel-sized items together and place the bag near the top of your luggage. This will help keep your items together while also containing any spills while you’re traveling.
Since most poly bags are clear, you’re able to use them to go through airport security quickly.
7. Pick Up After Your Pet
Anytime you’re out walking your dog, you need to pick up after them. This helps preserve the environment and keeps your neighbors happy.Used plastic bags are a great option when you’re out and about. They fold into almost nothing and fit in your pocket for easy access.
Even better, they’re free and you won’t have to worry about buying overpriced pet waste bags from your local pet supply store.
8. Line Paint Trays for Easy Cleanup
Giving your home or office a fresh coat of paint is a great way to give the space a facelift without spending too much money. However, you will have to invest in paint trays to help you apply even coats.While the trays are disposable, you should be able to get more than one use out of them.
Place the trays inside large plastic bags and seal them off if possible. You can then pour the paint into the lined tray and paint as normal. Once you’re done or ready to switch colors, remove the plastic bag and discard it.
This will leave you with a clean paint tray that you can reuse again and again.
9. Waterproof Your Phone
Unfortunately, water can damage electronics quickly and most phones aren’t equipped with waterproof cases. If you’re out in a rainstorm or drop your phone into even a small puddle, you could end up needing a full replacement.Instead of taking the risk, reuse plastic bags as waterproof pouches to better protect your phone. Look for resealable poly bags whenever possible as these will provide better protection for your electronics.
10. Donate to Schools' Art Departments
Many schools and afterschool programs are always running short on supplies and the supplies they do have can get disorganized quickly. Consider donating all clean and lightly used bags you won’t be able to use yourself.Schools can use these to organize crafting supplies and even put together kits and projects for kids to take home.
You Can Always Order More
Reusing poly bags is a great way to cut down on waste around your home and office. However, it’s always best to give clients and customers brand new bags and packaging materials whenever possible.
It shows that your business cares and values their support with every order.
If you’re running low on unused bags, don’t wait. Order samples today and see for yourself what sets our products apart.