Reusable bags are great - they are durable and
can make your life a lot easier when hauling groceries from checkout
lane to cart to car trunk - or, if you live in a
city - the walk home. The use of reusable bags also
benefits the environment by reducing plastic waste brought on by single-use
plastic bags often found in grocery stores, businesses and retailers.
Starting on March 1, 2020 New York State is enacting a new
waste reduction law that will prohibit single-use plastic bags across the state
(with a few exceptions). While much attention has been placed on grocery stores, the rule also
applies to small businesses and retailers. If an
establishment collects sales tax - then they will be prohibited from
distributing single-use plastic bags for transporting purchased goods. New York is the third state to
enact the ban, following California and Hawaii.
Because our home state of New York is enacting
this ban, we’re going to see a rise in the amount of reusable bags being used.
And while - as we already said - we know they’re great, there are a few things
to be mindful of when using reusable bags to transport your groceries.
The number one concern when it comes to
reusable bags is food safety. Recent studies have shown that it’s
common for E Coli - a fecal bacteria that can make you sick - to dwell in
reusable shopping bags. To combat against lurking germs, it’s important to wash
and disinfect your bags frequently. Check out some of our tips for cleaning
different types of reusable bags below:
Tips for Keeping Your Reusable Bags
Clean
●
Canvas bags: These are super easy to clean!
Just toss them in the washing machine. If you’re using them to transport meat
and fish, toss them in the wash as soon as you get home from the store.
●
Insulated totes: You’re probably using
insulated shopping bags to transport cold items such as meat, frozen foods and
veggies, which makes it really important to keep germs under control. Clean
your insulated bags by wiping them down with disinfectant wipes.
●
Recycled plastic & nylon bags:
Hand wash nylon bags and bags made from
recycled plastic with warm, soapy water and hang them to dry.
●
Wash your reusable bags frequently! No matter
what your bags are made of, it’s important to wash them often - especially if
you are using them to transport groceries.
As important as it is to clean your reusable
bags, there are also ways to mitigate germs and keep contamination at bay right
from the get go.
Tips for Using Your Reusable Bags and
Preventing Contamination
●
Designate! Designate different bags for
different purposes. This will prevent cross-contamination of food. For example,
you may want to consider designating one bag specifically for meat, poultry and
fish and another for fruits and veggies.
●
Label. After you designate your bags for
different purposes, make your life (and the cashier’s life) even easier by
labeling your bags. You can use a label maker to mark your bags or even
supplement with some masking tape and a permanent marker.
●
Don’t mix food and play. If you have reusable
bags for groceries, then use them just for groceries. Reduce contamination risk
by avoiding using your grocery bags to transport gym equipment, books or sporting gear.
While the switch from plastic to reusable bags
may be daunting for some, with a little preparation and know-how, you’ll be
able to master the change with ease and keep your bags and groceries safe from
germs and contamination.
If embracing the reusable bag lifestyle has
you feeling inspired to tackle more eco-friendly habits, click on the button
below.
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