Go Green » What do you do with those newspaper bags?

What do you do with those newspaper bags?

January 20th, 2009 at 06:34am Jennie Pollock

Don’t just throw away those clear or orange sleeves that protect your Register Star from the elements.

Reuse them for …

– dog droppings

– car trash

– craft supplies

– ice packs

– gift bags

… or …

– covering a wet umbrella

– kitty litter scooping

Any other ideas, people?

P.S. Found a way to make a bag OUT OF newspapers here along the way.

Entry Filed under: Recycling, Green home

10 Comments Add your own

1. Jon | January 20th, 2009 at 8:40 am

How about returning them to the carriers for reuse? If it is still the same situation as when I was a kid who delivered the rrstar, we had to BUY the bags, rubberbands, and so on, which cut into the carrier\’s meager income (about a dime per delivered newspaper, more on Sundays and/or when extra inserts were added). Many of my customers were happy to return the bags to help insure getting a dry newspaper; some even saved bread bags (about the same in size) for me to use as well.
2. jennie pollock | January 22nd, 2009 at 8:15 am

Some readers return their bags to carriers.
Our circulation department encourages readers to recycle the bags.
…
I do want to find out more about the bag recycling that Logli’s does, if I get a chance.
3. Ronan | January 22nd, 2009 at 1:02 pm

Thanks for the link to the Newspaper Bag Project

I’d certainly pay a few extra pence for a reusable newspaper cover. As towns near me have started to go plastic bag-free it’ll be interesting to see if the newsagents are able to do anything about the disposable newspaper covers
4. Helen Davis | January 25th, 2009 at 6:46 am

I\’m a knitter. I use the sleeves to hold my ball of yarn for my current knitting project. I share them with all my knitting friends (who aren\’t fortunate enough to enjoy the Star every day)! I save the rest & give them back to my carrier (if I ever see them). Keep up the good work.
5. Lorna Carlson | January 25th, 2009 at 11:49 am

I resuse the paper sleeve for glass bottles and jars that are recycled. The sleeve is long enough to tie easily, and I usually double the pastic in case the glass breaks.

The other use for paper sleeve bags is for disposal of dirty diapers. Some of the day care centers may make use of the bags.

The Rock River Valley Food Pantry is currently in need of plastic and paper grocery bags. I would appreciate it if you could highlight this need in the newspaper to help this worthy community organization. Bags can be dropped off at the pantry or U of I Extension office on Meridian Road. This is another way of going green because many people simply throw away the plastic.
6. Jennie Pollock | January 26th, 2009 at 11:35 am

Thanks to all!
7. Robert Schober | January 26th, 2009 at 1:45 pm

I wish I would have known a long time ago that I should have been returning them to my carrier instead of throwing them away. I did not realize that the carrier had to pay for them as well as the rubber bands. Our carrier, Ginger, recently received some recognotion for her hard work and one of her suggestions was that we return the bags to her. From now on I will be leaving mine in our newspaper slot by our mailbox. Way to go Ginger!
8. Beverly Johnsonq | January 26th, 2009 at 7:40 pm

We use the bags for dirty diapers!!! They also store easily in diaper bags.
9. Pamela May | January 29th, 2009 at 8:46 pm

I return them to my carrier; I stuff one of the bags until it is full and then tie it to my porch railing and the carrier takes them back!
10. Judy | February 1st, 2009 at 2:00 pm

I use mine for packing shoes when I travel.