What is it that irritates and upsets me so? What is it that literally makes me want to scream insanely when I see them! The culprit that turns my stomach and upsets me so is the ever so common PLASTIC BAG!

Whenever I see those papery-thin brown or white grocery bags and even those plastic bags used by high-end designer stores I feel like I've been punched in the gut. It physically makes me sick to know that so many, many hundreds of thousands of plastic bags go out the store front doors to contaminate our environment each and every day.

Why plastic bags? What is it about the lowly plastic bag that irritates me so much? I'm not totally certain why something that we take for granted, and something that most people rarely give a second thought to, and something that is used by millions of people every day can irritate me so much. What is it about the plastic bag that makes me want to shout - STOP! STOP using so many plastic bags. Is it really necessary?

Even as I write, there are so many emotions running through my brain and body. What is it about the plastic bag that drives me crazy? Ohhhh! I've answered my own question, haven't I?

Ahhh! Finally, I've figured it out. It's not only the plastic bag itself that drives me bonkers, but what the plastic bag represents. The lowly plastic bag represents the humongous, gigantic and ever-growing environmental crisis of planet-wide waste and all the environmental implications that come with it. And, sometimes I feel helpless that I can't do a thing about it.

But, I can do something about it and so can you. I am asking you via this article to begin to reduce your use of, and dependence upon, plastic bags.

According to the article, Toxic Bags: What You Didn't Know about Your Shopping Sack published in The Co-op Connect, a newsletter of the Cleveland Food Co-op March 2007, an estimated 500 billion to 1 trillion plastic shopping bags are consumed worldwide.

The article states that plastic shopping bags are usually made of polyethylene. Did you know that, although popular for its economy and versatility, it requires 1000 years for a bag to degrade. And in reality, plastic bags do not biodegrade, but photo degrade. Photo degrade means that the bags break into smaller and smaller pieces which end up contaminating soil and waterways as they degrade. Eventually these small pieces make it into the food chain.

Consider this too. The manufacture of polyethylene bags requires petroleum and natural gas which are both non-renewable resources. Since the bags are a petroleum product, it increases our dependence on oil and the accompanying problems resulting from its excavation, transportation, and use. Oil and natural gas consumption contributes to global warming, destruction of ecosystems, and pollution. You get the point!

In the US, there has been no significant federal action to reduce plastic bag waste, so it is up to each of us as individuals to control the amount of bags that are contaminating our environment. And, we can do it one bag at a time.

What can you do to help reduce the use of plastic bags? It's simple! You can start by re-using the bags that you get or currently have. Take them back to the supermarket and reuse them again. Some stores even reimburse you a small amount to reuse your bag.

Another thing that you can do is to not take a bag in the first place. If you have a small item, it's silly to use a bag. Put the item in your purse or pocket or carry it out of the store with your receipt in your hand. Explain to the clerk that you are trying to help the environment by cutting down your use of plastic bags.

Encourage the clerk to start asking people if they NEED a bag. When given a gentle reminder or a choice, a majority of people will not take the bag.

Purchase a cloth shopping bag. Many stores sell inexpensive cloth bags that you can use over and over again. If a cloth bag gets soiled and dirty, just throw it in the wash machine with your next load.

If you forget to reuse your bags once in a while, that's okay. It takes time to change a habit. If you have kids, have them remind you to remember to bring your own bags or even put them in charge of remembering and even gathering the bags to take along to the store. Giving a child the responsibility teaches them to the importance of recycling and reducing unnecessary waste.

Our planet is changing fast and the creator put it in our hands to protect. Please remember to think before you use another plastic bag. Do you really need one?