Dry Cleaning Bags Don't Have to Leave the Environment High & Dry

Originally published Nov 27, 2013

What's a Wannabee Tree-Hugger to do with all those nice big dry cleaning bags?  Few ideas:

 

First. Ask your Dry Cleaners to give you your clothes back "naked" without bags and then reuse your current stash to keep them clean when you're transporting - if you have a clean car you may not even need it (I have pets and kids and I don't have much of a chance anywhere in my car or house!).

 

Second, get a reusable garment/drycleaning bag like this: http://thegreengarmento.com/.  Even though most places in the USA are not hotbeds of environmentalism, businesses will work with you.  I take my reusable to go box into the grocery to get salad.  I have the deli weigh the box (because it's heavy .44 pounds but dishwasher and microwave safe!), get the salad and then have them weigh it again and put a price on it for the checker: http://www.sunsugarfarms.com/products/reusable-to-go-box  You may want to try one too if you don't already - virtually no place will take the clear polystyrene.

 

Third, dry cleaning bags are great to put your clothes in to travel, they will keep them wrinkle free in the suitcase. Or reuse them in low traffic area trash cans.  For fun keep one in the garage and throw any of your fast food containers into it.  If you like the convenience of fast food or takeout you will be saddened by how fast your bag fills up.  One third of what we throw away are merely containers.  I now take my reusable to go cup everywhere with mehttp://www.sunsugarfarms.com/products/cresbi-tumbler - you can actually get discounts on drinks this way and I also use my to go box for leftovers at restaurants of for carry out. 

 

Fourth, you should be able to turn your bags in with the Kroger-type plastic bags in their recycling bins.  Most dry cleaning bags are #4 low density polyethylene type and most plastic grocery bags are that or high density polyethylene (#2): http://ir.kroger.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=106409&p=irol-newsArticle_Print&ID=1129819&highlight=

 

Hope this helps you all live guilt-free lives when it comes to dry cleaning bags!  And if you do buy groceries consider thinking outside the box by thinking OF a box - check out my patent-pending CRESBI crate systems: www.CRESBI.com!  - a finalist for the Cincinnati Chamber's New Product of the Year award and loved by consumers in over 30 states, Canada and Australia!