Reusing

Plastic bags can be reused again and again.

Plastic bags aren't just recyclable—they're 100 percent reusable, too. More than 90 percent of Americans reuse their plastic bags at least once, for everything from storage to waste disposal to packing material.1 If you're interested in some new ways to use your plastic bags, check out our list below.

How do you use plastic bags? Send an e-mail to info@bagtheban.com and share your favorite tips.

Around the House

• Line your kitchen or bathroom trash can instead of buying thicker, less recyclable bags.
• Know someone with a broken bone? Plastic bags protect casts from water in the shower or bath.
• Lay one on the counter to collect eggshells and vegetable peelings in a snap.
• Line kitty litter boxes with plastic bags for easy cleanup.
• Store off-season holiday decorations in plastic bags to keep them dust-free.
• Protect valuables when packing or storing breakable items. Plastic bags can cushion them against damage.
• Line a paint tray next time you paint a room, rather than a using disposable plastic pan liner.
• Save energy by stuffing a draft dodger with plastic bags instead of sand.
• Protect plants from frost by wrapping them securely in a plastic bag overnight and removing the bag in the morning.

For Work and School

• Pack your lunch in plastic for a free weather-proof lunch bag.
• Store clean gym clothes in a plastic bag—and carry the dirty ones home, too.
• Keep bags around for wet umbrellas and muddy rain boots.
• Need to take your work home? Easily carry home files with a plastic bag.
• Use plastic bags to protect valuables when shipping packages.
• Wrap paint brushes in a plastic bag to keep them from getting dry and hard. Just stick the wrapped up brushes into the fridge until it's time to use them again.

Out and About

• Keep a bag in your pocket for when Fido needs to stop during a walk.
• When traveling, keep dirty clothes away from clean with plastic bags.
• Gather food or clothing donations in plastic bags for easy transport and drop-off.
• Store wet or sandy bathing suits in plastic bags for the ride home.
• Sending a child to camp? Put each day's outfit in a bag, and make getting dressed in the morning a snap.
• Take plastic bags to stow your garbage from concerts. Amphitheater shows and multi-day music festivals come with a lot of waste, and the trash and recycle bins seem to always overflow by the end. Instead of piling empties on top of an overflowing bin, use a plastic grocery bag to take recyclables home at the end of the show.
• Donate plastic bags to places like libraries and food banks where bags are often needed.

1. National Plastic Shopping Bag Recycling Signage Testing, APCO, March 2007