Refuse to use plastic bags

Have you noticed how more plastic has crept into our lives? You can hardly buy anything that isn't packaged in plastic. Yes, it's convenient, but it's polluting our earth and it never goes away. It goes to the landfill, but never decomposes. It's made of petroleum and it's full of chemicals.

Reducing your use of single-use plastic bags is the easiest place to start lessening your plastic consumption. They are a waste of our resources and are generally used once and thrown away.

The EPA states that more than 95 percent of all HDPE plastic bags end up in our landfills or the environment. Every ocean has a plastic gyre that is killing birds, fish and other sea creatures. Plastic bags float through the air and if not caught in brush or trees, they end up in a waterway that leads to larger bodies of water, such as the Gulf of Mexico.

Our Mother Earth is sick and we need to start mothering her. Do the right thing and start refusing plastic bags. Even if you don't believe in global warming, I'm sure you don't want to pollute this beautiful place we call home. Join me and “100 Grannies For a Livable Future” in this endeavor.

Becky Ross

Iowa City