Day 1, Monday the 13th July 2009.

So it's day 1. I haven't really done anything today, just got out of bed, had a shower and rode into town. All plastic bag free activities.

so it's been easy so far, but I'm moving house this afternoon. We'll see how I go with that.

Ok so conclusion, its easy not to consume any more plastic bags if you dont buy anything!!

Day 2, Tuesday 14th July 2009.

Ok today I did some shopping, but it wasn't food shopping. I went to the tip shop to buy some bedsheets and cushions for my large and empty room. I was riding my bike and so they gave me a cloth bag, (in the photo its the one that says 'get fresh') and i rode home with three bags over my shoulder!!

the best thing about cloth bags is their re-usability.

I have uploaded a photo so you can see my full complement of bags.

tomorrow I will be buying food!!!

My first food shop!!

So I did my first food shop just then. Its day 2.

I took two bags with me. a small cloth bag, the t"cruelty free" bag from the above photo, and the kathmandu courier bag.

went to the hill street grocer in west hobart. great place, www.hillstreetgrocer.com good local produce.

i used the cloth bag to put the vegies in and the other bag for the non grocery stuff. had a bit of a struggle getting the box of cereal in, it was an impulse buy, on special for $2.39!! but it worked.

in fact, the guy seemed really happy when i said "no plastic bags for me!" as though not enough of his customers said that.

it went well. what i'd do differently ext time is take an extra bag just in case, and shop to a list where i can estimate the volume.

Day 3, wednesday 15th July 2009.

didn't buy anything today, so it was another easy one for not gaining any plastic bags.

however I did want to take some bread home from the organisation I volunteer for, but didn't have a bag with me.

my flatmate separately from me brought home bread in a bag, but not because I didn't she was going to anyway.

Im gonna have a small bag on me at all times. I only didn't today coz I got all nicely dressed up for a job interview today and didnt think a canvas satchell bag would be a good look for that.

thinking pretty seriously about making this a month long thing.

Plastic Bag Free For Life!!

So I haven't updated this experiment for a while. The reason is there hasn't been much to say, that is, I haven't had any problems that needed sharing,

In fact, ditching plastic shopping bags was about the easiest thing I have done!

So this is permanent now. What I've learnt is that to be less wasteful a consumer (when I am forced to be a consumer) requires only a little bit of forethought. that is, either always carry a bag with me, easier for a woman, or plan when to shop and make sure i take my reusables with me.

I am convinced that the immediate banning of plastic bags in Australia would not cause chaos, and would have an immediately positive effect on the local environment. there are examples all over the world of this.

Also, knowing that personal actions do not equal political change, I am going to take political action to make that ban happen!

I encourage you, dear reader, to do the same. write to your local council. think grassroots, 'local' and urge them to put forward a motion calling for a ban on plastic bags in their area. Even if it doesnt succeed first time it will have entered the debate.

I know how busy people are, but please take the time to spend 10 minutes writing a kick ass letter. lets get the local groudswell happening. then we can all enjoy living in better communities.

freedom tastes good.

take care

Michael.