3

As I ask myself the question and start thinking about it, I realise it might be obvious that it is worth it. But I thought I'd ask anyway as someone might have a nice analysis to share.

The other day, I cleaned a lightweight plastic bag (I don't usually do it, I put them in the bin when they are filthy) and thought it was a lot of water for a small single-use bag. It got me thinking: is the amount of water I used to clean that bag (I'd say about one litre) more than the water used for its manufacture and transport? Looking at both a recycled bag and one made from fossil raw materials would be great.

|improve this question
  • 1
    What about saving them for when you wash other stuff — then you use less water, and may have some washing up liquid in there too. – PJTraill Nov 1 '17 at 22:54
  • That's a very good point actually. Show that I never really considered them to be just another kind of container. – stragu Nov 3 '17 at 2:29
  • To wash more efficiently, turn inside out. Dry it inside out too. – RedSonja Nov 8 '17 at 12:05
1

Typical costs of water is 50 cents per 1000 gallons.

Typical low flow kitchen tap is 2 gpm. 20 seconds of spray -- under 1 gallon. Fraction of a cent.

More to the point is the value of your time. My usual problem is drying them.

Our rule here:

Breadbags come in, they get the crumbs shaken out and stored.

2nd use is usually breaking up bulk food bought from Costco. If it's a dry food, it goes into the stored bin again. If it's used for something wet, (meat, fish) it's discarded.

Ziplock get reused more agressively, but still are discarded after meat/fish use.

|improve this answer
  • 2
    Apart from Sherwoods answer I think it's also worth looking at energy/material spent in making the water available, and in producing another bag. Both should be available, I guess. I don't have the time for an answer. – Jan Doggen Oct 25 '17 at 15:34
  • 1
    For things like water and plastic bags, the energy used in production typically makes up the largest portion of the cost (compared to raw materials) -- so the cost serves as a fair proxy when comparing the energy (and thus, emissions) used in production. – LShaver Oct 26 '17 at 16:23
  • 1
    Thanks for your answer, Sherwood. But how does it compare to the water used during the production (extraction, manufacture, transport) of a plastic bag? – stragu Nov 3 '17 at 3:16

Your Answer

By clicking “Post Your Answer”, you agree to our terms of service, privacy policy and cookie policy

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.