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Paper or Plastic? Or Cornstarch?
What bag is the right choice? Our readers have lots to say.
SOON YOU may hear your market’s checker ask if you’d like “paper or...
cornstarch.” Earlier this year, San Francisco became the first city in the na-
tion to ban petroleum-based plastic bags. Can this be the start of a new
movement to “ban the bag”?
Convenient, re-purposable and cheap (for retailers) plastic bags are far
and away the most requested choice by shoppers. The bad news is that
500 billion to 1 trillion of the bags are used worldwide every year, and
most end up in landfills.
Many believe cornstarch-based bags, which are compostable, are a solu-
tion to the problem and the next big thing in bags. We can’t help but ask
if this is really the best use of corn? Tell us what you think.

In the meantime, greenlight
readers have offered a bagful of
suggestions:
Seth tells us:

He and his wife rate the Acme Heavy Duty Earth Tote and Re-isenthel - Modern Grocery Tote (shown at right) the best green bags on the market.

> Paper or Plastic - what to do in a pinch

> Take Action - help reduce plastic bags > Bags, Bags, Bags