This news item expired on Sunday, May 31, 2015 so the information below could be outdated or incorrect.
Americans bring home about 312 plastic shopping bags per person each year and very few of them end up getting recycled because they must be kept separate from other recyclables and dropped off at local grocery and discount stores.
Unfortunately, many bags end up as litter, stuck in fence rows or branches or floating in our waterways. More go to the landfill. In fact, more than 600,000 pounds of shopping bags end up in our landfill each year!
When plastic shopping bags are mixed with other recyclables, they can get caught in processing equipment at recycling facilities. Plastic shopping bags are not accepted in either the Curbside Management or Waste Pro curbside programs in Asheville and Buncombe County.
Why not switch to reusable bags? We will make it easy and give you one for *FREE! Simple stop by the landfill office at the County Landfill on Panther Branch Road or the County Administration Building at 200 College Street, 3rd Floor in downtown Asheville and ask for your free "Greenbag". (*Limit 1 bag per person.)
When you choose reusable bags, you reduce the amount of waste that you create. Reusable bags can be used hundreds of times, with no more than an occasional washing. Keep your bags in your car or truck so they’ll be handy when you stop to shop.
Many retail stores, including grocery and discount stores, sell reusable bags. Lots of stores will even give you a small discount when you use your own bags.