With all the fervor over plastic bags, unemployment and the economy, there are plenty of ways you can make some money by reusing a readily available free product- plastic bags. I have already blogged on making money with other available free materials (pallets, sofa’s, chairs) and now it’s time to address the plastic bag issue.
Taxpayer Facts
- Americans use 84-100 Billion plastic bags annually
- 13 Billion Barrels of Oil to make them.
- It cost $4,000 to process and recycle 1 Ton of plastic bags for an ROI (return on investment) of $32.00. Yes that is your taxpayer dollars at work!.
- Only 1-3% of plastic bags are recycled.
- That means there is alot of free plastic bags to make some fun, usable crafts and gifts.
Where to sell? Farmers’s Markets, your local liquor store, grocery store, online, ebay, Amazon, home parties and swap meets. Or check out Etsy the Super online store for recycled things. The reality is most states, not just Washington will start taxing plastic bags(up to 25 cents) so the need for reusable bags will grow- That said, get your ironing board out, learn to crochet and dig into the plastic bag stash!
This little tutorial from Etsy will demostrate on how to fuse plastic bags.
I am sorry if all the pics don’t come through, for some reason, WP is just not picking up all images!
1.) Purses, Tote Bags, Grocery Bags, Messenger Bags, Diaper Bags, Coin purses
Recycled Tote Bag from My Recycled Bags –
Plastic Bag Fashion from America’s Next Top Model
3.) Make Up Bag
4.) HeadBands
5.) Jewerly
6.) Raincoats
7.) Yarn for scarves and more (called Plarn)
8.) Dishcloth from My Recycled Bags
10.) Clothes Pin Bag
11.) Plastic Cover For Hangers
13.) Rugs
14.) Dog Leash
15.) Pet Collars
16.) Messenger Bags
17.) Lap Top Covers
18.) Wallet
19.) Plastic Beads
20.) Sandals
Baby Shoes
21.) Kites
21.) Place Settings
22.) Costumes
23.) Inflatable Art
24.) Virginia Fleck does some amazing Art from Plastic Bags
25.) Mannequin Art at Ruby’s ReUsable
26.) Fabric
27.) Wedding Dress
28.) Messenger Bag
Not a Crafty Person:
- Use for mailing and shipping
- Restuff furniture
- Recycle at the Grocery Stores
Activism
MSLK: Urban Tumblewood Project
Morse Bags: They encourage people to make bags and give them away
Buffalo Exchange– Tokens For Bag Program
Other Artists :
Other Ideas:
Great Ideas from Craftzine on Plastic Bags
My Recycled Bags has tons of great ideas and tutorials for turning all those bags into great clothes and bags.
Green Museum has tons of ideas and art made with Plastic Bags
Bags2Riches-designer recycling
)GEEZ!!! I’m in love!!! Are you married?? (jk) ; )
This info is amazing…I really appreciate this post. Thanks!
Biodegradable plastic and packaging is a modern necessity for our ever-endangered environment.
Now PLA has been used to line the indoors of Paper Cups in place of the oil based lining additional usually used, create Plastic Cups, Plates, Carrier Bags, Food Packaging and even Nappies.
Eco Pure is our proprietary blend of organic materials that does not modify the base resin to which it is added.
Thanks a lot for your information
I am designing and handweaving fabric with recycled plastic bags. I use everything from shopping bags to shrink wrap to dry cleaner bags to create a unique cloth. Depending on the color, graphics and quality of the plastic, a one-of-a-kind pattern and texture is created. People are always surprised and amused by the transformation of a recognizable, mundane shopping bag into a woven fabric. I then use this fabric as the body for handbags and accessories.
Is anyone in NJ? I am looking for vendors, crafter, exhibitors to be involved with the Watershed Butterfly Festival on August 11, 2012 in Mercer County. We are having the Bag Monster at the festival and would love to have a pastic bag recycling project going on.
Please check your math. 13 Billion barrels of oil to make 84-100 Billion plastic bags? It’s probably 13 million barrels, which is still a lot.
Thanks for your interesting site