When We Were Still Free

Some countries actually make bags from old (unsold) newspapers. A cottage industry, which works well. Basically they buy unsold newspapers from the printing shop, which creates good, bio-degradable bags.

Trivia: Did you know that the inks used for newspapers renders them fairly sterile, suitable for temporary wrapping of wounds, splinting broken bones, etc. ...Jim Thompson

"Jim Thompson" wrote in message news: snipped-for-privacy@4ax.com...

Probably.

There are types of plastic that biodegrade, but since they're not in widespread usage I can only assume that they must cost more than what is used.

There's definitely growing regulations/restrictions on the use of plastic bags -- parts of California already ban them, and other states require they be taxed or that retailers must recycle them. Apparently the U.S. is still more liberal than much of the rest of the world in this regard; China banned free plastic shopping bags (the ultra-thin ones) in 2008.

I'd have to admit to being enough of a weenie to giving some of these ideas serious thought. I wish I didn't have to, but so many people do litter and since it's pretty much impossible to enforce them not doing so, maybe controlling the source does merit consideration.

Blank or actual (printed on) recycled papers?

---Joel

Printed-on! Check out old photos of meat and fish markets. ...Jim Thompson

younger generation.

Harry Nilsson!

patterns

the younger generation.

Are you sure that you don't mean Three Dog Night?

Unless of course it's communist Chinese ink. They use carbon black from waste engine oil to darken the ink. I found that out when I bought a whole bunch of budget reprinted books. You could hardly read the things because of the stench. Seriously. The stuff is highly carcinogenic.

mike