[News Today] Recycled bags help reduce plastic use

[LEAD]

Concerns are growing over possible disruptions in plastic supply amid the Middle East crisis. In response, efforts are spreading to cut back on plastic use, including turning discarded newspapers and banners into reusable shopping bags.

[REPORT]

These senior citizens are busy making something.

They are making bags using newspaper.

They apply glue on the newspapers and let them dry.

They repeat the process of folding the papers and putting glue on them.

Paper straws are used to make handles.

That completes a shopping bag strong enough to hold eight small water bottles.

Kim Ji-myeong / Shopping bag maker

It’s stronger than you think. It will help with the plastic bag shortage.

Clean banners are sorted after use and cut up to size.

Banner pieces are sewn together and handles are attached

to be repurposed into neat shopping bags.

Park Yang-geum / Shopping bag maker

We get a lot of orders these days. I used to make about 80 bags a day, but now orders are 200 or 300. I get no breaks.

These shopping bags are handed out to the merchants in a nearby traditional market.

They put shopped items in these shopping bags instead of plastic bags.

Customers like these bags because they're lightweight and waterproof on top of being eco-friendly and reusable.

Anxiety over plastic bag supply mounts as the crisis in the Middle East is prolonged. Subsequently, such attempts to cut back on plastic use can be seen all over the country.