Paper Bag Day

Paper bags. internet image

 Paper bags come in a variety of sizes and can be used in more ways than most people can imagine. 

 The first time I thought of them much was at Woodman's grocery store on the corner of Milton and Mt Zion avenues in Janesville. I was pretty young, probably too young to carry a six pack of Pepsi 16 ounce bottles, I dropped them, and several bottles broke making a big mess.

 Other than returnable and reusable pop bottles the only thing we heard could be recycled was newspapers, and the best way to drop off your papers to recycle was putting them inside grocery bags!

 Paper bag day is July 12 to honor inventor William Goodale, who received his patent July 12, 1859 on a machine that was cut so it was ready for folding.

Paper bags are making a comeback around Dane County. I see grocery stores offering customers paper bags before offering plastic. 

You can use paper bags for jobs other than carrying stuff:

• Use one to reduce anxiety when hyperventilating
• Serve popcorn
• Use for arts and crafts - as puppets or masks
• Ripen fruit - put unripe fruit in a paper bag and fold it closed
• Use it as an in-house recycling or trash container

One other tip, if you have more than five pounds in a paper bag, keep your hands under the bag.