Plastic Bags Around Delivered Newspapers
June 23, 2008 by Peggy
I haven’t received a home newspaper delivery in a long time, but I do remember that newspapers started the nasty habit of always putting the goods in a plastic bag, rainy day or nay.
If you find yourself with a load of plastic bags from newspaper delivery, you can try a few things:
• Reuse them for tasks like picking up doggie doo.
• Take them to the plastic bag recycling drop-offs at most grocery stores.
• Ask your newspaper to stop using plastic bags on clear days.
All of those suggestions have their issues. Plastic bags used for doggie doo still won’t break down in the landfill, and plastic bag recycling isn’t efficient. And what if you live somewhere that gets rain nearly every day?
Some potential alternatives to the plastic newspaper bag:
• Ask newspaper to employ a reusable cylinder similar to the type used at drive-through windows at banks. The cylinders would be collected each week and reused. I’m not sure if this has ever been tried as it just popped into my head. Do you see any problems with it?
• Encourage your newspaper to install holders with a lid to keep the rain out. These work like mailboxes, but have actual lids. I know that newspaper boxes exist, but I’ve never seen one with a lid to protect the paper from rain.
• See if your newspaper will implement a “I’ll risk it” policy. That means your account is flagged, and you’ll never receive a plastic bag around your paper. Another bright idea of mine. Do you think it would work?
• If all else fails, just read your paper online or at the library. Or buy it from a stand or machine.
Whatever you do, let your newspaper know that the daily plastic bag bugs you. Ask them to consider alternatives. This topic would also make an interesting letter to the editor of your paper!
Image via MorgueFile.
I think the most practical idea is for everyone to have a newspaper holder. They don’t even need lids or doors. Most newspaper holders I’ve seen would keep newspapers dry unless rain was blowing horizontally. The only downside is that in some neighborhoods, plastic newspaper holders may be considered unsightly.
Some of your ideas might mean more work for the people who deliver the newspapers, such as having someone collect reusable cylinders. But I just thought of another, similar idea: grocery stores should have a separate bin for newspaper bags. Then the newspaper people should come collect them and reuse them.
Great post!
If someone has an old inner turbe or a material close to that, they could make a rain stop for the front of their newspaper box. Just cut a square slightly larger than the opening and cut strips in it almost to the top. Staple to the holder and voila, no rain.
Hey, Peggy. I used to work the circulation desk of a newspaper. Imo, the best approach is to ask the paper to use biodegradable bags while you use a secure storage option at home.
Bags keep the papers dry during delivery. They won’t keep them dry if they’re left out in the rain or the snow (at least, not for very long). When we took the print edition, we used a small storage container weighed down with rocks with “NEWSPAPER” written across the lid. It worked perfectly.
Hey everyone. I know some of my ideas on this are a little out there…
Rebecca, I’m not sure why my local paper doesn’t provide boxes for delivery. It may be the unsightly factor, or the cost. I can’t really say whether the holders without lids would keep papers dry. I haven’t had one of those since I was a small kid.
Julie, you know I love DIY ideas, but I’m wondering if the newspaper would let you alter their boxes. And if most people would do it anyway. It’s still a good thought though.
Hil, I thought about the biodegradable bag, but then figured it would cost more than the newspapers would spend. I know many of them aren’t doing so well right now. So, I guess some newspapers are delivered in an open bed truck? Why else would they need to be kept dry during delivery? The storage container is a good idea if the carrier would actually use it. : )
More like open top canvas bags that get lugged around in the rain for blocks.
I suppose that could change, but I have a feeling it would be very hard to keep papers dry without a bag of some kind, and unfortunately most customers aren’t going to accept a decline in quality because of the environment.
Seriously, you don’t know how nasty some people get when their paper is late .. or wet .. or (just go ahead and run for cover) their coupons are missing. lol It’s the only job I’ve been physically threatened over, but it’s also the only job where a customer has offered to take me on a cruise for solving his problem, so I guess it evens out. :p
From what I’ve read, biodegradable newspaper bags are not significantly more expensive, but I just read that they may not be all that great for th environment either. So, scrap that idea, but maybe a truly reusable bag that could protect the paper from moisture. It would be more complicated, for sure, but not impossible.
Hil, that does sound like a crazy job you had! Glad you survived. I worked at a newspaper too long ago, but as the person who typed the weddings and announcements, etc. I’d get suckered into accepting late wedding announcements (and work late to get them in).
As far as the reusable bag you mentioned, I’m picturing maybe a tough material like the stuff bank bags are made of. It could have a zipper, maybe. Oh, we should invent it! : )
I like the idea of I will risk it. We live where in the winter it rains tons.. but our front deck is covered and that is where they ‘throw’ the newspaper.
Thanks
I don’t think a reusable newspaper bag would need to be anything fancy. They could reuse the ones already in existence if they just had a system for collecting them. I get one free paper a week, which comes in a plastic bag. They are pretty sturdy little bags!
Hi Jennifer. Glad you liked the idea. It might be difficult to implement because of habit, but not impossible!
Rebecca, I’ve wondered if they could really reuse the standard bags. It seems like they’d get dirty and tear easily, but I’m not sure.
I deliver the news to 700 homes each night. I use bags. Why – because if I don’t customers complain of wet papers from even just the lightest dew. In the poast I tried rubber bands. this did not work either. I get charged by the paper company 2 dollars per complaint so if I get one complint it cost me the delivery fee I get paid of 14 papers. I bag to keep complaints down. The easiest way for me to deliver would just be to put the paper inthe tube as is. The easiest way for customers to stop carriers from using bags would be to request it from the carrier and then never ever again complain of a wet paper.
Melissa, thanks for your perspective from the carrier.
Hi everyone! I also am a carrier and I deliver to close to 1000 customers on Sunday. I use bags because they are the easiest and fastest way to get my customers their morning paper. I also recycle the bags. I reuse bags every chance I get. Where we live the bags cost us! The paper company does not buy them for us. Please consider calling you paper carrier and see if they can reuse them. My guess is that if they are paying for the bags themselves they will welcome the help. Also, since I deliver in the morning I deal with sprinkler systems, rain, snow, and the occasional dog. Bags are the best bet in my case!
I am what they call a Zone Manager with a newspaper, basically I am the manager of two counties.
Our newspaper does use biodegradable bags that the carriers buy from the company. We also have rubber bands that can be purchased, but most do chose the polybag because as the two carriers stated here, customers do call when there is dew that has called a paper to get wet.
There is too many chances a carrier takes once a paper is out their window, to add to those chances of a wet paper.
Delivery service is huge to a carrier who is out there to supplement their income, they do not want to lose more profit. Calling your carrier and asking them if they would like for you to save the bags to be reused, is a wonderful practice.
We have also reduced the size of our paper, cutting the cost of newsprint/paper. We strive to be environmentally wise as this industry can be and there are newspaper tubes that they sell lids for them, but pretty much a waste of money.
Speaking of money, it is the holidays, have you thought to tip your newspaper carrier this season?
I am a carrier in Pahrump, NV and have to say that customers leaving used bags for me to pick up is nothing but a nuisance. Time is of the essence when delivering papers and it’s just too hard to stuff the newspapers into loose bags (bags not on a cardboard ream).
Many customers probably aren’t aware of the fact that bags come on a cardboard holder, 100 per, that you hook onto something so you can stuff papers into the bags fast. You’d be surprised how much faster it is to bag the newspapers than if the bags were loose.
“I’ll risk it” could be a good option as I often bag papers when there is a 20% chance or higher of rain and often it doesn’t rain. Then I’ve just wasted money on those rain bags which cuts into my bottom line.
Sealed tubes like the banks use would be a problem as it would take much too long to stuff the papers inside them, not to mention the amount of room they would take up in your car. Many carriers just don’t have that kind of extra room in their cars to fit all those tubes.
We also don’t have the extra time most of these suggestions would take to institute. Even if we had the time, we are independent contractors and so the longer it takes to deliver the papers the less we make as an hourly wage.
And I can tell you delivering newspapers isn’t any great paying job. Most of us do it for love of the job. Getting up each morning and driving around in the fresh morning air with little or no traffic to speak of and being your own boss with no one looking over your shoulder and the usually unseen customer is why most of us love this job.