Blue bag
Encyclopedia
A blue bag is a blue
coloured, semi-transparent bag for waste
, mandated for use in some localities for refuse or for certain specific types of refuse: the distinguishing color serves to assist in recycling
programs. Typically, it would be used for glass
, plastic
or polyethylene
content.
The Chicago system has been criticized for its tediousness and inconvenience, as blue bags cost more to the homeowner than grocery bags and this system of recycling, compared to ones implemented in other cities and suburbs, requires additional effort. Chicago Sanitation management has claimed Chicago's Blue Bag system diverts approximately 25% of its waste to recycling facilities, which was its initial goal. However, most independent studies place the estimates at approximately 9% of the garbage picked up, resulting in continued criticism towards the program.
On May 2, 2008, the Chicago SunTimes reported that Chicago is giving up on the program. By 2011 there will be a shift to curbside recycling in blue carts.
In many healthcare facilities, large disposable blue bags (often with drawstrings) are commonly used to collect soiled linens. Some are printed with the words "Soiled Linens" and "Ropa Sucias" on them. (These bags fall in line with the color scheme of waste bags in the healthcare industry: red bags for biohazard waste, yellow bags for chemo therapy waste, and blue bags for soiled linens).
Crisps also used to have a blue bag in the pack, which contained the salt. One brand, marketed at traditionalists, still does this.
Blue
Blue is a colour, the perception of which is evoked by light having a spectrum dominated by energy with a wavelength of roughly 440–490 nm. It is considered one of the additive primary colours. On the HSV Colour Wheel, the complement of blue is yellow; that is, a colour corresponding to an equal...
coloured, semi-transparent bag for waste
Waste
Waste is unwanted or useless materials. In biology, waste is any of the many unwanted substances or toxins that are expelled from living organisms, metabolic waste; such as urea, sweat or feces. Litter is waste which has been disposed of improperly...
, mandated for use in some localities for refuse or for certain specific types of refuse: the distinguishing color serves to assist in recycling
Recycling
Recycling is processing used materials into new products to prevent waste of potentially useful materials, reduce the consumption of fresh raw materials, reduce energy usage, reduce air pollution and water pollution by reducing the need for "conventional" waste disposal, and lower greenhouse...
programs. Typically, it would be used for glass
Glass
Glass is an amorphous solid material. Glasses are typically brittle and optically transparent.The most familiar type of glass, used for centuries in windows and drinking vessels, is soda-lime glass, composed of about 75% silica plus Na2O, CaO, and several minor additives...
, plastic
Plastic
A plastic material is any of a wide range of synthetic or semi-synthetic organic solids used in the manufacture of industrial products. Plastics are typically polymers of high molecular mass, and may contain other substances to improve performance and/or reduce production costs...
or polyethylene
Polyethylene
Polyethylene or polythene is the most widely used plastic, with an annual production of approximately 80 million metric tons...
content.
Chicago, Illinois
The City of Chicago implemented a blue bag system in 1995. As it may be the case for all blue bag systems, it operates by requiring willing participants to purchase blue garbage bags (available at major grocery stores throughout the city) and depositing recyclable material in the bags. This may be paper-based (cardboard boxes, gift boxes, newspaper, etc.), plastic and glass, or yard/lawn refuse. A separate blue bag must be used for each of the three types of recyclable material.The Chicago system has been criticized for its tediousness and inconvenience, as blue bags cost more to the homeowner than grocery bags and this system of recycling, compared to ones implemented in other cities and suburbs, requires additional effort. Chicago Sanitation management has claimed Chicago's Blue Bag system diverts approximately 25% of its waste to recycling facilities, which was its initial goal. However, most independent studies place the estimates at approximately 9% of the garbage picked up, resulting in continued criticism towards the program.
On May 2, 2008, the Chicago SunTimes reported that Chicago is giving up on the program. By 2011 there will be a shift to curbside recycling in blue carts.
Muncie, Indiana
The Muncie Blue Bag program, delivered through Muncie Sanitary District, began in 1999 and has been working toward a goal of recycling 50 percent of Muncie's wastes. The program's effectiveness comes from its simplicity. While some programs require participants to clean and sort items before taking them to recycling centers, Muncie Recycling does the work instead. Everything just goes into Blue Bags.United Kingdom
Blue bags are used to distinguish different types of recyclable materials at the point of collection. The content allowed differs from area to area, depending on decisions of the local council.Other uses
A blue bag was a very small blue cloth bag containing crystals that one added to the 'whites' wash of a laundry session. The crystals dissolved and acted as a mild bleach. It was in widespread use in England at least until the 1950s.In many healthcare facilities, large disposable blue bags (often with drawstrings) are commonly used to collect soiled linens. Some are printed with the words "Soiled Linens" and "Ropa Sucias" on them. (These bags fall in line with the color scheme of waste bags in the healthcare industry: red bags for biohazard waste, yellow bags for chemo therapy waste, and blue bags for soiled linens).
Crisps also used to have a blue bag in the pack, which contained the salt. One brand, marketed at traditionalists, still does this.