The next time someone asks “Paper or plastic?” say “Neither” and pull out one of your Greenie the Wiener reusable shopping bags from Almost Home Dachshund Rescue Society.

Greenie the Wiener and Cousteau the Sea Turtle have teamed up to bring you this environmentally-friendly reusable bag made of recycled materials. It is sturdy, easy to pack, extremely lightweight and you will make a measurable difference to the environment by using it only 11 times. This washable and recyclable bag measures 12x13 inches, with an 8-inch gusset. It comes with a hard plastic insert so it will stand stable while being packed. In a new forest green color, it features white lettering and art with Greenie and Cousteau inside the universal recycling symbol and with the AHDRS web address.

Greenie wants to spread the word that using plastic bags not only directly endangers the lives of birds and wildlife, but has a direct impact on other areas of the environment. In the US alone, it is estimated between 100 - 380 billion plastic bags are used annually, resulting in the consumption of more than 12 million barrels of oil and producing dangerous pollution in the production process. Of these, less than 1% are recycled. Plastic bags can take more than 1000 years to biodegrade, and, in our landfills, even longer. Those not disposed of properly threaten wildlife mistaking them for food, endanger sea life as they collect in our oceans and create a continuing eyesore in our communities.

While many consider paper bags to be a better option since they are made from renewable resources and biodegrade at a faster rate, they take trees out of the environment and use energy and resources in their production. The only good solution is the use of reusable bags – and to make it perfect, the use of these bags raises funds for the AHDRS medical fund!