According to the Environmental Protection Agency, more than 380 billion plastic bags are used in the United States each year. When not disposed of properly, this plastic can end up in rivers and forests where it can harm wildlife and our local communities.

State of Connecticut Plastic bag ban ordinance — On June 3, the Connecticut General Assembly passed a plastic bag ordinance.

▲ Photo: Hearst Connecticut Media File

Bill 7424, passed by the House and Senate, was signed into law by the governor. It requires retailers to charge a 10-cent tax on any single-use plastic bag under 4 mils distributed, beginning Aug. 1st. The tax is collected and retained by the state. All single-use plastic bags will be banned beginning July 1st, 2021.

Quincy, Mass.-based Stop & Shop announced Monday it will eliminate the use of plastic bags in its 91 Connecticut stores starting Aug. 1st.

▲ Photo: LinkedIn page of Ahold Delhaize

‘Stop & Shop is removing single-use plastic bags from the checkouts in all its Connecticut store locations! Customers will receive a free reusable bag when they bring plastic bags in for recycling into wood plastic composite wood, which is used for things like decking, park benches, and playground equipment. It's a great step for plastic waste reduction–and playgrounds!’ Ahold Delhaize - Stop & Shop's parent company says on social media.

Ever wonder where those plastic bags go? If you've recycled them, they may turn up in the construction of your next deck or on the local playground.

These recycled plastic bags can be used to produce the best green building materials - Wood Plastic Composite. WPC is a sustainable material choice because it is made recycled wood and plastic and additives in different proportions. The use of wood plastic composites prevents the deforestation, saves forest and petroleum resources, promote plastic recycling and protect the environment.

WPC material is a new type of environmentally, eco-friendly and energy-saving composite materials, substitute for wood, and can be 100% recycled. WPC products made with recycled plastic gives new life to plastic waste, diverting it from our oceans and landfills. Composite timber, when chosen instead of a tropical hardwood, also puts less strain on global forestry harvesting. Additionally, the manufacturing process of wood plastic composites does not involve any chemical which can be harmful or toxic to the environment.

For example, the main material of HOSUNG (Shanghai) WPC Co., Ltd. WPC is natural wood powder (about 60%), by adding HDPE (about 30%) and necessary chemical additives. It’s extruded out from special moldings under high temperature and pressure, which is 100% recycled, eco-friendly, saving forest and petroleum resources, and do not contain the toxic chemicals often found in pressure-treated lumber, and are manufactured in a process that produces zero water waste.

Turning Your Plastic Bag into the Best Green Building Materials

In the building and construction industry, Wood Plastic Composite materials play an important role in recycling plastics. WPC materials are manufactured from recycled materials such as plastic and wood. This is a fantastic building material option for homeowners who prefer to be eco-friendly.

The application of wood-plastic composite materials in building and construction design has obvious innovations and characteristics. The products are almost free of waste, wastewater discharge, and the products can be recycled. Its development in the building and construction field will protect the forest. Resources, protecting the environment, recycling and utilizing resources, developing a circular economy, and improving the production competitiveness of the industry all have important significance and have significant social and economic benefits.

According to the National Association of Home Builders, this combination of wood fibers and waste plastics is more durable and less toxic than conventional treated lumber. The material is also more rigid than pure plastic lumber because the wood fibers add extra strength.

WPC materials have superb weather resistance, water and moisture resistance, anti-fading, weather and insect resistance, a long service life and the lowest possible maintenance requirements. The characteristics completely solve the problem that wooden materials easily decay, expand and deform. Therefore it can be used in many circumstances where traditional wooden materials cannot be applied.

When subjected to varying weather, intense heat and day-to-day wear and tear, WPC products can maintain their original color and style. It is durable, anti-impact, water-proof, moisture-proof, anti-corrosive and anti-termites with high density. WPC products also have high capacity of UV-resistance, color stability.

WPC products do not require constant maintenance. No painting, no glue and low maintenance cost. Even if you do not maintain it for years and years, it will still look the same. It means you don’t have to put as much energy or money into maintaining it over time, reducing the overall costs of the material.

Create Green Environment with WPC Materials

Wood Plastic Composite as the best decoration materials for outdoor spaces, which is increasingly used by specialists in landscape design. Decking is used as a unique kind of creativity for creating garden paths, pools, pergola, decking, cladding, fencing, railing, garden edging or borders, planters, playground equipment, picnic tables and patio furniture and other facilities that help to make a comfortable resting place on the territory of your home.

WPC is not only the first and best choice for home landscaping projects, but WPC is also increasingly used in urban landscape. Its advantages are fully typified in the garden, park, club, residential quarters, landscaping, bridge, dock, walkway, hotels, resorts and many other outdoor places, satisfying the psychological pursuit of people in modern city. The WPC products are fresh and elegant, embodied with artistic flavor, bringing freshness from the nature.

Hosung (Shanghai) WPC Co., Ltd., as a ‘Green’ company, has its roots in recycling. Hosung provides consumers with innovative building materials from a sustainable process, while bringing an environmentally friendly green design concept to everyone. As an innovative WPC brand, HOSUNG consistently put energy-saving, eco-friendly, sustainable and aesthetical ideas in the business, product and service, turning simple outdoor spaces into dreamy outdoor living.