Saving trees one bag at a time

Five months ago, Gardnerville resident Wendy Derrig found something unsettling in East Valley: more than a dozen plastic shopping bags tangled in the limbs of an otherwise beautiful tree. The wind had whipped up the bags from the nearby transfer station.

"Our goal is to eliminate scenes like this one, which are so very common throughout or Valley," said Derrig.

At the start of spring, Derrig, her husband John, and their two long-time friends, Gardnerville residents Donna and Leon Werner, formed Bagladeez, an Internet vendor of handmade reusable tote bags.

"We make them right here in Nevada," said Leon Werner. "Not only do they help cut down on waste, but they help conserve resources. Less trees are cut down to make paper bags, and less oil resources are consumed to make plastic bags."

Werner said all four business owners help in the production of the bags, selecting fabrics, cutting and sewing pieces together.

"We collaborate on the designs," he said. "I once picked out a fabric, and no one else voted for it, so we didn't use it."

Bagladeez offers regular-sized grocery bags, made from a heavy cotton-duck cloth, and also smaller mesh bags for produce.

"We're offering five grocery bags and three produce bags for $25," said Werner.

Bags are sold individually as well, said Werner.

"We're thinking about a larger beach bag," he said. "We also found a material that's made out of recycled plastic bottles. The material is orange, and we're hoping that with black handles or other features added we could make a bag that matches the colors of the Douglas Tigers."

However, Werner said the plastic material is more expensive; Bagladeez would have to charge more if they decided to pursue the product.

"We hope to make a profitable business and in the meantime help save the environment," he said.

Werner also said some grocery stores offer discounts for those using reusable bags.

For more information about Bagladeez, visit www.bagladeez.com or call 265-2621.