ABC Australia reports that some so-called “green bags” may not be as good for the environment as people think.

“Green bags are made from non-woven polypropylene,” the news service reports. “This textile is byproduct of oil refining and it is not biodegradable. You may reuse your green bag many times. But when you throw it out, it will not break down on the compost heap or in landfill.”

Defenders of the green bags say that they

1) Last far longer than disposable plastic bags

 2) Can be recycled even if they can't be composted, and

 3) Are better than alternatives until a better option comes along.

There are almost always downsides to most options. And it makes sense that cotton bags are more environmentally benign than polypropylene.

This is all a work in progress and people are trying to do the best they can, making fundamental changes in their buying behaviors. People smart enough to stop using disposable bags won’t have any problem switching to cotton bags if they believe it will be better for the environment.