Americans throw away around 100 billion plastic shopping bags every year. Most of these only are used once before being thrown away, and only 2 percent of plastic bags in the U.S. are recycled after use.

Here is a creative way to recycle the plastic bags you already have and cut down on new plastic bags. This recycled tote bag is easy to make and perfect for groceries.

1. Cut the handles and bottom seam off of your grocery bags so they expand and lay flat. Depending on how sturdy you want it, layer five to 10 plastic bags. Sandwich the stack between two sheets of parchment paper. The parchment paper keeps plastic from melting to the iron and ironing board.

2. Firmly iron on top of the parchment paper, making sure to press all of the air out of the plastic bags. Some wrinkling and shrinking is normal. Don’t remove the parchment paper until the plastic has fully cooled. It may need to be ironed on the reverse side if the plastic has not fully fused.

3. Once the plastic fuses and cools, set the sheet aside. Repeat until you have four sheets of fused plastic bags; these will form the bag’s sides and bottom.

4. Cut one of your pieces into two equal parts; these pieces will make the smaller sides of your bag.

5. Cut out any shapes, graphics or words you want on the outside of your bag and arrange them on the fused plastic sheets. Place another sheet of parchment paper over your arranged design and quickly run the iron over it. Be careful not to over-iron the design or the thin plastic will develop holes.

6. To make the seams, place two pieces end-to-end and iron over parchment paper where they meet until the plastic has fused. Bend the seam while the plastic is still warm. Repeat to form the sides and bottom.

7. Place your plastic bag handles and seams in a pile between two sheets of parchment paper. Iron the handles until they fuse. Cut your handles out of this sheet. Iron the ends of your handles to the inside of your bag.

YOUR BAG IS READY TO CARRY!