Paper, Plastic or BYOB?

[sabramh]

I too often forget the reusable bags. I ask for plastic, becaus I have several crochet projects that use plastic bags.

[Sarayntrix]

I have 2 store bought reusable bags and 1 that I knit, (my favorite - it can hold around 30- 40 lbs.). I usually remember them for the grocery, but not the petsmart, et al. I use any plastic bags for used litter (2 cavies, 3 cats and 1 dog), trash cans, and the like - I rather feel guilty for the dependence, but not the penny pinching. I'm also considering stripping and knitting them into another grocery bag.

[AvParties4u]

When I remember to bring them I have some
reusable bags that we use.

[alinasandor]

I use plastic and then save them. When I have a bunch I stuff them in the recycling box at my local grocery store. Since we buy A LOT of groceries, using my own bags doesn't work very well.

[jellian]

That "directive" came in the early 80's for Harris Teeter. I was a bagger and front-end manager during high school, in their #8 store in Charlotte (#8 store in the whole system). As a bagger, we all HATED it when they introduced plastic. Just like you hear about paper now, we were not set up for it, and it was hard to deal with as a bagger, akward, and in general it was a "chanage from the norm".

I'm curious why so many are wanting paper though. My understanding is that if you recycle your plastic it is much more environmentally friendly. While the pulp wood for paper is a regenerating process, I've always understood that it takes much more energy (and carbon release) to process the production of paper, than it does to produce plastic, even though the plastic is an oil-based product... I can carry much more groceries in plastic, and they are way easier to store at my house, because they take less room. <--sorry to get off subject, just curious the reasons.

[MTHome]

Originally Posted by SamCook

Has anyone heard of a major store giving the re-usable out for free? .

Fred Meyers has always replaced mine for free when they wear out. I don't know if they're supposed to do that, or if they just have nice checkers.

They also take 5 cents off my total for each bag I use, so 15 cents at the check-out stand every week. The bags have paid for themselves many times over.

[avia4life]

I keep my reusable bags in the van so they are always there when I stop at the store. I hate plastic bags!!! If for some reason I must use a store bag, I prefer paper. When I unload the groceries, the bags go right back into the van so they are right where I need them for the next trip to the store.

[MichelleTexas]

I always get plastic bags and I always put them in the recycle bins too!

[aussieroo1]

I bring my own shopping bag. But during times that I forget, I have no choice but to use plastic.

[KathyBlack]

I'm plastic too. But, I do re-use them at home!