Grocery stores sell excellent reusable cloth bags. Other stores ask, “Do you need a bag?” And, unless it’s pouring rain and you don’t have a big pocket, you probably don’t need a bag.
It used to be that the plastic bag was your Proof of Purchase. Does it feel right walking out of Chapters with an un-plastic-bagged book in hand? On those days that I forget my cloth bag, I hold my cash receipt on top of the book as I exit the store.
I have no reason to forget or to be without. My Aunt Net sews beautiful cloth bags. If you don’t like what the grocery store has for cloth bags, attend a craft fair. You will be surprised to find a whole new industry replacing the Plastic Bag.
Here’s a video called The Majestic Plastic Bag which describes the migration of the Plastic Bag from its birthplace to the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. This plastic collecting area, according to the video, is twice the size of Texas.
How about you? Are you a cloth bag convert?
Or do you support the Plastic Bag’s survival because you worry about the Plastic Bag becoming extinct?
I use plastic bins mostly, and don’t own pretty cloth bags. I’m afraid if I did, I wouldn’t want to use them for groceries!
I’m with you on the pretty bags. I save those for books. I’ve been thinking about those plastic bins for groceries – guaranteed not to fall over and toss melons all over the car…
Thanks for stopping by!
I have more bags than I could ever use. Remember when they were $10 a piece? now they give them away, or almost. I love mine. just wish i remembered every time to take them into the grocery story with me.
Louise – thanks for stopping by! I try to keep a bag tucked in the door pocket of the car. Then when I use the bag, I put it with my keys so it goes back to the car. Doesn’t always work, but sometimes it saves me at least one bag.
I sometimes use a cloth bag, sometimes carry, and I must confess, sometimes use the plastic bags.
Of course, since we’re discussing bags, it annoys me to no end when the cashier asks if I want a plastic bag for a nickel. Of course I don’t want to PAY for the plastic bag (which I’m sure I’ve paid for numerous times over in the cost of my single purchase). Nope, I’m going to take that nickel in my tight little fingers to my grave.
Oops, sorry Suzanne, off topic but when someone mentions plastic bags, that’s the first thing I think of.
On the other hand, I really believe charging for the plastic bags is a great way to cut down on their use and save our environment. It’s brilliant. I almost wish the grocery stores would do the same thing. 🙂 Of course, that would piss me off, too. Apparently you should never invite me to a discussion on plastic bags. LOL!
Sheila, you make me laugh :o)
I wish grocery stores would go back to paper bags, for those times you forget your cloth bags. Some stores are using biodegradable plastic. That could be another answer for the Great Pacific Garbage Patch.
Ah yes, Suzanne, those paper bags. But then wouldn’t they cut into our tree supply? LOL! There’s always something to affect the environment. Maybe if we had those corner stores, like they do in Europe, we could shop daily for our cooking supplies. Then we’d each have one of those little baskets that we’d take everywhere with us. 🙂
When we were travelling in Ireland, a plastic bag cost about .45. I think they really had it right. When you have to pay for them, you really think twice about just taking one.
But Sheila! We can farm trees! They are renewable and they don’t end up in the Pacific Garbage Patch.
I love the idea of those little baskets. Maybe that’s what I’ll leave in the car. We could start a trend…
Amy Jo – good for Ireland!
I use cloth most of the time but I still need a collection of the plastic ones for cat box clean-up and trash can liners in the bathrooms. And when I have the cashier use plastic, I always feel the urge to explain myself so they won’t think I’m a destroyer of the environment or something. Anyone else do that??
Shay – yes, on the trash can liners.
I’m also like this with newspapers. I rarely buy a newspaper since everything I need is on-line. But I occasionally need a newspaper for camping season, to start campfires.
I keep a stash of cloth bags in each car and have one of those nylon ones that snaps into a small square in my purse or backpack. I seldom resort to plastic for just these reasons. Wish I could persuade my husband and kids of their value.
Did you know that they attribute Mumbai’s horrific flooding to plastic bags clogging the sewer?
Jan – thanks for your comments. The image of plastic bags clogging the sewer…yuck! That’s got to make a person think.