Poll: do you buy reusable shopping bags?

[Laura K (NC)]

After hearing that plastic grocery bags are (will soon be?) illegal in China, I started thinking more about the idea of carrying reusable bags with me when I go grocery shopping.

What do you think? Choose one of the following:

1. I have bought reusable shopping bags and I do use them/plan to use them.

2. I intend to buy reusable shopping bags... I'm just waiting for a cute pattern/color!

3. They are too much trouble, or I would never remember to bring them shopping with me.

[Kelli in TN]

I have two, so far, and I request paper since we have paper recyling in our community but we don't have plastic recycling.

Eventually I want to have enough reuasable bags to not need any paper or plastic!!

[AnneJ]

I have several bags that I take with me when we go shopping; however, I haven't actually bought any. I've gotten them for free either from conventions I've gone to or from my MIL. :)

[Jenny in Atl]

I've got a ton cause I keep forgetting to bring them into the store! I think I'm up to 10 now (Whole Foods and Trader Joes). LOL
My mom has this huge Ikea one that makes her look like a bag lady when she shops. She just smiles :D

[Janet in WA]

I've thought about re-usable shopping bags. But I "re-use" the plastic and paper ones myself for many things around the house. I don't just throw them away. I don't think I'd want to pick up dog poop with those re-usable fabric bags.

[Ellie]

cleaning out the kitty litter box, you know.

Also, I refuse to participate in anything that seems to support the concept of global warming. But that's just me...

[Kelli in TN]

cleaning out the kitty litter box, you know.

Also, I refuse to participate in anything that seems to support the concept of global warming. But that's just me...

How does a reusable bag support the concept of global warming?

I use them because I support the concept of no more plastic bags hanging from trees. I also support the concept of no more plastic bags in the waterways. I also support the concept of no more plastic bags being sucked into something or other on the bottom of my van causing a repair bill. I also support the concept of no more plastic bag handles tearing and dumping my groceries all over the driveway. Those are causes I believe in!:D

[Beth in Central TX]

The idea of using reusable bags has never crossed my mind. You do have to bring your own bags or pay for them at IKEA, which reminded me of living in Germany as a child.

[Virginia Dawn]

I sometimes get plastic. They get re-used for kitty litter, lunch sacks, small trash cans, stuffing in gift packages to keep things from rattling around. toting extra stuff when we go places. When I have too many they go to the thrift stores to be reused, or into the recycle bin outside the grocery store.

I sometimes get paper. These get used to hold paper and cardboard for recycling, and for brown wrapping paper to mail packages.

My dh just bought us a grocery tote from our local grocery store. He plans to use it when he just goes for a couple of things. The tote was $1.99, we get a nickel off our purchases everytime we use it.

[Daisy]

I've used cloth shopping bags for years now. I just keep them in my trunk and grab them whenever we head into the store. I always have one in my purse just in case I ran in quickly and forgot one. I use them because it just make sense. Why waste all that plastic and paper?

[RoughCollie]

Someone here mentioned these and I'm going to buy them and use them.

http://usa.envirosax.com/index.php

[Deece in MN]

I have used canvas bags/reusable bags on and off for years.
My biggest problem is that I forget them in the trunk and don't think about it until it is time to pack the groceries.
We also have some of the Ikea bags and they are huge and would not fit in my purse.
I am looking into buying some of the ones that fold up small so I can put them in my purse and not forget them.
I feel guilty when I have to use paper bags because I forgot mine in the trunk and am too lazy to run out and get them. :o

[Amy loves Bud]

Even better - make your own reusable bags from worn out clothing. I have some I've bought/been given, but I also have made a couple. I won't buy anymore because it makes sense to recycle old fabric instead of buying new.

[Holly in FL]

Yep. These are the ones I have...

http://www.reusablebags.com/store/acme-bags™-earthtote™-reusable-shopping-p-10.html

~Holly

[Karenciavo]

I have 2 canvas from Trader Joe's (booby prizes for missing basket) and 1 insulated from TJ.
I also have 6 weaved plastic reusables from Wegman's

I put them right back into the van after unloading or else I would forget them.

[*anj*]

I have reusables from Trader Joe's, Wegman's , Whole Foods, Wild Oats, my local independently owned health food store, and a couple of other stores too. I still end up needing either paper or plastic when I go shopping. I try to always reuse the plastic ones for all kinds of things that others have already mentioned. Our dear friend Classical Michele uses the grocery store bags as trash bags, and just today I decided to give that a try too. We ran out of the normal sized bags and I thought we'd give it a whirl for a week. This will save us money and also give the bags another life. They are obviously too small for our normal kitchen garbage can so I brought in a 5 gallon pail that used to hold wheat berries, and lined it with the grocery store bag. It works!

[nukeswife]

I have the same bags as Holly in FL and I LOVE THEM!

I bought 10 originally and we use them for groceries as well as for when we go on vacation for things like towels, sunscreen etc for the beach.

I also have reusable cotton bags for my produce.

We're military and what prompted me using these canvas bags was that the moving company the Navy hired to move us once packed a 20X20x16 in. box full of nothing but plastic bags we had saved for when we had yard sales. That was the end of plastic bags in this house. The commissary baggers love my bags as well because they can hold as much as a typical paper grocery bag but they are sturdier so they can handle lots of heavy things that would normally require double bagging.

[Karenciavo]

Yep. These are the ones I have...

http://www.reusablebags.com/store/acme-bags™-earthtote™-reusable-shopping-p-10.html (http://www.reusablebags.com/store/acme-bags%E2%84%A2-earthtote%E2%84%A2-reusable-shopping-p-10.html)

~Holly

Those are a lot nicer than my $0.99 Wegman's and free TJ bags. I think I have bag envy http://www.smileygenerator.us/community/searchsmiley/j/jealoussmiley.gif

[Tina]

I just started putting some bigger mesh bags I got in Mexico years ago in the car to use. No point buying bags when I have lots of tote bags I've gotten free over the years, too; they seem to multiply! I just have to remember to take them in the store. Hard to start a new habit! lol

I use paper bags at the grocery store, but WM only has those darn plastic bags which I hate. And then they seem to only put two items in a bag. Grrr! They are the only place with a box to recycle the bags that I know of tho...

[Testimony]

I keep forgetting to bring them in the store with me.

Karen
www.homeschoolblogger.com/testimony

[Begonia]

Aargh! I always mean to use my tote bags for grocery shopping but I keep forgetting to take them with me when I leave the house. Perhaps I'll go right now and put some in the car. Thanks for the nudge!

[Tonia]

We use boxes - they are called "green boxes", and they are literally large green plastic baskets with handles. But I do have a few bags as well for quick trips.

[Brenda in FL]

I have used them in the past and then just stopped using them for no good reason.

For Christmas my sister bought me a bunch of Trader Joe shopping bags and I am getting back into the habit of using them.

Are they too much trouble? - Just trying to remember to get them back in the car!!

I find it funny - that the times I use them the baggers act like they don't know what to do with them! Even though all the stores are selling reusable shopping bags now!

[Rhesa]

and then watched as the cashier bagged all my things into plastic bags and placed them in the reusable bag!

Kinda ruins the purpose...:rolleyes:

[Mom2jnb]

Our Grocery store takes $0.10 off for each bag you reuse...whether it be paper, plastic or "reusable".

Target has pretty nice bags the are huge and fold up and snap shut for prices between $1.00 and $1.50. It wouldn't take me very long to recoop the cost of them at the grocery store.

Alison

[imeverywoman]

too! Thanks for the reminder!

[CalicoKat]

I do forget once in a while to put them back in the van. But my kids are into it now too so they're helping remember the routine.

The reusable bags hold more and are easier to pack in the van. Even though they're from the grocery store and have that name on them I use them all over town. They're great.

[Liz CA]

What do you think? Choose one of the following:

1. I have bought reusable shopping bags and I do use them/plan to use them.



a low price because they want to encourage people bringing their bags. They are not only sturdy but have a cooling substance inside so I can buy dairy stuff and it does not turn sour on the way home which is 45 minutes. I think, I have 5 now, they all live in the back of the Jeep and I take them into other stores as well.

[Colleen]

It's never occured to me to not reuse bags, but I've never purchased reusable bags solely to use while shopping. I bring tote bags with me when I shop ~ totes I use for many different things, such as trips to the library. Two are spacious, Organic Valley totes, made in the USA from certified organic cotton. Another is from a hometown company and was manufactured locally. It irritates me that so many reusable shopping bags are made overseas (specifically, in China).

So when I shop, I use these totes, as well as cardboard boxes that are available near the checkstands at my food co-op. (Boxes that were used to ship items to the co-op, that is.) I do also get a couple of paper bags each week because I put my paper recycling in those.

[Tap, tap, tap]

If I forget my reusables, I often just request no bag. When I have less than 10 or so items and no reusable bag with me, I just ask them to not use a bag. I keep a cardboard box in my trunk and I just put the items in that when I get to the car. The extra trip or two to the car to bring in groceries isn't a big deal and I don't have to walk bags back to the car. The paper bags from TJs last a very, very long time. I forget every once in a while or I buy more groceries than I have bags for, so I get a new one or two. I keep them until they start to break down. Then they get recycled (usually full of shredded paper) or reused at the house before getting thrown out.

[GreenKitty]

Yes, I would buy them, just haven't. I def would have to wash them after each use...right?

[Laura Corin]

Yes, I would buy them, just haven't. I def would have to wash them after each use...right?

Most of what's inside is wrapped separately anyway.

Laura

[GreenKitty]

Most of what's inside is wrapped separately anyway.

Laura


That's true. I will prob end up purchasing some.

[Heather in the Kootenays]

You can make great bags out of old jeans.

[PariSarah]

. . . or that people have given me. The one I bought was nice and big; the others don't hold as much.

I keep the big one in the trunk so that if I'm out and need to grab something, or if I forget to grab bags on the way out the door, I'll at least have one good-sized one. That cuts down on the inconvenience factor.

I hadn't thought, Amy loves Bud, of making them--I might have to do that. (Once I finish the diapers I started a month ago. . . )

[Robin Hood]

When I lived in Mexico 18 years ago, most of the women used reusable bags when they went shopping so it's an old idea in other countries, I think. Where I lived, many also bought paper by the piece. They didn't have enough money to buy things like we do so they were very careful. On the other hand, I took the bus everywhere and they threw all trash out the window ie; used disposable diapers, lunch sacks and food remains, anything not wanted.

[Plaid Dad]

We don't use our cloth bags every time, so we employ two further strategies: (1) We reuse clean, sturdy plastic bags, and (2) we recycle any excess bags at our local supermarket.

[Crissy]

How does a reusable bag support the concept of global warming?

I use them because I support the concept of no more plastic bags hanging from trees. I also support the concept of no more plastic bags in the waterways. I also support the concept of no more plastic bags being sucked into something or other on the bottom of my van causing a repair bill. I also support the concept of no more plastic bag handles tearing and dumping my groceries all over the driveway. Those are causes I believe in!:D

I'm with Kelli.
My choices to recycle, buy reusable products, collect rain water, etc., etc. have little to nothing to do with global warming.

[gardenschooler]

We have a recycling bin at our grocery store for plastic bags, but I also reuse them at home. I'm going to go look at those cool reusable bags.

I don't know what else I would use to dispose of the dog poop, other than plastic bags (and after a bag is used for that, it's not recycled). I suppose using one large bag instead of several small ones would be better, though, right? I don't know how that would work out - then I'd have to keep a large garbage can with a lid in the backyard, specifically for dumping it, and then I'd have to OPEN it. Any ideas on this?

[Kelli in TN]

We have a recycling bin at our grocery store for plastic bags, but I also reuse them at home. I'm going to go look at those cool reusable bags.

I don't know what else I would use to dispose of the dog poop, other than plastic bags (and after a bag is used for that, it's not recycled). I suppose using one large bag instead of several small ones would be better, though, right? I don't know how that would work out - then I'd have to keep a large garbage can with a lid in the backyard, specifically for dumping it, and then I'd have to OPEN it. Any ideas on this?


You could always use your produce bags for poop-scooping!

I can't recommend the Kroger bags, if you shop Kroger. They are flimsy, I use them anyway, but I want something sturdier. I have tried just using tote bags I have around the house, but they don't hold much.

I am seriously thinking of using a brown paper bag as a template and designing a bag to my specifications!

[Rachel]

I have bought them............fully intending to use them and then promptly leave them at home, in the car, in the basket...........every single time!!!

[Janet in WA]

You could always use your produce bags for poop-scooping!So are plastic produce bags okay while plastic grocery bags aren't? At least plastic grocery bags are recycled and recyclable.

[Kelli in TN]

So are plastic produce bags okay while plastic grocery bags aren't? At least plastic grocery bags are recycled and recyclable.

Oh gosh, no, I didn't mean anything by that! I just meant that IF she wanted to use a tote of some sort for her groceries and then IF she needed to scoop some poop, the plastic produce bag MIGHT be an acceptable subsitite for her scooping needs. I was not trying to qualify one as better/worse than the other.

No more posting while cooking supper at the same time for me! Obviously I need to concentrate on either cooking or communication, one at a time!:D

[gardenschooler]

You could always use your produce bags for poop-scooping!


Unfortunately, I have waaaaay more poop than produce. But I see your point on the produce bags. They're going to be thrown out anyway, so it makes sense to use them for the doggie poo.

And that reminds me, I will need some of those mesh bags for produce!

[Colleen]

I seldom put produce into bags. If a plastic bag is needed (e.g. for wet lettuce), I re-use a bag I have on hand.

[Elinor Everywhere]

We walk to the grocery store, and canvas bags with long straps work well--we can sling them across our shoulders and thereby carry a heavier load.

[3lilreds in NC]

to pick up dog poop, you're preserving it for future generations. I believe it was in Good Housekeeping, and they recommended using the biodegradable ones that you can buy. I haven't yet convinced myself that I need to purchase bags to clean up after my dog, but it tickled me a bit when I read that sentence in the article. :D

[Mekanamom]

I don't know what else I would use to dispose of the dog poop, other than plastic bags (and after a bag is used for that, it's not recycled). I suppose using one large bag instead of several small ones would be better, though, right? I don't know how that would work out - then I'd have to keep a large garbage can with a lid in the backyard, specifically for dumping it, and then I'd have to OPEN it. Any ideas on this?

I used to do the same thing until I discovered that it is illegal (in my area, at least) to put animal waste into the trash. For the longest time, I could not figure out... well, what do people do with it then?

Then I found one of these at Costco:

http://www.doggiedooley.com/

But I can't give you a review on them because it occurred to me that it would be just as easy to dump it right into our own septic tank. For those without septic tanks or easy access though... these doggie dooleys look pretty neat.

(As far as bags go... I just keep my reuseable bags in the trunk of the van. I've been pretty good about remembering to bring them into the store. I just stick them onto the seat portion of the shopping cart until checkout, since my kids are now all to old to ride in the cart.)

[Colleen in SEVA]

I LOVE THEM!!! At first I bought 5 at my grocery store because they give me 5 cents off my order for each bag used (pays for itself, we go through a lot of groceries!), but they are a perfect size for SO MANY things! So I bought 5 more to actually use for groceries. :)

I notice that several stores offer their own color/logo --- I'm hoping all the stores don't mind me using my grocery store bag.

On a side note... my town recently stopped picking up recycling. Can you believe that? The rest of the world is trying to save the planet and they are trying to save a few dollars.

[godpoetry]

We shop at Aldi. There you have to buy your bags, so we carry our own bags and boxes. I usually forget to carry my big bag when I go to Walmart.:rolleyes:
Maybe I should leave one in the car.

[Kelli in TN]

to pick up dog poop, you're preserving it for future generations. I believe it was in Good Housekeeping, and they recommended using the biodegradable ones that you can buy. I haven't yet convinced myself that I need to purchase bags to clean up after my dog, but it tickled me a bit when I read that sentence in the article. :D


I am almost afraid to ask, but am I the only person on here that just lets mother nature take care of the dog droppings? I never pick them up. Well, if one of the dogs leaves one on the dining room rug :rolleyes: I pick it up. Fortunately they don't do that very often.

[Diana in OR]

cleaning out the kitty litter box, you know.

Also, I refuse to participate in anything that seems to support the concept of global warming. But that's just me...


I have 6 canvas grocery bags and I absolutely love them. They save money. They save me time, b/c they hold so many more groceries that it means fewer trips to unload my van. I must admit global warming wasn't on the radar screen when I was collecting them. I do like the idea of not using the plastic bags, since they are a petroleum product and I'd like to do my part to reduce our dependence on foreign oil.

As a political side note, however, I heard Clark Howard recently say that paper catalogs consume 50 million trees per year. I don't read 90% of the catalogs I receive (hs catalogs notwithstanding :-) ). That seems excessive to me.

[*anj*]

I am almost afraid to ask, but am I the only person on here that just lets mother nature take care of the dog droppings? I never pick them up. Well, if one of the dogs leaves one on the dining room rug :rolleyes: I pick it up. Fortunately they don't do that very often.

Kelli,
In some places (like here) it is illegal to walk your dog and leave the er, um, droppings just laying around. If you let Fido go in your own backyard, it's fine to leave the work to mother nature, but if your dog goes on any other property you have to clean up after him.

Note: I had to yell at our neighbor's kid a few months ago. My kids were telling me that he was walking over here with his dog, letting the dog poop in our yard, then he'd go back next door to his own yard.
One day I looked out my kitchen window and wouldn't you know that dog was squatting right by my lilac bush! :eek:
I yelled out the window and boy and dog both ran off. I was planning to go over and say something to his parents since I'd witnessed it, but then I saw him come back with a Shop Rite bag and clean it up, so I just said "thank you."

Okay, back to the subject at hand!

[Crissy]

I am almost afraid to ask, but am I the only person on here that just lets mother nature take care of the dog droppings? I never pick them up. Well, if one of the dogs leaves one on the dining room rug :rolleyes: I pick it up. Fortunately they don't do that very often.

We have too many boys playing in the back yard to wait for mother nature to do the work. And *I* don't ever want to have to navigate the back yard in that way.
My older son and I agreed, before we got the puppy, that he would clean up her mess every day. It goes into a biodegradable bag and gets tossed in the trash.

[Mrs Mungo]

I have a mish-mash of TJ's bags (including an insulated one), canvas bags (eta: including *2* Peace Hill Press bags!) and a collapsible crate. I usually use them but sometimes I do forget to stick them back in the car :o

[gardenschooler]

No, there's just too much of it to leave it. I've got the poopinest dogs in town. I can't enjoy being outside with that!!! It's going to be the death of me, and now I find out I'm preserving it for future generations? Aaack!!!

I don't know if it's illegal here to bag up poop in plastic bags, but it is to leave it when you're out on a walk.

Guess I better check into biodegradable bags or the Doggydooley. I hope this is a toilet for dogs, yes? :D

[Mrs Mungo]

Oh!! Something I'd really like to show people. If you don't want to buy reuseable shopping bags, make your own out of recycled plastic bags!

Craftzine has links showing how to make a reuseable tote by knitting recycled plastic bags or by fusing/sewing one:

http://blog.craftzine.com/archive/2007/08/plastic_bag_crafts.html

These are such cool projects. Have I mentioned lately how much I love Make Magazine and Craft Magazine?

eta: direct link to fusing instructions:
http://etsylabs.blogspot.com/2007/05/long-overdue-fusing-plastic-bag.html

[nancypants]

We've been using ours for a long time now. We do sometimes forget them at home but I use plastic grocery bags to dispose of dirty diaper so I need a small stash of those too.

[Ellie]

As a political side note, however, I heard Clark Howard recently say that paper catalogs consume 50 million trees per year. I don't read 90% of the catalogs I receive (hs catalogs notwithstanding :-) ). That seems excessive to me.

But those 50 million trees were grown on plantations specifically for the purpose of making paper :-) And those plantations provided jobs, and the paper mills provided jobs, and the companies that bought the paper and produced the catalogs provided jobs...at least there were people working :-)

[Colleen]

But those 50 million trees were grown on plantations specifically for the purpose of making paper

Maybe ~ or maybe not. You never know. Weyerhauser, a company known to cut trees from old-growth forests, is a major manufacturer of paper bags. As far as I know, there are two other paper bag manufacturers in the U.S., neither of which is willing to reveal their sources.

[Cadam]

I reuse the plastic and (mostly) paper bags from the grocery store around the house. I don't want reusable bags because I really need the grocery sacks!

[Kelli in TN]

Maybe ~ or maybe not. You never know. Weyerhauser, a company known to cut trees from old-growth forests, is a major manufacturer of paper bags. As far as I know, there are two other paper bag manufacturers in the U.S., neither of which is willing to reveal their sources.

Dang, I thought when my cloth bags were full that choosing the paper over the plastic was good, since we have no plastic recycling here and we do have paper recycling.

I just need more cloth bags, don't I?

[Colleen]

Paper bags (versus plastic) require more energy to manufacturer in the first place, but fewer toxins are released in the process. Paper bags stand a greater chance of being recycled (though that process in and of itself is environmentally taxing) and will degrade faster (but not "fast"). Reusable bags are the best bet, no question, but now and then I actually need bags and then I opt for paper.

[melissel]

Maybe ~ or maybe not. You never know. Weyerhauser, a company known to cut trees from old-growth forests, is a major manufacturer of paper bags. As far as I know, there are two other paper bag manufacturers in the U.S., neither of which is willing to reveal their sources.

Thanks Colleen. You just stiffened my resolve to remember my reusable bags EVERY time I go into the store. And our Whole Foods (or maybe all of them) is doing away with plastic bags--they won't use them at all anymore.

And I just thought of a spin-off question...

[SheilaZ]

My resolution this year is to use almost no throwaway bags.
I bought 20 reusable grocery bags and I use them every week.
(Our local Bi-Lo gives a 5 cent rebate for each reusable bag you bring.) The boys love "my" grocery bags.
Even the baggers at teh commisary are coming around.
I have 4 or 5 shopping bags for use in stores like Target. Mosty people here do not use reusable bags so I have to expalin it to most cashiers. Almost all of them have been happy abou the idea though.

[claussenpc]

I find the large reusables from Whole-Foods to be wonderful. They are so much easier to carry than plastic or paper. The kids think they are great also. a novelty

[Sheri]

I bought several large bags when we lived in Alaska from LLBean. This was 10+ years ago and I haven't seen them in their catalogs for awhile, but they are still as good as the day I bought them.

I don't always remember them so I still get plenty of plastic or paper bags for trash can duty.

[WTMindy]

We just got some.

[Teddi]

I prefer paper bags and will probably continue to use them. I have never liked plastic bags.

Oh, and I refuse to follow my dog around with a pooper scooper. ;)

[Laura R (FL)]

I bought a couple when they were 99 cents at Target, but I forget to bring them.

[Susan in TX]

I "re-use" the plastic and paper ones myself for many things around the house. I don't just throw them away.

Same here. And when I have more than I can reuse, I put them in the plastic bag recycling bin at the store.

Susan in TX

[nestof3]

Well, neither category fits me. Since we use the bags for kitty poop, they are being used again. For me, then, it's not a waste. I never have to buy little bags for this.

I also turn my extras into places like the library book store and the thrift store. As long as something gets used again, I don't see it as a waste.

[Lynn in WI]

Yup, I've bought a few when they've been less than $1. I just put them back in the trunk after we've unloaded groceries so we always have them available.

[melissaL]

I am trying to get into the habit of bringing my reusable bags, as next year there is going to be a fee of 25c per plastic bag .
MelissaL
Australia

[Kim in Appalachia]

I reuse many of our plastic bags. I only throw the "wet" ones out right away. I can't imagine putting stuff that may leak (like chicken, etc...) into a reusable bag.

I also have at least 15 bags a trip (sometimes more). I can't imagine needing to buy that many bags, and bringing into the store each trip.

[Robyn]

I have bags I bought from Walmart. They are made from recycled soda bottles. It is ds' job to bring them out to the car and into the grocery store;he is really good about it, I would end up forgetting. I do use produce bags for stinky diapers. I am a cloth diaper drop out so I have a sufficient amount of guilt about that.
We shop at Price Rite mostly and I would have to buy bags if I didn't bring my own. Plus, we live on the third floor. The reusable bags carry much more, don't rip, and fit over my shoulder.

[Sharon in SC]

How cool is that?!

[Sharon in SC]

I've thought about re-usable shopping bags. But I "re-use" the plastic and paper ones myself for many things around the house. I don't just throw them away.

Same here. The plastic bags from the grocery store *are* my kitchen garbage bags. In my mind, that's eco friendly, too. It eliminates the need/use of kitchen garbage bags.

[Margaret in CO]

I made about 20 of them years ago. Then my children made off with them to put fleece in while they were spinning. I fished them all out again about 2 years ago. I made mine too big. If the grocery store fills one with cans, I can't lift it. They are made out of old canvas feed sacks with jean material handles. I even put a jean's pocket on one just for fun. They used to give .10 credit for them, but now only 5 cents. I do miss plastic sacks--that's what I would use for padding in boxes to the college girls...

[Karin]

I posted in the second one, but could have used an other. I plan to buy reusable shopping bags as soon as I can find ones made here and not in China:).

[6packofun]

I want to use them, really I do, but what do I do with all those bags that it would take for my overflowing cart of groceries for a family of 8 *while* I'm shopping? LOL

[fruitful vine]

I use the bags that the store gives as trash bags. If I didn't I would have to buy trash bags.
So this way is cheaper and simpler for me, with no extra hurt to the environment.

[nestof3]

I am almost afraid to ask, but am I the only person on here that just lets mother nature take care of the dog droppings? I never pick them up.

That's one of the main reasons I cannot own a dog. I do not want to go searching around for poop to scoop, but I also don't want anyone stepping in it. (yuck)

[Wendi]

Oh, that site has some really cool things! I think I will save up for this:

http://www.reusablebags.com/store/reisenthel-market-basket-baroque-sand-p-1069.html

[Diana in OR]

I want to use them, really I do, but what do I do with all those bags that it would take for my overflowing cart of groceries for a family of 8 *while* I'm shopping? LOL

I don't have 6 dc, but I have one teen ds and one almost teen. That has to count for something :tongue_smilie:

It's amazing how much stuff the reusable bags will hold. I love them b/c it takes fewer bags at the grocery store, and it's much easier and faster when it's time to load/unload the car. Dh and I did a major (for us)grocery shop last night and bought $150 worth of groceries. It all fit into 7 reusable bags. It would have taken at least 15 platstics for that amount of groceries. What I do is stuff all the bags into one and just keep them in my cart while I shop. It's worth a try. :)

[Dana in OR]

cleaning out the kitty litter box, you know.

Also, I refuse to participate in anything that seems to support the concept of global warming. But that's just me...

No it's not just you. It's a bunch of politics, and I refuse to support it as well. By the way, it is 24 degrees out and we got 2 inches of fresh snow last night. More snow promised each day through Friday. Maybe they're having global warming in Phoenix but as for here, I am just hoping that the several feet of snow we have will melt before the fall snows start all over again.

For what it's worth, I have so many uses for the plastic bags that I will keep getting them for a while, anyway. We do not have a garbage disposal so I keep a "tiny garbage" by my kitchen sink to dump scraps into and the plastic grocery bags work very well as liners. Someday we will compost, but we haven't begun that project yet.

[ShelzNH]

I need my plastic shopping bags. I reuse them for so many things like small trash liners and to clean up after my dog. If I use grocery bags for these things then the bag gets used twice whereas if I buy spoecific bags for trash liners or doggy surprises then they would only get used once....

[sagira]

Yes, and I use them as much as I can or remember.

[MeganP]

Here in Europe they've been trying to push reusable shopping bags for years. I've always thought they were too much trouble. And I actually use my used disposable bags to line small garbage pails, so I didn't want to have to buy reusable bags for groceries and then buy disposable bags to line the bins. Finally, about a year and a half ago, I noticed that the disposable bags they were supplying in my main grocery store, were decidedly more flimsy than they had been. I think the grocery company must have reduced the amount of plastic per bag. They would rip with only a few things in them. I finally broke down and bought the reusable bags.

[King Alfred Academy]

I have bought several, intend to use them, but always for get to use them.

[TejasMamacita]

I have several bags that I take with me when we go shopping; however, I haven't actually bought any. I've gotten them for free. :)

Me too. I have about 15 or 20 reusable bags. They give them away on Earth Day at the local grocery store here. One reusable bag for every 10 plastic bags you bring in an recycle. We don't have free recycling here, so they were kind of building up, :D.

I always bring in my own bags. I keep them in the trunk. I also keep one in my handbag at all times in case I decide to drop into the grocery store.

I do go ahead and get the plastic ones for meat and drippy things that I don't want to infest my "good" bags, LOL.

I also do sometimes let them give me 2 or 3 plastic bags because I use them for bathroom trash bags and cleaning out the doggy potty and stuff like that. I don't see any reason to pay for real small trash bags when they are offering those to me for free. :001_smile:

[Michelle in MO]

I still use the plastic ones from Wal-Mart, Target, and other stores for trash, cleaning out the litter box, etc. I think we recycle these quite efficiently this way.

I think plastic will be around for a while for trash bags, until someone invents a better, biodegradable alternative.

[OnTheBrink]

I bought 10 of them at Meijer. I like them because they're a bright blue. Anyway, I use them for all sorts of things other than groceries. Also, I shop at Aldi a lot and you have to bring your own bags or buy theirs. I find when I resuse plastic bags, they weaken easily and break. With my sturdy reusable ones, no problem with that.

Wastefulness bothers me, and not because of "global warming"; it just seems wrong to waste.

[tibbyl]

Have bought them and do use them. Qualifier: I have no opinion on whether other people should buy and use them.

[mommaduck]

I have a bunch of them and am even considering taking in laundry baskets ;) Whatever works. When I just have a couple of items, I tell them not to bother with a bag. If I need a plastic tub, container, basket...I just put everything in there and tell them to put it back in there when they are done ringing it up. I also love the insulated ones that zip...excellent lunch bags!

[6packofun]

I wish I could use them conveniently, but when an average shopping trip for our family uses about 30 plastic bags, it's hard to imagine bringing all those reusable ones instead. :confused:

I do reuse the plastic ones and we donate them to our local food pantry where people are encourged to reuse them and bring them back so I feel OK about using plastic for now.

[mommaduck]

I know what you mean as I have 4 adults and 7 children under my roof (I won't tell you how many refridgerators and freezers we have hooked up). However, we have to go to several stores here to fully shop and get the best prices, so we make runs home in between stores, unload, then head out again ;)
I wish I could use them conveniently, but when an average shopping trip for our family uses about 30 plastic bags, it's hard to imagine bringing all those reusable ones instead. :confused:

I do reuse the plastic ones and we donate them to our local food pantry where people are encourged to reuse them and bring them back so I feel OK about using plastic for now.

[gardening momma]

I think I'll try something like those woven/crocheted bags from that website mentioned earlier: http://blog.craftzine.com/archive/2007/08/plastic_bag_crafts.html

I reuse plastic bags when I can, and put them in our recycle bin if I can't. I don't really like to use them for trash bags, since they often have holes in the bottom (especially the Walmart plastic bags).

For our kitty litter box scooping, we use diaper disposal bags, which we buy at Dollar Tree (a box of 100 for $1).

[astrid]

We've used reusable shopping bags for several years here, before they were available in the stores. We use the big LL Bean type canvas bags, and a few "market bags" I've knit to use up old cotton yarn. I like the canvas bags better, though. We just bought two new nylon bags from Whole Foods, but I"m not sure I like them better than my big LL Bean bags.

astrid

[ChristusG]

I *want* to use them, because some of them are just so cute! However, I actually use the plastic shopping bags ALOT. I use them for cleaning out the cats litter.....I use them to scrape food into after dinner so that it does not stink up the garbage can.....I use them to carry stuff in if we are going somewhere. I use them a lot, so I just cannot justify buying reuseable bags when I would just end up buying small trash bags anyways.

[Mommy22alyns]

We reuse our plastic shopping bags all the time. If I thought I would remember to bring them with me, I might buy some, but I feel comfortable with our "recycling" of the plastic bags.

[Camy]

I have yet to find them not made in China. However, I do use canvas bags that are abundantly found at Goodwill.

[Heidi @ Mt Hope]

I really like having them but often forget to bring them in the store with me!! They get used for other stuff, though...

[mawirth]

http://www.reusablebags.com/store/acme-bags™-recycled-earthtote™-p-788.html


I use reusable bags--the above is a link to my favorite
Donna

[Tap, tap, tap]

I reuse the paper ones the store gives me. So, while I didn't buy them, I did pay for them in the cost of the groceries in the first place.


Hmmmmmm, guess I am an "other".

[gardening momma]

I'm not normally a crafty person...artistic, perhaps, but not particularly crafty. I have a craft magazine subscription, but I sometimes don't even read it...I pass it on to friends or family. But now I'm inspired. I've already cut up 2 plastic bags and made "plastic yarn" out of them. I can see myself making one of those reusable bags out of them. That's what I'll take to the grocery store! I'll keep more plastic bags now so I can make enough "yarn" to make my new bags!

[Mommyfaithe]

I clicked intend, but I always use my re-usable bags. I hate garbage! It's a pain...so I re-use my bags...But, I sometimes get plastic ones for the cat poop . :D

[Rosie_0801]

I have several bags that I take with me when we go shopping; however, I haven't actually bought any. :)

Yeah, same here. They haven't actually banned plastic bags but there was a "scare" that they would a few years back so there was a big push for using cloth bags. I'm not entirely sure where all ours came from, they just sort of happened to us. We always take them with us when we are intending to grocery shop, but it took a while to get the habit. If I'm out and spontaneously shop, I'll stash most of it in my handbag or under the pram and only use plastic as a last resort. We still end up with enough plastic bags around to use for whatever they are needed for. I guess because dh doesn't carry a handbag to stash stuff in!
:)
Rosie