Ideal Bite

There is actually a supermarket near me that is dirt cheap for food, great produce section...and they don't supply bags. You HAVE to bring your own. You will feel mighty bad when you have to buy a box of trash bags when you forget to bring your own. You might forget a few times, but you'll get into the habit of bringing your own pretty quick. I am sure this supermarket isn't unique. Avoiding the major chains, you might actually find one like this.

I have been using canvas bags for over 10 years. Once you get used to it, the funny looks at Target, etc. won't bother you, and if you forget your bag, it almost feels like cheating. Also, my local coop accepts used bag donations to be reused. HyVee gives a 10 cent credit per bag. My only struggle is to convince the checkout person that everything including meat or soap can go into canvas and that yes it is washable. I keep 30+ canvas bags in the car so I always have one for trips to any store. I love canvas bags!!!!

We bought the ones at our local chain grocery store, and it's really a wonderful feeling to walk out with a cart full of canvas bags -- and i am guilty of shooting condescending looks to those people using plastic bags! Sorry! :) Also, I have a great idea for those of you with spare plastic bags: Cut a bag into one long 1-inch strip, then knit yourself a shopping tote with the bag like you would with yarn!

For those of us in the Northeast (I'm in Vermont) the Shaw's supermarket chain offers polypropelene woven bags that open up "square" like a paper bag for 10/$10.00! I have a bunch for each car since my problem is getting them back to the car after unpackin them in the house. They hold tons and I always have to remind the packers to "fill 'em up" since they have the annoying habit of putting 3 or 4 items in a bag. Your Biter bag is chic but $20???? That seems like a lot to those of us in budget land.

I'm pretty good about tossing mine in the car and making sure they are in the front seat while driving to the store. I was lucky enough to get one that folds up into my purse so I always have at least one, just in case. I didn't buy it myself so can't attest for the site, but the bag is great and from www.greenbag.info (per the bag). The ones I've bought are from www.reusablebags.com and I've been very pleased with their service--my bags are made from recycled cotton that would have been thrown away by clothing manufacturers and they have lots of other fiber options too. Last year for Christmas, I gave one or two bags to everyone in my and my husband's immediate family (much to my husband's embarrassment) and I've been surprised by how well they all embraced them even though they would have never personally bought them...so buy extra and gift them!

I recently ordered my canvas bags through Oprah and I love them! I was bagging my own groceries at Target last week, feeling truly proud of myself and not only was I getting weird looks from the cashier, but also from the people in line behind me.( like, I was the crazy one!)Honestly, I think everyone should be able to stock up on reusable bags as it's a one time purchase.

I have been using two large L.L. Bean Boat 'n' Tote heavy canvas bags (the classic off-white with a red, green or blue bottom and strap handles) for years. Cashiers like them because they stand upright and are easy to fill. I like them because there are fewer trips from the car to the kitchen. They fill up the cart a bit so I buy less, too.I put them in my trunk after I unload groceries, so they are on hand for next time.

It seems like most of the commenters here are wise, but not everyone sees the usefulness of taking a reusable bag everywhere (Container Store and others sell ones that fold to the size of a cellphone) they shop. The grocery store, Target, drug store, liquor store, even to the restaurant to carry your leftovers! I love educating the check stand girls and bag boys, they ususally seem thankful to learn about re-using bags, it is just hard to quell my "holier than thou" attitude.

One thing that the tip did say at the end was "if you have to use plastic, tie them in a knot before tossing them." I think that if you are caught without your bags and absolutely must use a plastic one, try taking it back to the store after you're done. I know that most grocery stores around here (Atlanta Area) offer recycling for the plastic bags...MUCH better than putting the knot on it and tossing it.

Oh, I almost forgot! If you don't have your canvas bags and need to use paper/plastic ones from the store, re-use them on your next trip. Trader Joe's has great paper bags that can be re-used many times before they are recycled, so do some other stores. Plastic bags are great to just throw in your pocket when going on a walk because you can comfortably pick up some litter on the way and ditch it in a nearby garbage or recycling bin.

We're in the "have them in the car and still forget to carry them in" camp, but are improving. We also recycle them at the stores, AND use them at home as trash bags. I don't remember when we last bought any kind of plastic bag -- grocery bags are perfect for kitchen and bath trash cans, and what we don't compost from the yard goes into the potting soil & mulch bags we empty as we garden. And what a great idea for stores to just not have bags. Costco has always done it and they are certainly doing well...

My problem is remembering to put my bags back in my car. I have gotten in the habit of hanging my TJ's bags on the door knob of my front door so I remember to bring them back to my car after carting in my groceries. If you forget your bags, buy new ones (they are .99 - 1.99 at Trader Joe's). If you don't need them, give them to someone who does. Maybe you'll remember next time!

TO paraphrase: Plastic bags are not the root of all evil; it's the love of plastic bags that is the root of all evil. What I mean is, they have their place and uses. My biggest problem is that store cashiers reflexively put everything into plastic bags (and double and triple bag some things). Not their fault, it's muscle memory (like always throwing your keys on the counter where they slide off down the gap behind the stove, every single time). Where I live, the major grocery store sells bins (like a laundry basket) that you can buy and reuse in their store. I think they give you a 10 cent credit each time you use them. Anyway, they're better than any bag because they hold loads and are easy to put in and out of the car - three trips as opposed to 8 or ten with bags. And they don't fall over. I guess if you don't use a car, they are no help. We reuse the clear bags they give you in the produce section. I find it's easier to just use these rather than trying to keep the fruits together in another way, and the cashier has to be able to see them to read the code on the stickers. When I get home, I take the produce out of the bags, put them back in the bins, and put the bins back in the car. I also keep a spare plastic grocery bag folded up in my purse, for various emergencies - picnic seat, rain hat, book bag for the library. Occasionally I have to do a non-bin grocery run, just to make sure I have enough grocery bags to line my green bin, and the regular garbage. Especially in warm weather, I don't want to have to hose out the bins every week (maggots -- eek); and in the winter the stuff would freeze in there. Buying $20 bags? Sounds like 'shopping your way to a social conscience' to me.

I bought reusable bags from the supermarket I go to, Wegmans. The bags are fantastic and they are only 99 cents each! Also, they are huge, so 4 bags are more than enough for my cartload, when you don't add bottles to them (milk, etc.), plus they are very easy to carry. If you have a Wegmans near you, check out the bags. :)

The absolute best bags are from Lehmans.com (well, other people may sell them but I've never seen them anywhere else). A set of 2 bags completely fills your shopping cart like 2 big bins then they clip to the sides of the cart. Way better than packing 15 canvas bags while people look at you like you're from another planet. I actually have tons of plastic bag toting shoppers stop and look at these bags and say "That's a great idea!" Very easy to use, a snap to carry in when you get home. Works great in any cart so perfect for clothes shopping or whatever as well as groceries. Take a look - they're only $12 for 2 at Lehmans.com (No, I don't work for them :o) just seriously LOVE these bags!)

I quite enjoy ideal bite and I'm all for reducing my eco-footprint. However as i read this blog all the support this idea I am truly surprised at the support it is getting. I can't support this bring your own reusable bag movement. First of all, I reuse the bags in my trash can. Also, I don't want to be always have to remember and be carrying around a bag in case i buy something. No issue with paying a few pennies for bags but then you need to figure out how many you need and add it to the bill etc...that's a pain. This slows down commerce -- especially when you are late and that nice grandma decides she needs to buy one more bag! Or that guy figures out he now needs a bag as that box of Oreos just doesn't fit into his hemp grocery bag! Much easier to just include the cost of the bags in the cost of the product. What everyone is forgeting is the ENORMOUS convenience of these things. This is one area where technology can actually address the issue. With bags that are made of primarily plant based materials that biodegrade in a few short months. I think you'd do much better giving up or significantly reducing the drive to the store as i have done rather than the humble grocery bag!

I have been using canvas bags for years and I am proud of it. Yes I get the weird looks but I try to educate people. I tell people "when you use a plastic bag you can kill a bird or fish, when you use a brown bag you kill tree". Someone mentioned that they feel like they are cheating when they use a plastic bag, I know what they mean. I do use plastic bags sometimes but I do keep them and use them to dispose of sanitary pads or send them to the local elementary school, so when a child soils their clothes they have a bag to put the soiled clothes in. zig

Also remember that if you do use plastic bags you have to RECYCLE THEM!!!! This is at least going back to the same industry and not going into the earth.

Today's tip said: "Plastic bags are the fifth most commonly found item in coastal cleanups." What are the other top 4???

BCP, I'm not sure you're getting us. I don't think anyone is saying that using the occasional plastic bag is worthy of death. I think BYOB is something you do as much as you can to keep a couple thousand more plastic bags out of the ocean every year. For instance, at my local co-op, I bought a nylon bag that is the size and shape of a plastic grocery bag but folds into it's own built-in sack and fits in my purse. I carry it in my purse everywhere I go, in case of the random grocery stop etc. When I know I'll be loading up on groceries, I carry it and three canvas ones, all folded up together into one bag. And if for some reason I don't have enough canvas to fit all the groceries? Sure, I'll use a regular bag (although I go for recyclable paper instead of plastic). Plain canvas bags are cheap and last a long time, so it's not a big burden to BYOB. Like any earth-concious habit, it's one you just have to get into. Hang 'em on the door, keep 'em in your car. I think the benefits to the environment and the ocean life are worth any hassle.

I've been using canvas bags for so long that I actually wore through a couple. Bags from Trader Joe's are great: structured shape to avoid those annoying looks from the cashiers, not to mention the food actually has a chance to not be squished or bashed. They are cheap ($.99) so if you should need an emergency one, it doesn't break the bank. And they really last. Finally, most grocery stores in the Washington, DC area recycle plastic bags. Just take them with you and deposit them in the bins outside the store. I get constant grief from everyone about my "bag of bags" but hey, who do they come to when they need packing material for those moving boxes?

Katie, thanks; point taken. As a guy i don't have a purse that take with me everywhere. And since i almost never drive -- having them in the car doesn't really help. therofore perhaps a much bigger issue for me and hence i am still a fan of bags provided by the merchant. I think it is a shame that countries are banning (e.g. Kenya) bags. And certainly don't want it to happen here (Canada).

I use plastic bags from the grocery store as my trash bags instead of buying them.Is this a good idea or should I switch to canvas and buy trash bags? Suggestions would be great.

i use the greenbag (greenbag.com) and love them. my husband and i just make sure to keep a few in each car at all times. they are light, fold perfectly flat, and have a plastic inlay for the bottom so they keep shape when full. they hold much more than a big paper or plastic bag would and the handles are reinforced. we ordered ours from a website and paid approximately $3.50 each. BUT, i recently saw them at whole foods for $1 each (of course those are marked as WHOLE FOODS bags not just greenbags.)

Same here Dona. I use my plastic bags as my "diaper genie." Of course my method does not contain the stink as well, but when that comes up you just take it straight to the toter. As for my paper grocery bags, I use those as a inside "bin" for my recyclables. Its much easier to take to the toter and Im not lining a trash bin with a plastic liner (more waste). I figure the paper bag with all the recyclables is all recyclable. And of course I use re-useable bags whenever I can. I especially love my ecobag/string bag. Those hold tons and scrunch up small enough for your purse/bag.

I have been using a variety of earth friendly bags from reusablebags.com for about 18 months now. We have everything from Thermal Bags (it gets to be over 100° regularly in the Summer here) to reusable produce storage bags. The ones I like best are the Earthtote bags they have. They are heavy duty, stand upright and very durable. They carry about 5 times as much as a standard plastic grocery bag as well. Mine will probably last 10 years, except the one the cats scratched up. Our local Albertson's supermarkets are now selling reusable bags for 99 cents as well. These are made out of fabrics made from recycled plastic grocery bags so I find them worthwhile. Plus you get 5 cents back for every bag every time you shop.

quote: I use plastic bags from the grocery store as my trash bags instead of buying them.Is this a good idea or should I switch to canvas and buy trash bags? Suggestions would be great. -------------- Why use bags at all for trash? You have a large bin outside that everything goes in. I simply empty my bathroom and kitchen trashcans directly in the bins, don't use bags of any kind for garden cleanup (they won't take it if you do). Even animal waste goes directly in the bins without being bagged first. By encapsulating your trash in plastic bags you create nice little coffins so when the landfills are dug up 1000 years from now, everything will be nicely preserved.

Anyone have any experience with BioBags? http://www.biobagusa.com/ This seems like a good alternative.

I just wanted to post this link to warn people about the "I am not a plastic bag" bags for those of you in the UK Exposed: 'I'm not an ethical bag' While saving plastic bags is a noble thing in itself, these bag are not fair trade and exploit cheap labor overseas.

It is very awkward to lug a 10-13 gallon garbage bin to the toter everyday. Not to mention all the drips and leftover food residual clinging to your garbage can. A stinky mess to clean up everytime you take out the garbage. The biobags seem like a great alternative, but they are so expensive.