Ideal Bite

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.